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Last updated: September 24, 2026. Prices and specs come from FA3D’s pre-launch site and may change at the Kickstarter launch.
- The FA3D DIO X is a two-carriage desktop printer from a new Shenzhen startup. Each carriage takes a swappable tool: FDM, a UV inkjet color head, a laser, a digital cutter, or a drawing pen. Pair two FDM heads for multi-color printing, or pair FDM with the UV head to print parts in full color.
- Full color works by painting UV ink onto an FDM body. The filament does the structure, and a 6-channel UV head colors only the outer shell.
- It is not on sale yet. As of late September 2026, FA3D only takes a small refundable VIP deposit, and the Kickstarter is targeted for October to November.
- The cheapest full-color bundle is $1,399 at the VIP price ($2,399 MSRP). HeyGears G1X started at $3,599 and Flashforge CJ270 pre-orders at $3,999.
- “World’s first” is only partly true. XYZprinting sold an FDM printer with inkjet coloring back in 2017. The DIO X may be the first to pair FDM with UV-cured ink, and a few of FA3D’s own numbers don’t agree.
If you’ve looked at a painted tabletop mini and thought “I’d love that straight off the printer,” you’re not alone. Full-color printing has been the thing makers want and mostly can’t afford.
The options so far each give something up. Multi-color FDM only mixes the few spools you load. The new full-color resin machines start around $3,600, and people who’ve been near them talk about daily maintenance and wasted ink. One Reddit reply summed up the mood: “Would be better if this could be done with FDM prints tho.”
FA3D says it has done exactly that. Below you’ll find what the DIO X actually is, the full eight-bundle price table, how the color process works, and the places where the claims hold up and where they don’t.
Table of Contents
- What Is the FA3D DIO X?
- How the FA3D DIO X Adds Full Color to FDM Prints (FDM + UV Explained)
- FA3D DIO X Price: All Eight Kickstarter Bundles
- FA3D DIO X Specs at a Glance
- Is the FA3D DIO X Really the World’s First Full-Color FDM+UV 3D Printer?
- FA3D DIO X vs HeyGears G1X, Flashforge CJ270 and eufyMake E1
- Where FA3D’s Own DIO X Numbers Don’t Line Up
- Risks to Weigh Before Backing the FA3D DIO X on Kickstarter
- My Take on the FA3D DIO X: Who Should Watch It
- What’s Next for the FA3D DIO X
- FAQ About the FA3D DIO X
What Is the FA3D DIO X?
At its core, the FA3D DIO X puts two independent tool carriages in one modular desktop 3D printer, and FA3D markets it on its official site as “The World’s First Full-Color FDM+UV 3D Printer.” Any two tools can share the machine at once. FA3D lists five pairings on its site: FDM + UV, FDM + FDM, FDM + Laser, Laser + UV, and Cutting + UV.
FA3D calls this the “Dioscuri-3D Architecture,” and the tagline is “Any Two. Every Job.” In plain terms, you get a multi-material FDM printer that can also swap in a laser, a vinyl-style cutter, a pen plotter, or a UV color head.
Who Is Behind FA3D
FA3D is a new Shenzhen brand. According to the Chinese launch coverage, the core team comes from Creality (a former R&D deputy director) and Dreame (a former division R&D director). Everyone on the team has five or more years in 3D printing.
The launch story also says the product was developed quietly for more than six months. FA3D’s own site says the team “spent over a year” on it. The two timelines don’t strictly conflict, but it’s a reminder that launch details are still loose.
FA3D DIO X Launch Status and Kickstarter Timing
You can’t buy one yet. FA3D’s FAQ says the printer is in a pre-launch phase, and it “is targeted to launch between October and November, with the exact date to be announced.”
What you can do right now is pay a refundable VIP deposit to lock in a lower Kickstarter price. FA3D already sells filament on its store, and those orders ship separately from the printer campaign.
How the FA3D DIO X Adds Full Color to FDM Prints (FDM + UV Explained)
The DIO X prints the part in normal filament, then a UV inkjet head paints color onto the outside and cures it. FA3D calls the process ColorFusion. The FDM plastic forms the internal structure and infill, a “canvas” layer bonds to both the plastic and the ink, and the UV head colors only that thin outer layer.
