Review: Snapmaker U1 Strikes Hard

Hot off the presses from the new issue of Make: magazine, Contributing Editor Matt Stultz writes: Multicolor and multi-material printing has been a goal in the desktop 3D printing space for at least 15 years. We’ve seen numerous different attempts at bringing this to fruition, from carriages with multiple extruders to filament swapping devices, but all of these came with reliability or waste issues that made them just not quite right. So when E3D, a company known for innovation in the 3D printing space, announced in late 2018 a new tool changer system to combat these issues, the community was excited — and inspired to innovate. Over 7 years later, tool changers might finally be finding their time.

The machine that really kicks off the adoption of tool changers is likely to be the new Snapmaker U1. I got a chance to try out the U1 and put it through its paces, and I’m definitely impressed. Not only did the machine perform well, it has a shockingly low preorder price at $849.

Click through for the full review. And for more on tool changers, laser cutters, CNCs and more, pick up the new Make: Volume 96 coming soon to your mailbox and newsstands.

CES 2026: Maker Highlights from the Biggest Tech Show on Earth

Make: Contributor Greg Swan writes: CES has always carried the maker spirit, but this year it felt more baked than ever. We didn’t see rows of 3D printers running as in the recent past. Instead, we saw their output (printed parts, custom enclosures, snapped-together modules) embedded in products. Same with Raspberry Pis and dev boards. They’re not being demoed. They’re doing the work.

Looking back in the 18 years I’ve attended the show, CES didn’t turn into a maker show so much as it absorbed the maker movement once hardware stopped being something only mega-brands could ship.

1+2+3: Hanging Book Frame

From Make: magazine: This hanging frame is an elegant way to display a favorite book, open or shut. Make: Online Editor Sam Freeman originally wanted a full-color e-ink display that would automatically download and cycle through a new comic strip each day, but this was easier, uses zero power, and frankly looks better on a wall. He’s wisely put a Calvin and Hobbes book in his, and turns the page every few days for variety.

Best Dev Boards for Edge AI Projects

From Make: magazine: Raspberry Pi 5 and the new Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Super top our picks for the best dev board for your edge AI projects. But they aren’t your only options. If you’re looking for something smaller, lower cost, something with vision built-in, or even a microcontroller, these are our favorites in 2026.

Quinn Liu on Tactile Art, Teamwork, and a Giant Cat Butt

Make: Online Editor Sam Freeman recently interviewed Qingyun “Quinn” Liu, a mixed media artist, indie game developer, and the Founder/Creative Director of DaChu Interactive. Her recent projects include InSync, a multisensory maze that leads participants to a mystical creature encounter while blindfolded, and How to Pet Your Cat, a fun and absurd social cat butt controller game celebrated by thousands of in-person players, and covered by major media outlets including IGN and CNET.

Lightweaver — Illuminating Museums and Festivals

From Make: magazine: In 8th grade, Todd Moyer fell in love with making after combining a shop class assignment — a little gadget that varied a lightbulb’s voltage in response to audio signals — with his home stereo and some Christmas lights, turning his room into a disco club. “The exhilaration I felt was not just from pretty lights and music, but the feeling of empowerment that came from owning what was created,” he says. “When my creations are at their best, they’re giving that same feeling to participants.” After a decade working as an independent artist and president of experiential art company 11 Dimensions, Moyer continues to spread that infectious joy through his interactive art installations.

Thursday, February 12, 2026 @ 4 PM PST 

Join Dale Dougherty and Steph Piper, author of the new Skill Seeker: Young Maker Edition activity and guide book, to explore how “skill trees” transform learning into a game that motivates young makers along their STEAM path.

Make Some Noise

Want to create your own instruments or get started with analog synths? Either way, the Synth-a-Sette is a new way to get creative!

• Invent Your Own Keyboard: Turn everyday objects into musical keys by just clipping them to the Synth-a-Sette, using conductivity.

• Play Melodies Anywhere: Everything you need. Includes 13 key monophonic touchpad, an "octave up" button, optional vibrato switch, built-in speaker, line out, and batteries.