Bambu Lab announced the long-awaited seven-nozzle H2C this week at FormNext, the world’s largest additive manufacturing expo. The printer was recently sent to us for review and is currently undergoing testing.
The price revealed to Tom’s Hardware starts at $2399 US for a basic H2C with an AMS 2 Pro. This is the model we are reviewing. You can also pick up an Ultimate combo that comes with an additional single spool AMS HT for $2999. Like the H2D and H2S, you can opt for a Laser Combo starting at $2999 for the basics and up to $4199 for the whole enchilada.
The machine looks great, but U.S. buyers will have to wait until an undisclosed date in December. It’s another Lucy-and-the-football moment: an exciting launch yanked away at the last second thanks to “logistics,” a phrase that usually translates to tariff headaches. We were hoping that after a recently announced tariff truce between the U.S. and China , roadblocks keeping American consumers from the latest Chinese 3D printers would vanish.
But since the embargo has officially dropped, we thought we’d give you a behind-the-scenes look at our in-process review. The tech on this one is very, very interesting. I can’t wait to really dig into it, but here’s what we’ve sorted out after a couple of days with the H2C.
The toolhead is a modified version of the H2D, with the same left-hand nozzle, but a new right-hand nozzle that the machine can change out itself. It can’t use two different nozzle sizes at the same time (yet?), so for now you’ll need FIVE matching nozzles.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The new nozzles have inductive heaters and are held onto the Vortek Hotend Change System (attached to the right side of the chamber) with magnets. The Vortek can hold six nozzles, but only four of them are assigned to the AMS. The other two are spares? We haven’t quite sorted this part out, but we’re going to question the Bambu Lab team about the system and learn all its tricks at Formnext. I’m assuming we can hook up another AMS to this and run all seven nozzles, or maybe even more. I haven’t had time to tinker with it yet.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The Vortek system, bolted to the side of the chamber, takes up a lot of real estate. The H2D and H2S have the same-sized heat beds, 350mm wide. The H2C heat bed is only 340mm wide. This means that to convert an already expensive H2D or H2S, you will need at least a new tool head, a new heat bed, and the Vortek system itself.
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