Bambu Lab confirms H3C nine-tool printer arrives November 3
The new machine stores nine tools on an overhead rack to keep the build plate visible during printing.
By Benjamin Bernard ·
Bambu Lab announced on Thursday that the H3C, a 3D printer designed to switch between nine different tools, will go on sale on November 3. The company released an 11-second teaser video showing the machine's internal mechanics and storage system.
The H3C stores its idle tool heads on a Vortex-style rack positioned at the front of the chamber. This design places the inactive tools above the build plate. That placement keeps the view of the first printed layer unobstructed. This feature addresses a visibility issue found in the Bondtech INDX system, which requires users to look through a tool rack to see inside the printer.
Tool-changing printers are gaining traction because they swap colors faster and generate less waste than the Automated Material System (AMS) currently used in Bambu Lab's other models. The H3C is the latest addition to the company's flagship H-line. That series already includes the H2S, H2D, and H2C. The H3C is most closely related to the H2C, which features seven tools and a build volume of 330 by 320 by 325 millimeters.
Online speculation about the H3C's spool capacity has been widespread. Some YouTubers analyzed leaked images that suggested the machine could hold ten spools. The new teaser video clarifies that the system holds nine colorful Bowden tools. These tools arch over the top of the printer. Bambu Lab has not yet disclosed what mechanism holds the spools in place.
The H2 line has been marketed as a home manufacturing hub. Dr. Tao of Bambu Lab discussed building multitasking machines at Formnext last year. Those machines were intended to do more than just 3D print. The company's A2L model already offers an optional blade for cutting and embossing. The H3C is expected to follow a similar multitasking approach.
Most technical specifications for the H3C remain undisclosed. The company indicated that full details will be released when the printer launches on November 3. The teaser video included a metallic sound effect as the tool rack dropped down into position.
Source: Tom's Hardware
