Bambu Lab H2D Review - Dual-Nozzle Multi-Material

The Bambu Lab H2D solves a problem that’s frustrated 3D printing users for years: how do you combine different materials in the same print without endless filament changes, massive purge towers, or manual intervention? The answer is dual nozzles—two independent extruders that can print different materials simultaneously.

Specifications

Spec	Value
Build Volume (Single)	325 × 320 × 325 mm
Build Volume (Dual)	300 × 320 × 325 mm
Max Speed	600 mm/s
Max Acceleration	20,000 mm/s²
Nozzle Temp	Up to 350°C (both)
Bed Temp	Up to 120°C
Chamber Temp	65°C (active heating)
Nozzles	2 independent
Laser Options	10W, 40W modules

Why Dual Nozzles Matter

Single-nozzle multi-material printing (via AMS) works by:

1. Retracting current filament
2. Loading new filament
3. Purging the old material
4. Resuming printing

Each material change takes 30-60 seconds and wastes 10-20cm of filament in purge towers. On a 50-change print, that’s 25-50 minutes of overhead and significant material waste.

Dual nozzles eliminate this:

• Both materials stay loaded and ready
• Zero retraction or purge for material changes
• Just move to the other nozzle and continue
• Change time: under 1 second

Practical impact: A two-material functional part that takes 4 hours on single-nozzle with purge tower takes 2.5 hours on H2D with zero waste material.

Multi-Material Use Cases

Dissolvable supports (PVA/BVOH):

• Print complex geometry with water-soluble supports
• No post-processing marks or tool access issues
• Soak overnight, supports dissolve completely
• Perfect for internal cavities and complex overhangs

Flexible + Rigid combinations:

• Print TPU gaskets directly onto rigid housings
• Flexible hinges integrated into rigid parts
• Vibration damping built into mechanical assemblies
• No assembly required, single print

Dual-color without compromise:

• Two-color logos and text with sharp boundaries
• No color bleeding at material transitions
• Faster than AMS for simple two-color work

Different materials for different properties:

• PETG body with ABS heat-resistant inserts
• PA structure with TPU bumpers
• PC frame with PLA decorative elements

Build Volume Considerations

The H2D offers two operating modes:

Single-nozzle mode: 325×320×325mm

• Uses either left or right nozzle only
• Full width available
• Choose this for large single-material parts

Dual-nozzle mode: 300×320×325mm

• Both nozzles active
• 25mm reduction in X-axis (nozzle spacing)
• Use for multi-material prints

The 300mm dual-mode width still exceeds most printers. You lose 25mm compared to single mode—a worthwhile trade for multi-material capability.

Active Chamber Performance

Same 65°C active heating as the H2S:

• Reliable Nylon and PC printing
• Eliminates ABS/ASA warping entirely
• Maintains temperature regardless of room conditions
• Essential for multi-material combinations involving engineering plastics

The heated chamber becomes even more valuable with dual materials. Combining PA (needs ~60°C chamber) with TPU (tolerant of chamber heat) requires controlled thermal management that passive chambers can’t provide.

Speed and Motion

At 600mm/s, the H2D is slightly slower than the H2S’s 1000mm/s. The dual-nozzle system adds mass to the toolhead, requiring modestly reduced speeds for quality.

Practical perspective: 600mm/s with zero-waste material changes beats 1000mm/s with purge tower overhead on any multi-material print. Single-material prints see 15-20% time increase versus H2S.

If speed on single-material prints is critical, the H2S makes more sense. If multi-material efficiency matters, the H2D wins despite lower headline speed.

Laser and Cutting Capability

The H2D supports optional modules:

• 10W 455nm laser: Engraving wood, leather, anodized aluminum
• 40W laser: Cutting thin materials, faster engraving
• Blade cutting module: Vinyl, paper, thin films

This transforms the H2D from a 3D printer into a multi-tool fabrication platform. Print a part, then engrave labeling or cut gasket material without moving to a different machine.

The laser modules require proper safety precautions. The H2D includes a laser safety window, but ventilation and eye protection remain necessary.

AMS Compatibility

Supports up to 4 AMS 2 Pro units (16 filaments) and 8 AMS HT units (24 filaments). With dual nozzles, you can run:

• Different materials on each nozzle path
• Multiple colors feeding to each nozzle
• Complex multi-material, multi-color combinations

This gets complex to manage but enables prints impossible on simpler systems.

H2D vs H2S vs H2C

Feature	H2S ($1,249)	H2D ($1,749)	H2C ($2,399)
Nozzles	1	2	6 (Vortek)
Max Speed	1000 mm/s	600 mm/s	1000 mm/s
Chamber	65°C active	65°C active	65°C active
Laser	10W	10W/40W	10W/40W
Multi-Mat	Via AMS only	Native dual	Native 6-hotend

Choose H2S if: You use AMS for occasional multi-material and prioritize speed.

Choose H2D if: You frequently print dual-material parts or need dissolvable supports.

Choose H2C if: You need maximum multi-material capability (6+ materials).

Workflow Considerations

Dual-nozzle printing requires thought about:

Nozzle offset calibration: Both nozzles must be precisely aligned. The H2D auto-calibrates this, but verify calibration monthly.

Material combinations: Not all materials stick to each other. PETG bonds well to TPU; PLA doesn’t bond to PC. Test material pairs before committing to complex prints.

Support strategy: Decide which nozzle prints supports. Dissolvable PVA on one nozzle, main material on the other is typical.

Slicer setup: Bambu Studio handles dual-nozzle well. Learning to assign nozzles to model regions takes practice.

Limitations

Speed reduction: 600mm/s vs H2S’s 1000mm/s matters for single-material speed priority.

Width reduction in dual mode: 25mm narrower than single-mode. Usually irrelevant but occasionally limits large dual-material parts.

Complexity: More to calibrate and maintain than single-nozzle printers. Not a beginner machine.

Price: $500 premium over H2S for dual-nozzle capability. Worth it only if you’ll actually use dual-material printing.

Who Should Buy This

Excellent choice if:

• You frequently combine different materials
• Dissolvable supports matter for complex geometry
• Dual-color without purge waste appeals to you
• Laser/cutting capability adds value to your workflow
• $1,749 is reasonable for your production needs

Look elsewhere if:

• Single-material covers most prints (H2S at $1,249)
• Speed matters more than multi-material (H2S)
• Maximum material variety is priority (H2C at $2,399)
• Budget is constrained (P2S at $549)

The Bottom Line

The H2D occupies a specific niche: users who print multi-material regularly and want efficiency over purge waste. The dual-nozzle system does what AMS can’t—switch materials instantly without retraction or purging.

At $1,749, it’s not for everyone. PLA-only users gain nothing. Occasional multi-color printers are served fine by AMS. But for production workflows involving dissolvable supports, flexible/rigid combinations, or continuous dual-material output, the H2D eliminates inefficiencies that add up to hours of wasted time.

The laser and cutting options add versatility that makes the H2D a multi-tool rather than just a printer. If your workflow involves prototyping complete assemblies—printed parts plus cut gaskets plus engraved labels—the H2D handles it all in one machine.