Think of it like priming a model and then airbrushing it, except the machine does both steps. FA3D says the UV head uses a 6-channel ink system with 1440 DPI droplets. It adds “smart path planning and real-time visual calibration” to line the color up with the plastic.
What Is the Difference Between a 3D Printer and a UV Printer?
A 3D printer builds an object from nothing. A UV printer jets ink onto something that already exists and cures it with UV light. The ink can’t stand up on its own, so a UV printer needs a flat base or an existing object to print on.
That’s why the eufyMake E1 (the $46.76 million Kickstarter record holder) adds raised texture to phone cases and tumblers, but it can’t print a figurine. It’s also why Chinese tech press covering HeyGears argued that FDM pairs poorly with UV full color, since you can’t premix melted plastic into millions of colors.
The DIO X dodges the problem. It never mixes color into the plastic. It uses the FDM part as the object the UV printer prints on. If you’re curious where Bambu Lab fits into this, we covered Bambu Lab’s rumored UV printer separately.
Why the DIO X Skips White Ink, and What That Does to Ink Cost
Most UV printers lay down white ink as a base so colors look right on dark or clear surfaces. FA3D drops the white ink and relies on the FDM body (and its canvas layer) as the base. The launch story says this cuts both machine and consumable costs substantially, without giving figures.
That makes sense in principle. On UV printers, ink use follows coverage. John Santos cut the ink cost of one design from $6.23 to $3.32 on his Uphoria UV printer just by reworking the artwork. Coloring a thin shell, and printing no white underlayer, should use less ink than building a whole part from ink.
The official site goes further with “80% Less Cost. 50% Less Time.” FA3D doesn’t say what that’s compared against. For reference, HeyGears prices its UV ink at $25 per 300 ml for white and $29 for color. Treat FA3D’s percentages as marketing until someone prints the same model on both kinds of machine.
FA3D DIO X Price: All Eight Kickstarter Bundles
The DIO X starts at $549 for an FDM-only bundle at the VIP price and tops out at $3,099 for everything. The cheapest bundle with the UV color head is the Full-Color Starter Pack, which comes in $1,000 below its listed MSRP at the VIP price. All prices below are from FA3D’s DIO X product page as of September 24, 2026.
| Bundle | What’s included | MSRP | Super Early Bird | VIP price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDM Starter | 2 FDM toolheads, heated bed | $899 | $599 | $549 |
| FDM Pro | 2 FDM toolheads, conveyor bed, 1 filament box | $1,299 | $899 | $799 |
| FDM Max | 2 FDM toolheads, conveyor bed, 2 filament boxes | $1,599 | $1,099 | $999 |
| FDM-Laser | 2 FDM toolheads, laser toolhead, laser bed sheet, 1 filament box | $1,999 | $1,399 | $1,199 |
| Full-Color Starter | 2 FDM toolheads, UV toolhead, UV ink station, heated bed, 2 filament boxes | $2,399 | $1,599 | $1,399 |
| Full-Color Pro | 2 FDM toolheads, UV toolhead, UV ink station, conveyor bed, 1 filament box | $2,599 | $1,799 | $1,599 |
| Full-Color Max | 2 FDM toolheads, UV toolhead, UV ink station, conveyor bed, 2 filament boxes | $2,899 | $1,999 | $1,799 |
| Deluxe | Everything: 2 FDM, UV, laser, cutter, pen, conveyor bed, 2 filament boxes | $4,999 | $3,499 | $3,099 |
Every bundle includes the main unit. One detail worth a second look: the Full-Color Starter lists two filament boxes while the pricier Full-Color Pro lists one. Check the final Kickstarter reward list before you pick.
If you only want an FDM machine, the FDM Starter is the entry point. The full-color price is the real headline, though. It’s well under half of what the resin-based full-color machines launched at.
What the $50 FA3D VIP Deposit Actually Buys
The deposit locks in the VIP column above. The difference between the Super Early Bird and VIP prices comes back to you as a refund after the Kickstarter ends. That’s $50 on the cheapest bundle and $400 on the Deluxe, which matches FA3D’s “up to $400 cashback.”
