Snapmaker U1: 3-in-1 3D Printer
The Snapmaker U1 promises to enable colored and multi-material 3D prints faster and with less filament waste. The crowdfunding campaign raised over $20.16 million from around 20,200 supporters, setting a record for 3D printers on Kickstarter. This article assesses the technology, campaign, expectations, and open questions to evaluate the device's suitability for projects, budget, and risk tolerance.
Quelle: Own representation
Introduction & Overview
Snapmaker is a Chinese manufacturer that has been developing modular desktop machines for 3D printing, laser engraving, and CNC milling since 2016. The company has supplied over 25,000 crowdfunding supporters (3dprintingindustry.com). The U1 is Snapmaker's first dedicated 3D printing device, focusing on multi-color and multi-material printing rather than offering 3-in-1 functionality ( (techradar.com, tomshardware.com).
Technology & Features
The U1 is an FDM 3D printer with a CoreXY motion system, enabling high accelerations with low moving mass ( (snapmaker.com, snapmaker.com). The build volume is 270 × 270 × 270 millimeters, which is larger than many classic desktop devices ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com). The maximum print speed is specified as 300 mm/s, the maximum travel speed as 500 mm/s, and the maximum acceleration as 20,000 mm/s² ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com).
Quelle: techradar.com
The four extruders of the Snapmaker U1 allow for quick tool changes and multi-material printing.
What's special about the U1 is the tool changing: it uses four separate tool heads that are parked at a docking station and picked up by the print head carrier when needed ( (snapmaker.com, snapmaker.com). According to Snapmaker, a tool change takes about five seconds, with each head having its own nozzle, extruder, and filament path ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com). This is intended to minimize the "filament spaghetti" problem of AMS or MMU systems, as a large color purge block is not necessary ( (snapmaker.com, tomshardware.com).
The U1 is aimed at users who regularly want to print multi-colored models, functional parts with different materials, or complex geometries with soluble support structures ( (snapmaker.com). It supports materials such as PLA, PETG, TPU, and PVA. With an optional top cover and hardened nozzles, ABS, ASA, PC, or fiber-reinforced polyamides are also planned ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com).
Current Status & Development
In the summer of 2025, Snapmaker introduced the U1 as a four-color toolchanger printer with CoreXY mechanics, a 270³ build volume, and the SnapSwap exchange system ( (tomshardware.com). Snapmaker sought a direct comparison with established multi-material solutions like Bambu Labs AMS and Prusa XL, but promised significantly less filament waste and higher exchange speeds ( (tomshardware.com).
Quelle: makers101.com
The Kickstarter campaign for the Snapmaker U1 quickly showed the great interest in multi-color technology.
The Kickstarter campaign started on August 19, 2025, with an early bird price starting at $649 ( (tomshardware.com). On the first day, around $7.8 million was raised from over 9,300 supporters ( (tomshardware.com). By the end of the campaign, the total amounted to $20,161,265 from 20,206 backers, making the U1 the most funded 3D printer on Kickstarter ( (3dprintingindustry.com). Snapmaker also offered a "Late Pledge" option and communicated a regular target price of $999 ( (3dprintingindustry.com, snapmaker.com).
Production units have been in circulation since the fall of 2025, tested by media outlets such as Tom's Hardware and TechRadar ( (tomshardware.com, techradar.com). TechRadar describes the U1 as a compact machine with a 270 × 270 × 270 mm build volume, semi-enclosed design, and four tool heads, optimized for multi-material printing and reduced waste ( (techradar.com). Tom's Hardware highlights the combination of toolchanger, CoreXY motion, Klipper firmware, and OrcaSlicer as innovations ( (tomshardware.com).
The U1 uses Klipper firmware with Moonraker for API management and Fluidd as the web interface. Snapmaker plans to release its modifications as open source by March 2026 at the latest ( (snapmaker.com, snapmaker.com). A roadmap for firmware release and open APIs is to follow after the crowdfunding phase is completed ( (snapmaker.com, snapmaker.com).
