AxiLoop Debuts MC8 and MC8 Pro Eight-Toolhead 3D Printers

AxiLoop has introduced the MC8 and MC8 Pro, two 3D printers built around eight swappable tool modules. The machines made their public debut at Formnext Asia Shenzhen, where the previously teased MC8 appeared alongside a new Pro version with an actively heated chamber.

Both models provide a 300 x 300 x 300 mm build volume and keep eight preheated hotends parked inside the machine. The moving carriage collects the tool needed for each section of a print, allowing every color or material to remain connected to its own spool.

Eight Tools Instead of One Shared Nozzle

Single-nozzle multicolor systems feed several filaments through the same hotend. Each change requires the previous material to be flushed before the next color can print cleanly. A toolchanger avoids most of that purge by moving to a separate hotend instead.

AxiLoop says the MC8 can exchange a preheated tool in four seconds. Some priming may still be needed before printing resumes, but the machine does not have to clear one filament from a shared melt zone at every change. The company markets the arrangement as substantially reducing waste, although it has not published the model or test method behind its advertised tenfold comparison.

The eight tools use hardened-steel nozzles rated to 300°C, with a stated maximum flow rate of 34 mm³/s. A 0.4 mm nozzle is standard, while 0.2, 0.6 and 0.8 mm sizes are also listed. AxiLoop says the machine automatically measures the offset between tools and compensates to within 0.03 mm.

A 300 mm Build Volume on Both Models

The MC8 and MC8 Pro share the same 300 mm cubic build area and a flexible, PEI-coated steel build plate. The bed reaches 110°C. An eddy-current sensor scans 2,500 points across the surface, a process AxiLoop says takes about one minute.

The published specification separates printing speed from non-printing movement: AxiLoop rates material deposition at up to 300 mm/s, travel at up to 600 mm/s and acceleration at up to 25,000 mm/s². These are maximum manufacturer figures rather than measured production speeds.

Control is handled through a four-inch touchscreen, with Wi-Fi and USB for file transfer and 16 GB of internal storage. A 1080p camera provides remote monitoring. AxiLoop also says 45 sensors monitor functions including filament movement, tool pickup, temperature and build-plate placement, with software intended to identify faults during a print.

The MC8 Pro Adds Chamber Heating

The main difference between the two machines is thermal control. The standard MC8 has no actively heated chamber, while the MC8 Pro adds a glass door, air circulation and chamber heating up to 65°C. The controlled environment is intended to maintain a more consistent temperature around the part during longer prints.

That additional heating raises the Pro's stated maximum power draw to 2,200 W, compared with 1,200 W for the MC8. The Pro is also taller, but its build volume and eight-tool system remain unchanged.

A New Printer Brand With Industrial Backing

AxiLoop is a new 3D-printing brand from Shenzhen Xikoe Industrial, a maker of precision grinding and polishing equipment. Xikoe is majority-owned by Shenzhen Zesum Technology, which trades on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under code 301486. Zesum acquired a 52% stake in Xikoe in 2023.

The MC8 is the first 3D printer presented under the AxiLoop name, but the companies behind it already manufacture precision machinery and electronic components. That gives the project an established industrial parent even though the consumer-facing printer brand itself is new.

AxiLoop plans to take the MC8 and MC8 Pro to Kickstarter following their Formnext Asia debut. Final campaign pricing and a shipping schedule have not yet been announced. Until the campaign opens, the two machines remain pre-release products rather than normally available printers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AxiLoop MC8?+

The AxiLoop MC8 is a 300 x 300 x 300 mm FDM 3D printer that changes between eight preheated hotend modules. Each tool can remain connected to a separate filament spool.

What is the difference between the MC8 and MC8 Pro?+

Both models have the same build volume and eight-tool system. The MC8 Pro adds a glass door, active air circulation and chamber heating up to 65°C.

How fast is the AxiLoop MC8?+

AxiLoop specifies printing speeds up to 300 mm/s, travel speeds up to 600 mm/s and acceleration up to 25,000 mm/s². It also claims a four-second tool exchange when the next hotend is already preheated.

When will the AxiLoop MC8 be available?+

AxiLoop says a Kickstarter campaign will follow the printers' Formnext Asia Shenzhen debut. Final campaign pricing and a shipping schedule have not yet been published.

Sources

• Formnext Asia Shenzhen, for AxiLoop's participation and the August 26-28 event dates
• AxiLoop's Formnext Asia livestream, for the public presentation of the MC8 platform
• AxiLoop's manufacturer-supplied specification sheet, as published by Psych0h3ad
• Shenzhen Zesum Technology, for the listed parent company's manufacturing background
• Zesum's acquisition of a 52% stake in Xikoe Industrial