3D Printing News: Mixed-Nozzle Slicing, Colour & Tungsten
By Dynafabs
3D printing news: Bambu Studio 2.9.1 mixes nozzle sizes in one print, Snapmaker colour mixing, stronger composites and 7,000 tungsten parts for ESS.
This round of 3D printing news is all about doing more with each print: a slicer that mixes nozzle sizes in one model, cheaper routes to multicolour printing, a post-processing trick that makes printed composites stronger, and a big tungsten order for one of Europe's flagship science facilities. Here's what happened and why it matters if you get parts printed.
Bambu Studio 2.9.1 slices one model with several nozzle sizes
Bambu Lab has released Bambu Studio 2.9.1 alongside its new nine-tool H3C printer, and the headline feature is mixed nozzle diameter slicing, Filament Feed reports. You can now give fine details such as text a small nozzle with thin layers, while the main body of the same model prints with a larger nozzle and thicker layers. Each region keeps a layer height that suits its nozzle instead of one compromise for the whole plate.
For now it only works on the H3C, because every tool on that machine has its own hotend. Bambu says information about other models will come in official announcements. The update also renames Color Split to Color Matching, adds support for the Bambu PLA Palette kit, and brings smaller changes from recent betas, including a separate first-layer infill line width, a travel-reducing top-surface path and a new spiral ironing pattern. The full notes are on Bambu Studio's GitHub releases page.
Why it matters: the old trade-off between detail and speed is starting to soften. Even without a tool changer, the same thinking applies to your orders: put fine layers only where they're seen and let the rest print faster. Our layer height, infill and walls guide explains the basics.
More colours from fewer spools
Colour mixing is having a moment. According to 3DPrint.com's news briefs, Snapmaker has added a PLA Full Spectrum Filament Bundle (White Edition) for its U1 printer. Full Spectrum stacks thin layers of semi-translucent filament so the colours blend visually, giving a print more perceived colours than the four spools loaded. The $89 set contains semi-translucent cyan, yellow, magenta and white.
The same roundup covers Toybox's Luna, a four-colour printer aimed at children, with introductory prices starting at $349. Users design or import a model in Toybox's platform and print it without manual slicing.
Why it matters: multicolour printing is getting easier and cheaper across the board. If you're curious what's possible on a commercial job, our multi-colour 3D printing guide covers what works and what to plan for.
Squeezing printed parts to make them stronger
Researchers at Old Dominion University in the US are developing Hot Powder Bed Compaction, a post-processing method that compresses printed thermoplastic parts while they're supported in hot powder, Fabbaloo reports. The university has received a US$400,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop it further.
The reported results on FFF parts are striking. A 2024 paper found a 27.77% increase in flexural strength for treated carbon-fibre-reinforced nylon test pieces, and later doctoral research reported internal voids falling from 16.8% to 2.3%, with tensile strength gains of up to 61.9% in the tested composites. Fabbaloo notes that the benefits for powder bed parts are still unproven.
Why it matters: it's research, not a service you can order yet, but it shows how much strength is lost to tiny gaps between layers. Choosing the right material and orientation already makes a big difference today; see our nylon and carbon fibre guide and orientation guide.
Freemelt to print 7,000 tungsten parts for ESS
Swedish metal printing company Freemelt has won a SEK 28 million order from the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund to print 7,000 tungsten-based components for its target wheel, 3DPrint.com reports. The facility produces neutrons when its proton beam strikes tungsten, and those components wear out and need replacing. Deliveries are scheduled over 14 months, with most planned for 2027.
Why it matters: it's a reminder that 3D printing is now trusted for repeat production of demanding parts, not just prototypes.
A 3D printed prosthetic socket wins a James Dyson Award
Finally, a heartwarming one from the same roundup. Colombian bioengineer and designer Laura Echeverri-Giraldo has won a James Dyson Award for ENCAJA, an affordable prosthetic socket system for people with transradial limb loss. A smartphone scan feeds an algorithm that generates a personalised socket, and the files can be made locally with 3D printing and laser cutting. Echeverri-Giraldo says it cuts design time from eight hours to one.
FAQ
Can Dynafabs print parts with fine detail and a fast body? We choose layer height and settings to suit what your part needs. Tell us which areas matter most for looks and which need strength, and we'll balance detail, speed and cost.
Can you print in several colours? Yes, multicolour prints are possible depending on the design. Send us your file or idea and we'll advise.
How do I get a quote? Upload your file or describe your project on our quote page and we'll get back to you.
Got a project in mind?
Whether it's a detailed display piece, a tough functional part or a colourful gift, get a quote from Dynafabs and we'll help you pick the right material and settings.
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