Multi-material & multi-colour 3D printing — Bambu H2D
Most FDM printers can only print in one colour or one material at a time. The Bambu H2D, with its AMS multi-material system, can switch between up to 4 filaments mid-print — meaning a single part can come off the bed in multiple colours, or with a flexible TPU element bonded to a rigid PLA body, or with soluble support material inside complex geometry.
We run an H2D from our Leith workshop and it's the printer behind most of our presentation models, branded prototypes and prop-making work.
What multi-material printing changes
- Multi-colour models without paint — logos, labelling, colour-coded parts come straight off the printer.
- Soft-rigid combinations in one print — TPU grips on rigid handles, gaskets bonded to housings, rubber-to-plastic transitions.
- Soluble supports for complex geometry — water-soluble PVA support material that dissolves away, giving clean internal surfaces no manual cleanup can match.
- Functional prototypes that don't need post-processing — fewer assembly steps, fewer parts to source, faster path from print to demo.
Common use cases
- Presentation models for client pitches — coloured, branded, ready to show
- Branded promotional objects — multi-colour logos printed in, not painted on
- Film and TV props — props with built-in colour detail that survives weathering and on-set handling
- Architectural models — different levels, materials or zones printed in different colours for clarity
- Engineering prototypes — flexible elements integrated into rigid housings in a single print
- Educational models — anatomical, geological, architectural learning aids with built-in colour coding
Capability
- Printer: Bambu H2D with AMS multi-material system
- Build volume: 350 × 320 × 325 mm
- Materials per print: up to 4 in any combination
- Colours per print: up to 16 with planned filament swaps
- Material families: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PVA (soluble), PA-CF (carbon-fibre nylon)
- Layer heights: 0.08 mm to 0.32 mm depending on speed/finish needs
- Files: STL, 3MF (preferred for multi-material — keeps colour/material assignments), STEP, OBJ
What 3MF does that STL can't
If you're sending a multi-colour or multi-material part, export as 3MF rather than STL. 3MF carries colour and material information per face — STL is geometry-only, which means we'd have to manually re-paint the colours in slicer (slower, less accurate). Most modern CAD packages export 3MF natively.
Design tips
- For colour transitions, keep them on flat-ish surfaces — the H2D wipes filament between switches, but transitions across vertical features can leave faint blending.
- For TPU + rigid combos, design the interface as an interlocking lattice or large flat area — pure butt-joints between materials can delaminate.
- For PVA-supported prints, design the support cavity yourself in CAD if the geometry's complex — the slicer's auto-support is good, but a designed-in support is always better.
Pricing
Multi-material prints cost more than single-material runs, mostly because of the filament-purge waste between colour swaps (the H2D "primes" the new filament onto a waste tower). For a small multi-colour part, expect £50-£100; for larger or more colour-heavy prints we quote per file. Costed quote inside 24 hours.
Get a sample print
The fastest way to see if multi-material suits your project is to send us your file and we'll print one piece as a paid sample. £50 for a sample, credited against the production order if you go ahead.
Email enquiries@cobblestonecreative.co.uk with your 3MF or STL.