Snapmaker U1 3D Printer Review

With the Snapmaker U1, the company aims to bring tool-changing 3D printers to the mainstream, with four separate print heads. This tech leads to faster prints, cleaner transitions between colors, and less wasted filament. Assuming it fulfills its lofty promises, the U1 could well be the go-to upgrade for the already-experienced user or an excellent entry point for newcomers. Can it live up to its list of features and specs, not to mention its Kickstarter hype? I’ve spent the last month obsessing over it, and so it’s time for my review of the Snapmaker U1.

Up and running

After being burned by 3D printers when the craze first took off years ago, I know what it’s like to be hyped about this tech only to end up doing more troubleshooting than printing.

With the Snapmaker U1, I’m pleased to confirm that setup is straightforward. Initially, I was worried that I would have to relearn how to set up a 3D printer, what with the multiple nozzles and advanced features, but it’s all very simple. In fact, many of the functions are automatic with default settings that make sense. Yes, users can delve into advanced tuning, but newcomers will find a dependable foundation to build upon.

From the unboxing to the first print, there’s a level of polish that makes the U1 feel reassuringly “finished” and ready to go. This is especially noteworthy given how, at the time of writing this review, the product is being hosted on Kickstarter. My review sample, at the very least, is high quality and is working well.

The big advantage

Once you get printing with multiple colors, the true advantage of the U1 becomes clear. With separate heads, print times rapidly decrease and waste is massively reduced. Honestly, this is a true game-changer and, while Snapmaker isn’t the only company doing it, the U1 delivers a supremely convincing execution.

Obviously, this capability wouldn’t matter much if the print quality wasn’t any good. Happily, the U1 delivers clean prints, even with more complex designs that I thought would stump it. Thanks to the built-in camera, I was able to watch as the U1 successfully navigated tricky builds. The timelapse presentation is also handy for content creation purposes.

Some caveats

While the Snapmaker U1 has certainly impressed me during my testing, it does have some weaker aspects.

First and foremost is the print speed, which—while impressive—is only really noteworthy when making use of multiple materials and benefiting from the presence of multiple heads. If your print is only using one material, then the actual print time isn’t as drastic when compared to single-headed competition.

Then there’s filament compatibility: users will need to consider which materials will and won’t work with the U1. Filaments requiring higher temperatures, like ABS, aren’t compatible.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Snapmaker.