BambuLab releasing Vortek Hotend changer Q4 2025

[Bryan Eckert]

This thing is slick, and you can upgrade the H2D, and the new H2S they just released today.

6(!!!) toolheads plus the left nozzle like the H2D for a total of SEVEN hotends in one machine.

https://cdn1.bambulab.com/series/h2/e9acjnbcux9/video/new-en-y376h56j1wh.mp4

[John Schneider]

Ok, now THIS is something to get excited about.

Best Regards,

John Schneider

CEO

 

www.3dfuel.com

Cell: 701-318-0686

Email: jschn...@3dfuel.com

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[Bryan Eckert]

Things I noticed:

Just one bowden tube to the gantry for each hotend (left,right) means time still retracing filament, then pushing filament - however the hotend can heat in that time (8 seconds to temperature according to the video). IMO an A-1 like multiple tubes to just above the extruder could significantly cut down on color swap time unless the AMS can swap in 8 seconds.

6 Nozzles but only one AMS unit = wasted hotends. 

Do all hotends purge at the start of a print? or only if color/material is swapped since last time?

TPU would still be limited to the left nozzle (except for Bambu's AMS friendly TPU), meaning less robust mult-material especially if you want full contact support.

Just musing here.

[Sophie]

Oh geez, am I gonna have to save up again??!

This does look slick, you're right!

And Bryan, the AMS is pretty quick! From cutting the filament to retract and replace, probably is within 8 seconds, it depends what is considered the start and end of filament change with the ams. Would interesting to know the filament change time compared to other toolchangers.

[Sean]

Looks like they're copying some aspects of the INDX system, specifically the wireless coms and induction heating. How they're changing the nozzle only is a novel concept but it is still a problem in that it breaks the filament path. You'll still need a purge block. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/3c9eee18-762c-4664-8fb5-883eabdd5e6fn%40googlegroups.com.

[Gary Tolley - Grogyan]

Yet another tool change.

Seems to have taken the idea from the  Bontech INDX 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/CAL3aFY43WHNdwsCkAKjuvQR8eLBjCPujvT8_570Nj6t6Tv5a1Q%40mail.gmail.com.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

Ok… a TC. So they solved purge… for their product… but they don’t say anything about Prime/wipe.

When they put this on the mkt you can say goodbye to the following:

1. Prusa… can you blame Jo for the angry end of open source posts? 

2. Bondtech. Without a fully integrated off the shelf solution the ndex will only sell to the quickly shrinking number of hobbyists who build their own.

3. Auto loaders like the AMS and the MMU.
4. Open source.

If Prusa and Bondtech had real brains they would partner up.

Some observations I’m seeing… it looks WAY more complicated than it needs to be. It takes 8 secs to heat up. Bondtech is saying four. Q4? Somehow Im a bit pessimistic about that.

[Sophie]

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the price point is. Knowing Bambu, I’d expect they’ll make it reasonably attainable for dedicated hobbyists. At the same time, if this technology really delivers on efficiency, reliability, and repeatability, it could become the crown jewel of their already highly regarded ecosystem — and they could easily justify charging more for it....or they could just price point it low and flood the market of yet another sector of 3d printing.

What makes this moment interesting is how much of the progress in hobbyist 3D printing has historically come from community-driven innovation, especially once key patents expired. Open-source experimentation and shared knowledge have pushed additive manufacturing forward in leaps and bounds. Chinese manufacturers — from Wanhao and Creality to Flashforge, Anycubic, and now Bambu Labs — have played a major role in expanding access to that technology, often by making it more affordable.

My only concern is what happens if the balance shifts too far. If large, well-funded companies close off their ecosystems and overshadow open-source projects, we risk losing the very spirit of collaboration and grassroots innovation that got us here. It would be exciting to see more cooperation between established brands and the open-source community, rather than parallel paths that sometimes feel at odds. In the end, the more collaboration we see, the more everyone in the 3D printing world benefits. And I'm just worried that companies like Creality and Bambu Labs could ruin that if it goes too far.

[Bryan Eckert]

Not going to say bye to the AMS, as it requires the AMS to load and unload the filament.

One good thing I see with it, is there aren't multiple bowden tubes like we see with other tool changers (including the INDX). So you don't end up with ridiculously tall machines due to the forest of bowden tubes sticking up from parked hotends. One (or in the H2D case two) bowdens and all wiring contained in a chain makes things a lot neater, smaller and at least should be a little less expensive. While it seems complicated it's simply raising and lowering hotends.

Of course the bad in that is it requires an AMS style system to load and unload filament, which will add time but it will still be significantly faster than a single nozzle system.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

In my opinion...