The FAQ lists a few conditions:
- The VIP discount applies only to the Super Early Bird tier. It can’t be used on the Late Pledge tier.
- You have to pledge with the same email you registered with.
- VIP also gets a 30% store coupon, priority shipping, and a printable trophy STL.
- To cancel before launch, you email support@fa3d.com. FA3D says your refund request “will only be considered valid once you’ve received confirmation from our team.”
Keep your eye on the MSRP column. Kickstarter hardware often lists a high “retail” price to make the discount look bigger. Procolored’s X One UV + laser printer did the same with a $3,799 super early bird against a claimed $7,999 retail. What matters is the price you’d actually pay, compared with what else that money buys.
FA3D DIO X Specs at a Glance
The core specs FA3D publishes are a 300 mm cube build volume, 800 mm/s top speed, a 350°C nozzle, and a 65°C actively heated chamber. The table shows where each number comes from. Where the official site and the Chinese launch story disagree, you’ll see both.
| Spec | FA3D official site | Chinese launch story |
|---|---|---|
| Build volume | 300 × 300 × 300 mm | Not stated |
| Max print speed | 800 mm/s | 800 mm/s |
| Toolheads / nozzles / motors | 2 / 4 / 4 | 2 bases, 4 motors |
| Nozzle swap | 1 second | 1 second |
| Nozzle offset or switch accuracy | Under 0.25 mm | ±25 microns |
| Max nozzle temperature | 350°C | Not stated |
| Heated chamber | 65°C, active heating and cooling | Not stated |
| Materials named | PLA, PETG, PC, PPA, TPU | Not stated |
| UV color system | 6-channel ink, 1440 DPI, 10M+ colors | Millions of colors |
| Filament capacity | Up to 4 MDS dryer units via FA3D Hub | 4 five-slot boxes, up to 20 filaments |
| Bed | Heated bed or heated conveyor with auto-unload | Conveyor, unlimited continuous printing |
The 1-second swap is clever on paper. Each nozzle rotates on its own axis and pivots against a fixed post at the back of the chamber. A metal shield covers each nozzle to stop ooze, so FA3D says there’s no need to purge before a swap.
The MDS dryer boxes heat filament up to 85°C with humidity sensing and automatic venting. The conveyor bed carries finished parts to the edge, drops them off, and starts the next job. If you run a small Etsy shop, that conveyor may matter more than the color.
Is the FA3D DIO X Really the World’s First Full-Color FDM+UV 3D Printer?
Partly. FDM+UV may be new, but full-color FDM isn’t. XYZprinting announced the da Vinci Color in 2017 at $2,999.95, and it combined FDM with inkjet color. It printed PLA and fired CMYK ink droplets between layers, which the filament absorbed. XYZ claimed 16 million shades.
A smaller da Vinci Color mini followed in 2018 at $1,599.95 ($999.95 on Indiegogo). In 2019, Polish startup OVE teamed with Memjet on an A4-size full-color FDM printer aimed at professionals. So FDM plus inkjet color has been around for nearly a decade.
The caveat is the word “UV.” XYZ used ink that soaked into the plastic. FA3D paints UV-curable ink onto the surface and cures it. Our search turned up no earlier consumer machine that pairs an FDM toolhead with a UV-cured inkjet head. So “the first FDM + UV printer” may well be true, while “the first full-color FDM printer” isn’t.
Flashforge has its own “world’s first” too. It calls the CJ270 “The World’s First Desktop Full-Color 3D Printer,” and one Reddit commenter pushed back that there are “like 20 models out right now.” Treat any “first” in this category as a marketing phrase.
