Sovol M1D Combines IDEX and Tool Changing for Seven-Color FDM Printing

Sovol's new M1D is the first desktop 3D printer to merge two architectures that most manufacturers treat as incompatible: an independent dual-extruder (IDEX) gantry and an automatic tool changer. The result is a single machine that can print up to seven colors or materials in one job while also running two identical parts at the same time.

How DualX Works

Most multi-material printers force a choice. Single-nozzle systems like Bambu Lab's AMS swap filaments through one hot end, which means long purge cycles and wasted plastic between every color change. Tool changers eliminate that waste by keeping multiple nozzles ready, but adding an IDEX gantry on top usually means six or more full extruder assemblies crammed into one frame, driving cost and complexity up.

Sovol's DualX sidesteps that by mounting one extruder permanently on the left side of the gantry and docking the other six in a changer pool on the right. The fixed extruder never moves, so it keeps printing while the changer swaps the second head in and out. Tool changes take roughly five seconds, and each toolhead preheats on its dock so it is ready the moment it slots in.

Specifications

• Build volume: 300 x 300 x 350 mm
• Toolheads: 1 fixed + 6 dockable (7 total)
• Max speed: 600 mm/s
• Leveling: 2,500-point automatic
• Firmware: Klipper, fully open source
• Nozzles: Hardened steel, up to 300 C

IDEX Modes

The M1D supports Duplication mode, which mirrors a part across the two gantry sides and prints both at once, and Mirror mode for symmetrical objects. Those modes only use the fixed extruder, so they run at full speed without waiting for a tool change. Switching to Multi mode engages the changer pool and opens up to seven materials or colors in a single job.

Pricing and Availability

Sovol opened the M1D for pre-orders in July 2026. A refundable $20 deposit locks in a VIP price of $1,199. Once the Kickstarter campaign goes live, the Super Early Bird tier rises to $1,499, and the planned retail price is $1,799. The company says it will release Klipper firmware configurations and full documentation under an open-source license, letting users modify and extend the system without restrictions.

What to Watch

The DualX concept is compelling on paper: near-zero purge waste, fast tool changes, and genuine IDEX throughput. The open-source firmware is a genuine differentiator in a category where most vendors lock users into proprietary ecosystems. The unknowns are mechanical. Tool-docking reliability, long-term calibration drift across six nozzles, and feed-path wear are all things that only become clear once units are in real-world use. No third-party review of a production unit has been published yet.

If Sovol executes on the hardware, the M1D would be the first machine to seriously combine IDEX productivity with multi-material flexibility without asking buyers to choose between them.