Using an AMS simply to make it shorter is not a good tradeoff. Every little motor and sensor adds complexity AND removes the user from the system. So here's a question... how does the user get access to a tool to clean it or unclog it? Bambu is simply going the closed source route that SSYS has already gone, but they're charging a fraction of the amount.
Bondtech's approach provided a significant amount of added functionality while at the same time cut complexity WAY down. No need for daughter boards added motors, heaters, sensors. Need to unclog a hotend? Simply pull it out of it's parking place and clean it. Bambu has shown a propensity towards complexity. Coming from a company that may be getting a rep for giving greater access to 3d Printing while also NOT providing needed support.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

This approach is NOT a copy of the NDEX. So maybe there is hope after all for others to stem the Bambu tide. The heater/sensor is in their tool. Hence the wireless hype. NDEX only needs ONE set of wires and resources for ANY number of tools. And... Only ONE relatively simple controller board. Unfortunately Bondtech does not make or sell an entire 3D Printer and as such NDEX may never really take off.

I keep studying the VERY tiny scrap of info they have actually given us... and now I'm thinking... ... wireless? WHY?! I do not see that working reliably AT ALL!!
I've been running two TCs now for YEARS and not once have I had an issue with any of my cabling or connectors(as we did with the rep2 a long time ago). This looks to me like another complex solution for a NON-problem! and then there's this mechanical plunger thing that robotically puts the tools up into the carriage. Again... WHY? 

I would NOT recommend buying one of these things right out of the gate! You want one? Then I suggest you let the YouTubers and people foolish enough to buy without assurances or support muck with them. Just like the XL. 

Q4... yeah... right... You know Q4 is only WEEKS away! Looks to me like they put this teaser vid out just to keep people from buying someone else's Toolchanger during the XMAS buying season.

[Jody Harris]

Josef Prusa posted this pic yesterday (26.Aug.2025).

As I was setting up my Core ONE, I was thinking, "This thing was designed from the ground up for a future INDX upgrade....."

I guess I was right. That photo does NOT look like a refit. Lots of reviewers complained about the bar across the front of the machine obstructing their view..... The top panel is going to have to be replaced with clear plexiglass because you won't be able to see anything past that array of tools.

Hopefully that's not just wishful thinking.

-J

Think carefully

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[Bryan Eckert]

Looks like you would simply pop it out of the holder if you need to clean it. Or change out nozzle sizes for that matter. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/0c2bbd5a-2f4e-4a6e-9cdc-90af95a5eea4n%40googlegroups.com.

[Jody Harris]

"You know Q4 is only WEEKS away!"

Q4 usually means, "December 28th" Just like Q2 means "Juny 28th."

-j

Think carefully

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[Sophie]

And Bryan — the reduction in material waste can’t go without a mention either.

I get the value of having hands-on experience, knowing how to diagnose issues, and being able to fix or tinker with a system. After all, remember when the hobby wasn’t printing but just getting your printer to actually print? The thing is, the industry’s moving towards reliability out of the box — designs where the user doesn’t need to constantly intervene. Yes, more moving parts can add complexity, but if those parts are engineered and tested to be reliable, that complexity isn’t necessarily a drawback.

From what they’ve shown so far, cleaning or swapping looks about as simple as changing a nozzle on a Bambu — not exactly intimidating. And maybe, just maybe, Bambu Labs have gone and built something original this time rather than just “borrowing ideas.” (Though if we’re being honest… probably not :-P). Either way, if it works as promised, fair play to them.

As for the wireless tech — I’m not sure why you’re so convinced it can’t be reliable. There are plenty of industries already running wireless power/data systems day in, day out, in far harsher conditions than a 3D printer. This isn’t sci-fi; it’s proven engineering applied in a new way.

That said, I’m with you on one point: I’ll be sitting back and watching the first wave of chaos unfold, just like I did with the H2D. Once the dust settles and it’s clear the system holds up, that’s when I’ll throw my pennies at an H2C upgrade.

And come on — Q4 nitpicking? You’ve been around long enough to know that’s just a calendar technicality. I do think you’re right though: Bambu’s timing is no accident. They’ve probably had wind of Prusa and others moving into the same space and wanted to plant their flag before the holiday buying season kicks in.

Also… those CAPS. For a moment I thought our Kurt had joined the chat — that’s his signature move! :D

[Bryan Eckert]

"wireless? WHY?! I do not see that working reliably AT ALL!!"

Huh? You do realize Bondtech is wireless induction heating as well?

Wireless induction technology has been around since the days of Tesla. My phone charges wirelessly every night. We use it in cooking and stovetops. We pay our bills with it at the store. It's literally one of the most reliable and widely known technologies out there.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/f1bc9166-57ca-4930-ba91-33fece152998n%40googlegroups.com.

