Snapmaker, a Chinese maker of desktop digital fabrication tools, has pulled off a milestone: its U1 campaign has raised U.S.$ 20,161,265 from 20,206 backers as of September 30, 2025, making it the most funded 3D printer project ever on Kickstarter, tells 3D Printing Industry. This success builds on Snapmaker’s earlier crowdfunding wins: in 2017, its original machine raised over $2 million, and the 2.0 campaign in 2019 pulled in $7.85 million.
What’s driving the enthusiasm is the U1’s bold mechanics: it’s a tool-changing, four-head system based on Snapmaker’s SnapSwap design, enabling head swaps in five seconds without filament purging. That means faster multi-material printing and less waste. The printer operates on a CoreXY motion platform with accelerations up to 20,000 mm/s² and supports hot ends up to 300°C, a heated bed, wireless connectivity, and built-in camera monitoring.
Snapmaker paired the campaign with strategic partnerships to increase appeal. KIRI Engine offered a free trial for backers, HueForge gave discount coupons, and Polymaker became the first third-party filament supplier with officially supported profiles on U1. As stretch goals, backers unlocked additional coupons and store credits as the funding crossed thresholds.
By using crowdfunding, Snapmaker bypasses traditional distribution and taps the maker community directly. It has already delivered two major Kickstarter products to over 25,000 backers. The U1 campaign continues that tradition and now sets a new high in community-driven manufacturing.
Snapmaker’s U1 isn’t just another printer launch; it’s proof that the maker community still trusts direct engagement, and that bold hardware design combined with smart marketing can still break records.