New Printer Spotlight · 3D Printing
Two Nozzles, a 5-Second Swap, and Almost No Waste
Multicolor FDM has a dirty secret: most machines that "do color" waste a startling amount of plastic purging the nozzle between filaments. Sovol's new M1D takes a different swing — two independently-moving nozzles plus a second head you can swap in about five seconds — to reach up to seven colors or materials with, the company says, almost none of that waste. Here's what it is, what IDEX actually means, and how it stacks up against the alternatives.
Sovol M1D · IDEX · multicolor without the purge pileWhat Sovol announced
The Sovol M1D is a multicolor, multi-material FDM printer built around what Sovol calls its DualX IDEX tool-changing system. It runs two print heads: one fixed, and a second that swaps out in roughly five seconds via a patented metal auto-grip mechanism. Combine that quick swap with the dual heads and Sovol says you can print with up to seven colors or materials in one job — without cutting filament or wiping a nozzle between changes.
The build volume is a generous 300 × 300 × 350 mm, big enough for sizeable parts. Rounding it out: camera-based print monitoring that watches for "spaghetti" failures and stray objects on the bed, filament run-out / clog / tangle detection with status lights, six-filament auto-loading, and a new 5-inch touchscreen. Pricing runs from a $20 VIP reservation that unlocks a $1,399 price, up through a $1,499 super-early-bird and a planned $1,799 retail — launching via crowdfunding.
So what is IDEX?
IDEX stands for Independent Dual Extruder. Instead of feeding many filaments through one nozzle, an IDEX machine has two complete print heads that move independently along the X axis. While one prints, the other parks off to the side, so it doesn't ooze onto your model. That independence unlocks a few genuinely useful tricks:
- Copy mode — both heads print the same object at once, doubling output. Handy for small batches and print farms.
- Mirror mode — the heads print mirror-image parts simultaneously (think left and right halves), with better matching between the pair.
- Multi mode — two colors or materials in one part, including a second head dedicated to support material — like a dissolvable support that leaves no scars.
IDEX: two heads, one rail. The clever bit is the parking, not just the second nozzle.
The clever part isn't two nozzles. It's that the idle one steps aside — so you get color and clean supports without a mountain of purged plastic.
The bigger story: three roads to multicolor (and their waste)
If you only care about color, it helps to know there are three very different ways to get it on an FDM printer, and they trade off cost, waste, and flexibility:
| Approach | How it works | Waste | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single nozzle + changer (AMS / MMU) | Many filaments fed into one nozzle | High — purge towers | Affordable, simple, many colors | Slow swaps, lots of wasted plastic |
| IDEX (Sovol M1D, BCN3D) | Two heads, move independently | Low | Copy/mirror modes, clean dissolvable supports, two active nozzles | Needs calibration; dual-material mode reduces usable width |
| Toolchanger (Prusa XL) | Swaps whole toolheads (up to 5) | Very low | Cleanest, most flexible, many materials | Expensive |
The M1D is interesting because it's a hybrid: it has the two-active-nozzle benefits of IDEX and a quick-swap second head to reach more materials — aiming for toolchanger-like breadth at a value price. Sovol's pitch is squarely at people who want functional multi-material parts, jigs, and small-batch runs without the purge piles that single-nozzle systems leave behind.
Keep your expectations honest
This is a crowdfunding launch, and the headline numbers — the 5-second swap, "almost zero waste," seven materials — are manufacturer claims until independent reviews and shipping units confirm them. Crowdfunded hardware can slip on dates or specs. IDEX also adds real responsibility: nozzle-offset calibration and alignment, and multi-material printing fails for boring reasons (tangled or damp filament) more often as you add materials. Worth watching — worth waiting for reviews before betting a deadline on it.
Do you even need one?
Here's the question Sovol's own category raises: is two-nozzle, seven-material printing something a typical maker needs? For most hobby prints, no — a single color is fine, and a basic filament changer covers occasional color. Where multi-material earns its keep is functional work: dissolvable supports for complex geometry, two-material parts (rigid + flexible), color-coded production runs, and copy/mirror throughput for small batches. If that's you, IDEX is compelling. If it's not, you're buying complexity you won't use.
Want multicolor parts without buying the machine?
