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Affordable multi-color 3D printing has had one stubborn problem: waste. Most multi-material machines swap colors by purging the old filament and priming the new one, leaving you with a pile of plastic “poop” and minutes of dead time on every change. The Snapmaker U1 takes a different route. It is a true tool changer, with four independent print heads that swap in about five seconds and very little purged filament. And right now, for Snapmaker’s 10th Anniversary, it has dropped to $849 / 849 EUR, down from $999.
Snapmaker 10th Anniversary Deal
Snapmaker U1 is now $849 / 849 EUR
$999 / 999 EUR · Anniversary price · Free shipping
The 10th Anniversary celebration runs from June 9 to July 10, 2026. All promotional discounts and offers are valid only within this period. Pricing is indicative until confirmed at checkout.
What makes the Snapmaker U1 special
Tool changers are not new, but affordable ones are. The U1 brings a mechanism normally found on machines costing several times as much down to a consumer price, and it does so without the usual compromises on speed or quality.
SnapSwap 4-toolhead changer, 5-second swaps
Four print heads sit loaded and preheated, each with its own filament. A change takes about five seconds instead of the roughly two minutes a purge-and-load system needs. Steel-ball kinematic couplings click each head into place with no screws or magnets, and Snapmaker says the mechanism was tested over 1,000,000 swaps with zero failures.
Up to 80% less filament waste
Because each color has its own dedicated head, there is almost nothing to purge. Snapmaker claims up to 80% less waste than filament-swapping machines. In practice, a multi-color print leaves only a few grams in a small prime tower instead of a tray full of discarded plastic, and it finishes faster because there is no constant reel-back and nozzle wipe between colors.
CoreXY speed up to 500 mm/s
A rigid CoreXY motion system with a carbon-fiber X-axis reaches up to 500 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration. Hotends hit 300°C and the PEI-coated flexible bed reaches 100°C, with up to 32 mm³/s of flow for fast, clean layers.
Klipper firmware and a built-in AI camera
The U1 runs Klipper with the Snapmaker Orca and OrcaSlicer workflow, plus LAN mode and Fluidd access for tinkerers. A 2-megapixel chamber camera handles time-lapses and AI spaghetti and obstruction detection, backed by auto bed leveling, input shaping, pressure advance, filament runout detection, and power-loss recovery.
Four colors today, more materials over time
The U1 ships as an open-frame printer and handles PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, and PCTG out of the box. The optional top cover, sold separately, adds an enclosed chamber for ABS, ASA, PC, and PA, and a hardened nozzle (also separate) opens the door to carbon-fiber and glass-fiber reinforced filaments. An RFID-aware automatic filament system loads and backs up spools for you.
Snapmaker U1 at a glance
| Build volume | 270 x 270 x 270 mm |
| Motion system | CoreXY, carbon-fiber X-axis |
| Toolheads | 4 (SnapSwap), about 5-second changes |
| Max speed / acceleration | 500 mm/s · 20,000 mm/s² |
| Hotend | Up to 300°C, 0.4 mm stainless steel nozzle |
| Heated bed | PEI flexible steel sheet, up to 100°C |
| Firmware / slicer | Klipper · Snapmaker Orca / OrcaSlicer |
| Camera | 2 MP chamber camera with AI detection |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, USB, LAN |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PCTG (more with top cover / hardened nozzle) |
| Footprint (W x D x H) | 584 x 499 x 730 mm |
| Weight | 18.2 kg |
Snapmaker’s headline promise for the U1 is simple: 5x more speed and 5x less waste, with true multi-color printing that stays out of your way.
Why the anniversary price is worth a look
At its $999 / 999 EUR retail price the U1 already stood out for bringing tool-changing within reach. At the 10th Anniversary price of $849 / 849 EUR with free shipping, it is an easier entry point into true multi-color printing with far less filament waste.
Who it is for: makers who want hands-off multi-color and multi-material prints without throwing away a tray of purged plastic on every job, and tinkerers who value the Klipper and OrcaSlicer workflow. Who might wait: anyone who needs an enclosed printer in the box, since the chamber cover for higher-temperature materials like ABS and ASA is a separate purchase. The anniversary price holds only through July 10, 2026.
| Region | Anniversary price | Regular price |
|---|---|---|
| US / Global | $849 | $999 |
| Europe | 849 EUR | 999 EUR |
Free shipping is included in both regions. US pricing is shown before any local sales tax; EU pricing and any applicable VAT or import fees are confirmed at checkout.
The Snapmaker U1 in our buyer’s guides
This printer also earns a place in our hand-picked roundups:
Prices, specifications, and availability are accurate at the time of writing and may change. The 10th Anniversary price is a limited-time promotion; confirm the current price and end date at checkout before purchasing.
