RE:
My prediction? Every (Chinese) printer manufacturer will have a tool changer by end of this year. At that time, the INDX will no longer be special and off people's radar.
I'm optimistic and if they play their cards right (and technology lives up to the hype) it will be an awesome, convenient, compact, flexible thing. Somewhere in the middle (cost and performance) where peoples' everyday needs are. Just not pushing the edge e.g. an inductive heating system will have a hard time competing with a dumb 70 W resistive heater and extra-long UHF hotend in volumetric flow. And another heater (and another one and another one ...) that keep the unused heads at temperature - if I choose so - so the delay from heating is zero, difficult to outperform.
RE: When will alternate nozzles be available for purchase?
Somewhere in the middle (cost and performance) where peoples' everyday needs are. Just not pushing the edge e.g. an inductive heating system will have a hard time competing with a dumb 70 W resistive heater and extra-long UHF hotend in volumetric flow. And another heater (and another one and another one ...) that keep the unused heads at temperature - if I choose so - so the delay from heating is zero, difficult to outperform.
No doubt BondTech will continue to innovate and carve out a niche for themselves. Especially given that this is theoretically adaptable to any CoreXY frame. Once it gets in the hands of real users and gets real-world experience, I'm curious to see how it stacks up to the U1, Creator 5 or BL Vortek.
RE: When will alternate nozzles be available for purchase?
I think Prusa will be fine. It will be a niche but I am confident they will continue to lead in customer service and as long as they do that, they will have a customer base.
As for the INDX and Vortek, I have seen both and the INDX is superior.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: When will alternate nozzles be available for purchase?
I doubt it. Not everyone wants or needs a tool changer. 90-95% of the prints I print for myself or commercially are single color. Most there is simply no advantage or need to have in multiple colors.
INDX will always be a compromise but I foresee they would have a hard time competing outside the segment they worked so hard to introduce.
My prediction? Every (Chinese) printer manufacturer will have a tool changer by end of this year. At that time, the INDX will no longer be special and off people's radar.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: When will alternate nozzles be available for purchase?
I wouldn't be so sure!
I think the purchase for such systems is simply too high for many
RE: When will alternate nozzles be available for purchase?
It’s never about what people actually need. It’s about convincing them they if they don’t have it they are missing out. Same thing with 350 degree hot ends and heated chambers. 99% of buyers don’t need it, but convince themselves they have to have it and will go to a competing brand to get it.
RE: When will alternate nozzles be available for purchase?
Whether multicolor or even multimaterial is overrated remains to be seen but having 0.2 / 0.4 / 0.6mm nozzles dialed in all the time sure is convenient... That's what INDX will probably do for most, and let's hope slicer support catches up (infill combining across layers is standard already now so printing at different layer heights is feasible, as far as the printhead is concerned. The rest is software).