Omni3D describes how the Omni TECH+ aligns its two nozzles automatically with a prism reference, replacing printed test patterns and manual offset entry. The maker states that preparation per job falls from 45 minutes to under 3 minutes. The figures come from the vendor and have not been independently checked.
Why do two nozzles need to be aligned?
In dual-material printing both nozzles must work in one coordinate system, so the offset between their tips has to be known. If it is off, support interfaces shift and fits between printed regions suffer. Done manually, the operator prints a test pattern, judges it by eye and types in a correction, and repeats this after relevant hardware or temperature changes.
How does the automatic routine work?
The operator starts the routine from the machine interface. The printhead moves to a prism, and the nozzles touch its reference surfaces one after the other. The control system derives the relative XY displacement, which Omni3D gives as accuracy below 10 micrometres, and writes the new offsets itself. The routine can run at chamber operating temperature. Build-surface mapping is a separate function that compensates for the nozzle-to-bed relationship.
What else does the machine offer?
The Omni TECH+ has a sheet-steel frame, HIWIN linear guides, screw drives and protected cabling, with modular assemblies for service. Build volume is 530 x 500 x 570 mm and the chamber heats to 80 °C. Omni3D states that the open material platform allows third-party filaments and can cut polymer spend by up to 70% against cartridge systems. Maintenance includes cleaning and lubricating the guides every 500 operating hours, and filament runout and flow monitoring flag supply faults.
What it means
For a small or mid-sized manufacturer, the claimed setup saving matters mainly if jobs change often and two materials are common, since the time is saved per job. The 45 minutes versus under 3 minutes and 70% material figures are vendor claims, so a business case should test them on real parts. Open material sourcing also shifts qualification work to the user, because third-party filaments need their own validated profiles. Calibration removes a manual step but does not replace material and orientation decisions.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the Omni TECH+ nozzle alignment?
Omni3D states that the control system determines the relative XY position of the two nozzles with accuracy below 10 micrometres using the prism reference.
When should dual calibration be repeated?
After changes that move the nozzles relative to each other, such as swapping a nozzle or changing its diameter, and when the operating temperature differs substantially. It is separate from build-surface mapping.
What are the main machine specifications?
Build volume is 530 x 500 x 570 mm and the actively heated chamber reaches 80 °C. The frame is sheet steel with HIWIN linear guides.