Analysis & Context
Snapmaker aims to integrate technology previously reserved for the professional or high-end DIY segment into a more affordable, compact device ( (snapmaker.com, tomshardware.com). Toolchanger systems like the Prusa XL are powerful but large and expensive; the U1 tries to package this into an "unbox, calibrate, print" solution ( (techradar.com, all3dp.com).
Users value high print speeds for multi-color or multi-material printing and the reduction of waste from purge blocks ( (snapmaker.com, tomshardware.com). AMS or MMU systems require a lot of material to purge the nozzle; the U1 parks inactive tools outside the build volume and promises up to five times faster prints and up to 80 percent less filament waste ( (3dprintingindustry.com, techradar.com).
The crowdfunding campaign was strategically linked with partners and community activities, such as free months of KIRI Engine, discounts from HueForge, and material profiles from Polymaker ( (all3dp.com). Snapmaker showcased beta devices at events like Maker Faire Hannover and 3DPrintopia to build trust ( (3dprintingindustry.com).
A core question is whether the U1 truly delivers significantly faster, more stable, and more resource-efficient multi-material prints than previous systems in everyday use, or if it's primarily a well-orchestrated campaign ( (tomshardware.com, techradar.com).
Quelle: YouTube
Fact Check & Open Points
Confirmed: The U1 uses four independent tool heads, each with its own direct drive extruder and nozzle, which are picked up and dropped off via the SnapSwap mechanism ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com). The build volume of 270 × 270 × 270 mm and the CoreXY motion system are confirmed ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com, tomshardware.com). The hotends reach up to 300 °C, and the heated bed up to 100 °C ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com). The printer uses Klipper firmware with Moonraker, offers OTA updates, automatic bed leveling, tool offset calibration, vibration compensation, pressure advance, and an integrated camera ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com). Snapmaker has committed to releasing the customized Klipper and Moonraker firmware as open source by March 2026 at the latest ( (snapmaker.com, snapmaker.com).
Quelle: 3dprintingindustry.com
The Snapmaker U1: A versatile 3D printer for colored and complex models.
Unclear: The claims "up to five times faster" and "up to 80 percent less waste" are based on manufacturer comparisons but are not substantiated by standardized benchmarks with open test data ( (3dprintingindustry.com, techradar.com). TechRadar reports fast print times but without a systematic comparison matrix ( (techradar.com). Tom's Hardware describes a three-color print that was faster than with a Bambu Lab P1P and produced little waste, but the representativeness of this example is open ( (tomshardware.com). Long-term data on the reliability of tool changes and the durability of the modules are still missing, as series production units have only recently been delivered ( (makewithtech.com, reddit.com).
Incorrect or Misleading: The assertion that the U1 prints "without filament waste" or "without purging" is not generally correct ( (snapmaker.com, techradar.com). The toolchanger greatly reduces waste, but small prime towers, wipe shields, and an internal waste bin are still necessary, albeit more sparingly than with AMS systems ( (techradar.com, tomshardware.com). Those expecting "no waste" will find "significantly less, but not zero."
Conclusion & Recommendation
The U1 combines four tool heads, a fast CoreXY system, and Klipper-based firmware to make multi-color and multi-material printing more accessible ( (snapmaker.com, tomshardware.com). The record numbers of the Kickstarter campaign and the performance promises should be critically examined. Independent tests confirm good results for the U1 but also show areas that still require refinement ( (techradar.com, all3dp.com).
If your main goal is to print faster, cleaner, and with less waste in multiple colors or materials, and you are prepared to engage with a still young ecosystem, the U1 is an exciting option ( (snapmaker.com, 3dprintingindustry.com). If maximum maturity, established spare parts supply, and minimal firmware risk factors are your priority, it is advisable to wait for further development and the implementation of the open-source commitments ( (snapmaker.com, tomshardware.com).
Quelle: YouTube