3D Printing News: Bambu H3C, Creality K3 & GKN
By Dynafabs
3D printing news: Bambu Lab's nine-tool H3C reveal, Creality K3 tool changer review, GKN's world-first Nadcap for laser wire DED and Formnext 2026.
Tool changers are the big story in 3D printing news this week. Bambu Lab reveals its nine-tool H3C later today, Creality's four-tool K3 has just had its first major review, and in metal printing GKN Aerospace has picked up a world-first accreditation. Add a look ahead to Formnext 2026, and here's what's worth knowing.
Bambu Lab H3C: nine tools, revealed today
Bambu Lab's long-teased H3C tool changer gets its full reveal on Tuesday 3 November at 9:00 AM EST, which is 2pm here in the UK. Over the past ten days the company has confirmed a handful of details through official teasers, as rounded up by SFF Geek and Tom's Hardware:
- Nine tools built into one printer, held in a rack across the front of the chamber that drops down for swaps.
- Soft TPU support, with TPU 75A (Bambu's softest yet) and TPU 90A printable in a single build.
- Mixed nozzle sizes, with 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm nozzles usable in the same job: speed where you want it, detail where it matters.
- Hardened nozzles, rated HRC 55+ across the board, which matters for abrasive carbon fibre and glass-filled filaments.
What we don't know yet is the price, build volume, print speeds, or whether orders open today. Bambu hasn't said, so we won't guess.
Creality K3 review: a solid four-tool machine
Creality has joined the tool-changer race too. Tom's Hardware's Creality K3 review calls it "a solid entry" with a speedy four-nozzle system Creality calls KliTek. The reviewer reported no dropped tools and no bad prints during testing, praised how little filament it wastes compared with filament-swapping systems, and noted 37 sensors in the machine, 12 of them dedicated to tool changes.
The downsides: it's loud, it only does four colours, the oversized spool holders won't take many third-party spools, and the lid and TPU kit weren't ready at launch. It has a 260 × 260 × 260 mm build volume, is listed at $849 on preorder, and shipping was due to start on 2 November.
Why tool changers matter for your parts: each material or colour gets its own nozzle, so there's far less purge waste and less risk of colours bleeding into each other. That makes multi-colour prints and mixed-material parts, such as a rigid body with soft TPU grips, more practical. If you're weighing up materials for a part like that, our PLA vs PETG vs ABS/ASA vs TPU guide is a good place to start.
GKN Aerospace: world first for laser wire DED
In metal printing, British aerospace supplier GKN Aerospace says it has become the first company in the world to achieve Nadcap accreditation for Laser Wire Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED-w). In this process, a laser melts metal wire and builds a part up bead by bead.
Nadcap is one of aerospace's best-known accreditation schemes for "special processes", and the audit covered process controls, operating procedures, personnel qualifications, equipment, material control and traceability. According to 3D Printing Industry, Nadcap only published its directed energy deposition criteria in June 2025, so GKN is first through a fairly new door. GKN says it already has fully certified L-DED-w parts in flight, and Addiwire reports that the accreditation covers its Trollhättan site in Sweden.
Formnext 2026: recycling and post-processing on show
Formnext, the industry's biggest trade show, runs at Messe Frankfurt from 17 to 20 November. 3D Printing Industry's exhibitor guide picks out a few highlights:
- 3devo plans a live demo of its Filament Maker X10 turning waste PA12 powder from Multi Jet Fusion printers into filament.
- DyeMansion will launch the Powershot Go, a compact cleaning and surfacing system developed with HP and priced below USD 17,000 / EUR 14,000.
- EOS will unveil a new polymer production platform on 17 November.
- Raise3D brings its large-format T450 and T700 printers to Europe, along with an automated sandblaster.
The common thread is that recycling and finishing are getting as much attention as the printers themselves.
FAQ
Will Dynafabs be printing on tool changers? We'll keep an eye on the launches and only talk about kit we actually use. Whatever's on the bench, we'll pick the right material and settings for your part.
Can I get a part made in more than one material? Often, yes. Rigid-plus-flexible designs can sometimes be printed in one go, or printed separately and assembled. Send us your file and we'll advise.
Where can I learn more about engineering materials? Have a look at our nylon and carbon fibre guide and our outdoor materials guide.
Got a part in mind?
Whether it's a multi-colour model, a tough functional bracket or something soft and grippy, we'd love to help. Get a quote from Dynafabs and we'll get back to you with the best material and settings for the job.
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