[Bryan Murphy]

This sure does look like the INDX.  Here's another view from a Reddit comment:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/kS2aF35vylAv8QoPserjpcd9tj07yn36wb5TbZUR78vQoC_k9DgcnIYRIZjo5dHeCfvYzRuqQEYzR0mU5VrjGrwG_pJmIwMCufv16ehJrS4%3D%40harrisdev.com.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I think you may be misunderstanding how these two different designs work. Per the vid each vortek  tool has nothing attached to it. An AMS feeds the material in when the tool is grabbed and a wirelesss connection is made between the heater and sensor elements both of which are in the tool. Yes the heaters in both designs are  inductive, that’s not what they mean by wireless. The ndex has physical cables that go to the heater and sensor which are mounted on the carriage, not the tool. The ndex tool is only the thermal tube, a heat sink and a nozzle. Thats it. One heater, one sensor, one feeder.
The value of the inductive heater is in the speed with which it heats up and cools down.

Per the vid… the Vortek design has to unload and load filament out of and into each tool for each tool change. Sorry, but that not only adds time to the toolchanger it also adds chances for things to go wrong.

Frankly I’m skeptical about both. I’m skeptical that Bondtech will be able to secure a partnership with a well funded printer maker. And I’m skeptical about how real the Bambu thing actually is.

[Bryan Eckert]

Ah yes that's true, Bambu included the heater and thermometer on the package. 

Still per their blog post they have been working on this for 3 years, and had hardware locked down awhile ago and have just been tuning the software. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/8ce35149-a3f7-4694-8ec1-17b95a1c87cen%40googlegroups.com.

[Sophie]

"Per the vid… the Vortek design has to unload and load filament out of and into each tool for each tool change. Sorry, but that not only adds time to the toolchanger it also adds chances for things to go wrong."

I don't really understand the point you're making here? You mentioned the INDX has "One heater, one sensor, one feeder."  How do they intend for the filament to be changed? It's either a Prusa MMU3/Mosaic Pallette/Some other feeder, or you sit there and manually feed the filament by hand on each nozzle swap..? So surely its method is going to be the same as the Vortek? The INDX too will have to unload and load filament out of and into each nozzle for each tool change? When you want to print with another filament, the extruder still has to:

1. Unload the current filament from the hotend.

2. Load the new filament through the same feeder into the new nozzle tool.

that was my understanding of it anyway

[Bryan Eckert]

Sophie the INDX is a toolchanger like the Prusa XL. The filaments are all loaded all the time, as each hotend has a Bowden tube going to it. 

Their point is the INDX only has the heating element, everything else is contained on the carriage unit. 

The Vortek hotends also have the thermistor on them, and a chip to transmit the info wireless. 

The interesting thing is Bambu mentioned in their blog post something like only having the heater on the hotend as they have with the A1 nozzles, but didn't think that would reliably report accurate temperature with constant swaps. 

Which is what I would ask about the INDX, is the temperature reporting accurate and consistent without the thermistor coupled to the nozzle.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/8af57cc3-6782-45b9-a707-35aef58e8993n%40googlegroups.com.

[Sophie]

Bryan the Bondtech INDX is not a toolchanger like the Prusa XL. The XL is a 3D printing system in its own right. The Bondtech INDX is a toolchanging solution that can be implemented into a 3D printing system (like the Core One for example), with one wired smart tool head and multiple passive wireless nozzles. But yes, having looked closer at the design, it looks like the filament is indeed loaded directly into the passive nozzles, each with its own bowden cable, negating the need for a multi material changing system.

Could it be possible the nozzles have tiny passive thermistors embedded in them with wireless pickup that only activates once the nozzle is engaged to the tool? Induction heating also isn't new as such, they state that how they've used it is in a new way, but they had some starting blocks to work from. But the point being, things like industrial inductions cookers need to provide a feedback loop for temperature control, so it's entirely possible.

Since they have patents pending, I doubt much more information will come about the How until those docs have been signed sealed and delivered.

I think it's still ok to be excited about these new technologies, even if we don't know how they're going to work or if they're going to be reliable. I hope technology continues to evolve

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I think both of you have it a bit wrong. As I wrote before... The INDX tool each has only the thermal tube, a heat sink and the nozzle. That's all it is... minimal. There is a PTFE guide tube on each, as with all other tool changers to date. Each tool has material loaded from a roll of filament. There is no AMS like device needed. The heater, the thermal sensor and the feeder subsystem all ride in the carriage. Only ONE heater, ONE sensor and ONE feeder and any number of tools/materials all with only ONE controller board.
So... if you have eight tools then you will have eight guide tubes. But only one heater, sensor and feeder subsystem.

From what I see in the Bambu leaked vid, each tool has a heater and temp sensor. They eliminated the need for cabling to each tool, as is done with the XL, by using the wireless connection which transfers current inductively between the carriage and the tool. BUT.. where is the feeder? I do not see room on their tool for a feeder. So maybe it's a singular feeder. Maybe it is a Bowden? Perhaps each tool has the drive gear which somehow connects to the feeder stepper on the carriage? Someday we will see. 