You don't need to own — or calibrate — a dual-nozzle printer to get multicolor and multi-material results. Send us your model and we'll print it in the colors and materials you want, on calibrated machines, and ship it anywhere or hand it off locally in San Diego.
- 📞 858-342-6984 (call or text)
- ✉ dreaming3dprinting@gmail.com
- 📍 3880 Valley Centre Dr, San Diego
- 🌐 dreaming3d.net
Thinking of buying it yourself?
We set up, tune, and repair printers across San Diego every week, including multicolor and IDEX machines — so if you back the M1D (or any new printer) and want it dialed in right from day one, that's exactly the kind of thing we do. New machines need calibration, firmware setup, and a sanity check before they earn their keep, and a crowdfunded first run especially benefits from a careful start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sovol M1D?
It's a new multicolor, multi-material FDM 3D printer with an IDEX (independent dual extruder) system and a quick-swap second head. Sovol says it prints up to seven colors or materials with little waste, has a 300 × 300 × 350 mm build volume, and launches via crowdfunding with a planned retail price of $1,799.
What is IDEX, and how is it different from an AMS or filament changer?
IDEX means two independent print heads that move separately, so the idle one parks aside while the other prints. AMS/MMU systems instead feed many filaments through a single nozzle, which is simpler but wastes plastic purging between colors. IDEX also enables copy and mirror modes and a dedicated support nozzle.
Does it really print 7 materials with no waste?
That's Sovol's claim, and IDEX plus a swappable head genuinely avoids the big purge towers single-nozzle systems produce. But "almost zero waste" and the 5-second swap are manufacturer figures until independent reviews confirm them — there's typically still a little waste when priming after a head change.
What are Copy and Mirror modes good for?
Copy mode prints two identical parts at once to double output — useful for small batches and print farms. Mirror mode prints mirror-image parts (like left and right halves) simultaneously, with better matching. Both trade away some build width since the second head needs room.
How much is it and when can I get it?
Sovol lists a $20 VIP reservation unlocking $1,399, a $1,499 super-early-bird, and a planned $1,799 retail price, funded through a crowdfunding campaign. As with any crowdfunded product, treat dates and specs as tentative until units ship and reviewers weigh in.
Should I buy a multicolor printer or just order multicolor prints?
If you regularly need dissolvable supports, two-material parts, or color-coded batches, a multicolor/IDEX machine can be worth it. For occasional color or one-off projects, ordering finished prints avoids the cost, calibration, and waste — which is where a print service like ours comes in.
Can Dreaming3D do multicolor printing for me?
Yes — send us your model and the colors or materials you want, and we'll print it on calibrated machines and ship it or arrange local pickup in San Diego. We can also set up and tune a new printer for you if you'd rather own one.
Color it done.
Whether you want multicolor parts made for you or a new printer set up right, we're around. San Diego local, shipping worldwide.
Related reads
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Alt headline options:
- Sovol M1D: Two Nozzles, a 5-Second Swap, and 7 Colors With Almost No Waste
- What Is IDEX? Sovol's New M1D and the Three Ways to Print in Color
- Multicolor Without the Purge Pile: A Look at Sovol's IDEX M1D
Suggested slug: sovol-m1d-idex-dual-nozzle-multicolor-3d-printer
Meta title: Sovol M1D: Two Nozzles, a 5-Second Swap, and 7 Colors With Almost No Waste | Dreaming3D
Meta description: The Sovol M1D is an IDEX 3D printer with two independent nozzles and a quick-swap head, promising up to 7 materials with little waste. What IDEX is, how it compares to AMS and toolchangers, and the honest caveats.
Source / rewrite note: Based on Notebookcheck's report ("For fast printing: 3D printer with two active nozzles and a swappable head system," Silvio Werner, Jun 7 2026), fully reworded and expanded with details from Sovol's own landing page, 3Druck, and AMPulse: the DualX naming, Multi/Mirror/Single/Copy modes, the 5-second metal auto-grip swap, camera + filament-detection features, 5-inch screen, six-filament auto-load, and full $1,399 / $1,499 / $1,799 pricing tiers. Added the IDEX-vs-AMS-vs-toolchanger comparison (incl. Prusa XL) and an honest crowdfunding caveat the original didn't fully develop. All figures are manufacturer/crowdfunding claims as of early June 2026 — re-verify at publish, and consider a courtesy link to the Notebookcheck and Sovol pages.
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