FA3D DIO X vs HeyGears G1X, Flashforge CJ270 and eufyMake E1
The DIO X is the only machine in this group whose parts are built from normal filament, and it’s the cheapest way in to full color. The others jet and cure resin (G1X, CJ270) or add color and texture onto existing objects (E1).
| Machine | How it makes color | Part body | Launch price | What it makes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA3D DIO X | FDM + UV ink on the surface | PLA, PETG, PC and other filaments | $1,399 VIP full-color ($2,399 MSRP) | Full-color 3D parts, plus FDM, laser, cutting |
| HeyGears G1X | UV resin jetting | Jetted photopolymer | $3,599 early bird | Full-color 3D, flat UV, 2.5D texture |
| Flashforge CJ270 | MJP resin jetting (CMYK, white, clear) | Jetted photopolymer | $3,999 pre-order ($4,499 list) | Full-color 3D in 180 × 120 × 100 mm |
| eufyMake E1 | UV inkjet onto objects | Whatever you print on | $46.76M raised on Kickstarter | 2D and 2.5D texture, no standalone 3D parts |
HeyGears had raised about $12.8 million on Kickstarter by August 16, so there’s clearly demand. You can read our breakdown of the HeyGears G1X full-color 3D printer for the resin side of the story.
Are FDM + UV Color Prints Stronger Than Full-Color Resin Prints?
Probably, for the body of the part, but nobody has tested it yet. A DIO X print’s structure is whatever filament you chose, so a PETG or PC core should behave like PETG or PC. That’s FA3D’s whole pitch: color on parts you can wear and handle.
Be careful with the numbers you’ll see quoted, though. The Chinese launch story says jetted full-color parts start to soften near 50°C and credits unnamed third-party reviews. That figure has no traceable source. There’s also no data yet on how well the UV color layer survives scratches, sweat, or sunlight on an FDM part.
Maintenance is the other side of the comparison. A Reddit commenter noted that full-color resin machines “waste quite a bit of resin ink during automatic cleaning” and can’t sit idle for a month. FA3D’s answer is a cleaning cycle that soaks the nozzles, keeps ink circulating, and clears them with suction after every print. Whether that beats clogging in real homes is a question only owners can answer.
How DIO X Compares With Multi-Color Toolchangers Like Snapmaker U1 and Bambu Lab H2C
Fit two FDM tools and you get a four-nozzle multi-color printer, and FA3D claims 4-color models print “8X faster.” The claim is plausible in direction, since toolchangers avoid most purge waste. Initiative Design’s six-month Snapmaker U1 test showed how big that gap can be.
On a model with 301 color changes, the U1 finished in 5 hours 33 minutes with 12 g of waste. A Bambu X1 Carbon took 15 hours 30 minutes and produced 162 g of purge plus a 20 g prime tower. The launch story pegs FA3D’s “8X” against an unspecified “industry average” in one place and a “traditional single-head printer” in another, with no test model named.
The bigger difference is palette. A toolchanger gives you the colors you loaded, and Bambu Lab’s H2C tops out at 24 filaments. The DIO X’s UV head adds gradients and photo-style color that no number of spools can match. If you’re choosing between established toolchangers today, our Bambu Lab H2C vs Snapmaker U1 comparison covers the trade-offs.
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Where FA3D’s Own DIO X Numbers Don’t Line Up
Two of FA3D’s published numbers contradict each other outright, one spec needs clarifying, and several headline multipliers have no clear baseline. None of these are deal-breakers. They are reasons to wait for final specs.
- Nozzle accuracy: the official site says nozzle offset is “<0.25mm." The Chinese launch story puts switching accuracy at ±25 microns, which is 0.025 mm. These may measure different things (offset before calibration versus accuracy after it), but the tenfold difference is worth asking FA3D to clarify.
- VIP discount: the product page says “up to 42% off MSRP.” The FAQ says “up to 43%.” The table math gives 42%.
- Store coupon validity: the product page says the 30% coupon has “2-yr validity” in one spot and is “valid for three years from issue” further down.
- Loose multipliers: “80% Less Cost,” “50% Less Time,” and “Up to 99% Less Waste” appear on the site with no stated comparison. “8X Faster” is compared only to a vague “industry average” or “traditional single-head printer.”
Risks to Weigh Before Backing the FA3D DIO X on Kickstarter
The biggest risk is simple. It’s new. It’s a first-generation hybrid from a brand with no shipped printers, and no independent reviewer has printed on it yet. Beyond that, a few specific problems have already shown up on similar machines.
- Laser smoke near a UV head. When Procolored combined UV printing and a laser in its X One, the DraftID channel flagged the risk of laser smoke and debris contaminating the UV print head. The DIO X can hold a laser and a UV head in the same chamber.
