The Original Prusa XL is Prusa Research's large-format multi-material 3D printer, built around a unique tool-changing system rather than the filament-switching approach used by most multi-material solutions. Up to five independent toolheads — each a complete extruder — mount on the same CoreXY gantry and swap in and out automatically during the print. Because each toolhead purges independently and there is no shared hot zone between filaments, colour transitions are clean and material mixing is eliminated. The XL's 360×360×360 mm build volume is among the largest available on any desktop FDM printer.

Key Specifications

Tool Changer vs Filament Switcher — Why It Matters

Most multi-material systems (including the Prusa MMU) route multiple filaments through a single hotend, switching by retracting one and advancing another. This approach produces a mixing zone during transitions and requires purging a significant volume of filament to achieve clean colour changes — particularly with materials that have different melt characteristics. The XL's tool changer is architecturally different: each toolhead is independent, with its own hotend, heater, sensor, and extruder. When the printer switches materials, it docks the current toolhead and picks up the next. There is no shared melt zone, no cross-contamination, and the purge requirement per transition is fundamentally lower. The practical result is cleaner interfaces between materials — including support interfaces — and the ability to mix materials with very different processing temperatures (e.g. 250°C Nylon support removal with 220°C PETG main body) without compromise.

Segmented Heated Bed

The XL's 360×360mm bed is divided into independent heating zones. Rather than heating the entire bed to temperature for small prints (wasting energy and extending warm-up time), only the zones covering the active print area are heated. This also reduces thermal stress on the bed surface during large prints where even heating across a 360mm span would otherwise be difficult to achieve with a single heater element.

1, 2, or 5 Toolheads — Which to Choose

The XL is available with 1, 2, or 5 toolheads at purchase, with additional toolheads addable later. The 1-toolhead configuration gives you a large-format single-material printer with CoreXY kinematics — a valid choice if your primary need is the build volume rather than multi-material capability. The 2-toolhead configuration is the most practical starting point for multi-material: dual-colour prints and soluble/breakaway support in a second material. The 5-toolhead configuration enables full multi-colour or multi-material prints with up to five different filaments per job.

Material Compatibility

• Standard: PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS
• Engineering: PC Blend, PA-11, PA-12, PA-CF
• Flexible: TPU (direct drive per head handles flexible reliably)
• Soluble supports: BVOH, PVA (with compatible pairing)

Who It's For

• Product designers needing multi-colour or multi-material prototypes with clean material interfaces and soluble support removal
• Engineers printing large-format single-piece structural parts that exceed standard desktop printer capacity
• Artists and studios producing complex multi-colour prints where filament-switcher purge waste is prohibitive
• Advanced makers and professionals who want Prusa's ecosystem and open-source approach in a large-format multi-material platform

Available from Eolas Prints

Eolas Prints is an official Prusa Research reseller based in Cantabria, Spain. Available with 1, 2, or 5 toolheads. EU warranty and support included.