On each tool change the filament is pulled out. When parked, the Vortek tool is a completely decoupled component. So when a tool is parked it's what... moved down below somewhere away... and any material still in the tool's melt zone does... what? ooze out in that parking area? The vid does not get that detailed and as such IMO this is simply hyperbole right now. 

True, Bondtech is only going to sell the tools and the carriage and not a fully integrated tool changer... but they are already showing the INDX system on open source machines such as the Voron at shows while the Bambu Vortek  is currently only hearsay. If Prusa pulls it off and uses the INDX it could save his company, for awhile at least. His blog post is correct. The Chinese Govt is backing Bambu.

Both companies state that the heaters they will use are inductive heaters which, one would assume, will allow significantly faster and more accurate temp control for the melt zone on each tool which one would hope could help control ooze to some degree along with retracting out of the melt zone which I would assume the Bambu will have to do regardless on each tool change.

All of the above is pure conjecture. What is not conjecture right now is the fact that the only (mostly) out of the box tool changer one can buy today is the XL and mine works brilliantly.

[Sophie]

So then for the Bondtech INDX, there’s no dedicated feedback loop for temperature on the nozzle because there doesn’t need to be one. There’s no heatblock as such; as they’ve moved to direct induction heating via the thermal tube? As long as the system can accurately control and maintain the heat at that point, the melt zone in the passive nozzle should correlate very closely. 

Otherwise it would be like having a thermistor on the heatblock and another on the nozzle tip — redundant, and not really adding much benefit.

I haven't been following the Bondtech INDX as closely as Andy has. But even just looking on their website, for obvious reasons, they do seem to be keeping their cards quite close to their chest, with only drip fed snippets of their tech and how it works. 

I guess we're just about to head into Q4 - so in a few months we'll see! 

Good discussion though

Still gonna save my pennies for the HTC upgrade...I've chosen that bus for now to see where it goes. Luckily for me this is my hobby, and not my business, so I'm not heavily reliant on BL's success or demise, just hopeful. And for now, the H2D does everything I want and need it to.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

Hmmm.. I do not think that’s it…

When an INDX tool is picked up the  thermal tube fits into the vertical recess in the carriage. Held in place by rare earth magnets  and the melt zone is surrounded by the heater in the carriage which probably has a sensor. The feeder is above that in the carriage. It opens and releases its grip on a change. What I can’t see as of yet is how the INDX tool is released into its parking place. There has to be some kind of mechanism which holds it while the carriage pulls away.
If I were to guess which of these two approaches will hit the market first, it looks to me that the Bondtech approach is way further along.

If and when Bondtech’s INDX goes on sale I may tear down my E3d TC and install a set of eight tools on it. It all depends on how much support will be out there for all the new scripting.

I will not purchase the Bambu. If they send the podcast one like they did the X1C that’s different, but I doubt that will happen. 

[Bryan Eckert]

I think you answered your own question in regards to how it releases. The permanent magnets are on the tool holder. The carriage has an electromagnet that grabs it and induces current to heat the hotend. 

Which is probably exactly what Bambu is doing. From the render (I'm assuming the video showing swaps is rendered, the exploded view definitely is) it's nothing more than an A1 style hotend just with an inductive heater instead of a contact heater. 

The A1 includes a contact plate on it for the thermistor to touch, which Bambu blogged would likely wear out with thousands and thousands of swaps. Hence the chip to transmit temperature.

My question is this, how does INDX feed filament? Is it an old style Bowden? Bambu's system is really just like swapping out the nozzle on an A1 or X1c, just automated. So it's direct drive. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/fdd23498-f19a-481e-b3a3-460142ef5661n%40googlegroups.com.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

It’s a direct drive in the INDX. The feeder sits at the top of the carriage and the tool has openings on the sides of the tube for the gears on each side. I don’t think the INDX uses electro magnets, simply rare earths. I think there is a mechanical lock on the parking place and the carriage simply pulls the magnets apart.. Bondtech understands the value in system simplicity. The Bambu approach adds complexity and cost. Added complexity also means lower durability and reliability,

[Bryan Eckert]

INDX has to have an electromagnet, there is no way for induction heating to work otherwise. It requires an alternating magnetic field. On the Bambu, the slot where the hotend sits in at the bottom is likely the magnets on either side of it. The INDX is probably identical, with the electromagnets on either side.

Maybe the permanent magnets in the carriage move back and disengage from those posts we see on the INDX hotend holder. Or, perhaps those posts are the magnets, and a metal plate disengages in the carriage. I can think a few ways of doing that.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/8857007f-2007-44c2-9d0a-6ecd31dde61bn%40googlegroups.com.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I would think the heater and how the tool stays on the carriage would be two separate things.