- Ink shelf life and printhead lifespan. The Chinese launch story notes early UV printer buyers complaining that ink expires within six months and some printheads last only three to six months. FA3D hasn’t published its ink price, shelf life, or printhead model.
- Vibration. Inkjet printing is sensitive to movement. John Santos had a UV print on a cup interrupted because his table swayed. The DIO X runs its FDM side at up to 800 mm/s on the same frame.
- Toolchanger contacts. Initiative Design logged 75,000 tool changes on one U1, but also a pogo pin error on a second unit. FA3D has no public reliability data yet.
- The category is young. By HeyGears’ own projection, as reported in Chinese press, the G1X needs at least one or two more product generations before it’s ready for home users.
If you’re thinking about the deposit, check these before launch day:
- Confirm in writing that your refund request was received.
- Decide on your bundle in advance, since VIP pricing works only on the Super Early Bird reward and never on Late Pledge.
- When the campaign goes live, look for the UV ink price per bottle, ink shelf life, the printhead part number, and a firm ship date.
My Take on the FA3D DIO X: Who Should Watch It
Using FDM as the base for UV color is the smartest idea I’ve seen in consumer full-color printing this year. It answers the two complaints that keep coming up in the Reddit threads about resin full-color machines: upkeep and a price that starts around $3,600.
Price is what makes the DIO X interesting. One Reddit commenter guessed that “once they get below say $3k the 40k players will be all over them.” FA3D’s VIP price comes in at less than half of that.
That said, I wouldn’t pledge for the full-color bundle until someone independent shows UV samples on a real FDM part, up close and after handling. The deposit is a low-risk way to hold the price while you wait, as long as you’re comfortable with the refund process.
If you need a dependable daily printer right now, buy a proven toolchanger and paint the parts that matter. Our guide to the best paint for 3D prints covers that route. If you run tabletop, cosplay, or small-batch merch and want color without painting, the DIO X is worth following closely.
What’s Next for the FA3D DIO X
The next milestone is the Kickstarter launch, which FA3D targets for October to November 2026. Expect the final reward tiers, shipping estimates, and, hopefully, ink pricing to appear then.
The most useful signal will be the first hands-on UV samples from people who don’t work for FA3D. This page will be updated at launch and again when real print samples appear.
FAQ About the FA3D DIO X
What is the FA3D DIO X?
FA3D’s DIO X is a modular 3D printer with two tool carriages, built by a new Shenzhen company. It can combine two FDM toolheads with a UV inkjet head to print full-color parts, and it also accepts laser, cutting, and pen toolheads.
How much does the FA3D DIO X cost?
FA3D lists eight bundles. They range from $899 to $4,999 MSRP, $599 to $3,499 at Super Early Bird, and $549 to $3,099 at the VIP price. Full color starts at $2,399 MSRP, $1,599 Super Early Bird, or $1,399 VIP.
How much does a full color 3D printer cost?
Among desktop full-color 3D printers on pre-order or heading to crowdfunding, prices start with the FA3D DIO X Full-Color Starter (VIP price above) and run up to $3,599 (HeyGears G1X early bird) and $3,999 (Flashforge CJ270 pre-order). Industrial full-color machines such as the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 list for over $200,000.
What is the difference between a 3D printer and a UV printer?
A 3D printer builds a standalone object layer by layer. A UV printer only decorates a surface that already exists, so it needs a base to work on. The FA3D DIO X combines both, using an FDM print as the surface for UV color.
When will the FA3D DIO X ship?
The Kickstarter is planned for October or November 2026, and no ship date has been announced. VIP depositors are promised priority shipping “when mass production begins.”
Is the FA3D DIO X VIP deposit refundable?
Yes. FA3D says the deposit is fully refundable before the Kickstarter launches if you email support@fa3d.com, and the request counts once the team confirms it. If you pledge, the VIP discount is refunded to your original payment method after the campaign ends.
Can the FA3D DIO X print in full color without the UV toolhead?
No. Without the UV toolhead it works as a multi-color FDM printer with up to four nozzles and up to 20 filaments through its dryer boxes, according to launch materials. Photo-style full color needs a bundle that includes the UV toolhead and ink station.
