Slice Mako Hotend for Bambu Lab

The Mako hotend upgrade for Bambu Lab 3D printer, developed by Slice Engineering, serves as a plug-and-play upgrade for the stock hotends of Bambu Lab printers, specifically compatible with the X1/X1C, X1E, and P1P/P1S models. This innovative air-cooled hotend is designed to handle 1.75 mm filament, facilitating seamless nozzle changes and enhancing printing efficiency.

Video 1: Introducint the Maho hotend for Bambu Lab. Source: Slice Engineering.

Users can expect an impressive boost in printing speeds of up to 60% (with CHT nozzle) compared to the original hotend, along with the flexibility to utilize a wide range of nozzle sizes and types, making it an ideal choice for diverse 3D printing applications.

Benefits at a glance

Installing the Mako hotend upgrade on Bambu Lab printers offers a multitude of benefits that significantly enhance the printing experience.

Quick nozzle changes

The Mako features a rigid, patented roll cage design, ensuring exceptional durability and crash protection. This innovative structure allows for lightning-fast one-hand nozzle changes. 

Video 2: The Mako hotend enables quick one-hand nozzle changes. Source: Slice Engineering.

This solution eliminates the need to remove the entire hotend when switching nozzle sizes. Users can enjoy increased efficiency and less downtime during printing sessions, making the Mako an excellent choice for those who frequently modify their setups.

Durable design

Crafted from high-quality materials such as high-strength copper alloys, aircraft-grade aluminum, and strain-hardened steels, the Mako hotend is built to withstand the rigors of extensive use. It can deliver thousands of hours of reliable performance without degradation, ensuring that users can consistently produce high-quality prints over time.

Image 1: The Mako hotend is made of high-strength materials. Source: Slice Engineering.

This durability translates into long-term savings and reduced maintenance, as operators spend less time troubleshooting and more time focusing on their projects. For those who print with abrasive materials, choosing the GammaMaster or DiamondBack nozzles will ensure even greater durability of the setup.

FIN nozzle standard

The Mako hotend also incorporates the innovative FIN nozzle geometry (Free and open-source Insulated Nozzle standard), which interlocks with a silicone boot to provide complete insulation from external cool air and plastic.

Image 2: The FIN nozzle standard compatible with the Mako hotend. Source: Slice Engineering.

This design ensures optimal thermal management, which is crucial for maintaining consistent extrusion and print quality. It must be kept in mind that the Mako hotend is only compatible with the FIN nozzle geometry.

Optimized flow and thermal performance

The Mako hotend’s advanced flow diffuser within the hot block promotes steady and consistent flow rates, fostering a fast and efficient printing process. By encouraging laminar flow and reducing internal turbulence, this feature enhances extrusion efficiency, resulting in high-quality prints. Additionally, the Bimetallic Heat Break technology minimizes heat creep and clogging.

Image 3: The performance of the Mako hotend vs. a stock Bambu Lab hotend. Source: Slice Engineering.

This makes the Mako hotend well-suited for processing higher-temperature filaments such as PA, PC, and TPU. The hotend’s thermally efficient design, highlighted by its copper hot block and aluminum heat sink, ensures exceptional thermal performance, leading to smoother and more reliable prints in various applications. It must be kept in mind that even though the Mako hotend is rated for 400 ºC extrusion temperatures, Bambu Lab printers are limited to 300-320 ºC by the firmware depending on the model.

What is included?

The electronics

Available for purchase in two electronics configurations, the Mako hotend can be acquired either with pre-installed electronics, including the heater, sensor, and fan, or without them.

Image 4: The Mako hotend with pre-installed electronics. Source: Slice Engineering.

For those opting for the version without electronics, installation requires the removal of the existing components from the Bambu Lab printer and their subsequent integration into the Mako hotend. This setup allows users to tailor the upgrade to their specific needs and technical comfort level, ensuring a customizable experience that maximizes the capabilities of their 3D printing equipment.

The nozzles

The Mako hotend upgrade offers three distinct nozzle options to choose from:

• GammaMaster - ideal for abrasive filaments such as carbon or glass fiber composites.
• CHT - nozzle that maximizes the already excellent flow rate by splitting filament into three strands, enhancing mixing and mechanical strength.
• DiamondBack - nozzle with a solid diamond tip for maximum durability and precision.

Image 5: The nozzles available for the Mako hotend. Source: Slice Engineering.

All these nozzles come in a 0.4 mm diameter and use the Slice Engineering FIN standard. It must be kept in mind that only nozzles conforming to the FIN standard are compatible with the Mako hotend. RepRap/V6 style nozzles will not function with this system, reinforcing the importance of selecting the right nozzle type to fully leverage the Mako's advanced features and optimized performance.

The accessories

Apart from the chosen nozzle and electronics configuration, the package contains a Mako silicone sock, a retaining clip, the Mako Air Dam (used to prevent external cooling on the Mako hotblock), a heater adapter, and thermal grease (pre-applied for the pre-installed electronic version).

Assembly instructions

The installation of the Mako hotend upgrade on the Bambu Lab printers is very quick and straightfoward. The process is explained in this video provided by the manufacturer:

Video 3: Installing the Mako hotend on Bambu Lab printers. Source: Slice Engineering.

The entire process is also explained in the User Manual available in PDF format in the Attachments section. Custom material profiles as well as the Mako Air Dam STEP file are also available in the Attachments section.