August has been a busy month for Bambu Lab, marked by a series of significant updates. A few weeks ago, the desktop 3D printer manufacturer introduced a crowdfunding feature on its 3D model platform, MakerWorld. Now, the company has unveiled two more announcements that highlight its growing focus on professional users. On August 12, Helio Additive revealed a collaboration with Bambu Lab to integrate industrial-grade simulation and optimization tools directly into BambuStudio. Just days later, Bambu Lab launched the H2D Pro, a professional upgrade to its dual-nozzle H2D printer released in March.
Let’s start with the Helio Additive partnership. The deep-tech company, known for developing physics-based simulation and optimization software for 3D printing, has rolled out its Dragon technology through BambuStudio. Helio claims this integration represents “the first time true industrial-grade simulation and optimization tools are being delivered at scale to desktop users.”
A warped print made without the help of Dragon, versus a print optimized by Dragon (Photo Credits: Helio Additive/Bambu Lab)
Helio Additive’s Dragon Technology
Dragon allows users to simulate and optimize prints directly within their standard slicing workflow. Simulation involves manually tuning print parameters to achieve optimal performance, while optimization refers to the ‘auto-tuning’ feature that automatically adjusts settings for the best results. Together, these capabilities enable faster print speeds, stronger parts, reduced waste and greater confidence in print success. To support these advanced functions, the data is hosted on Helio’s servers. At launch, Dragon is compatible with a set of 20 high-performance materials.
To start, all BambuStudio users on H-series and X-series printers will receive 25 free simulations per month. As of August 26th, users who would like additional simulations will be able to purchase a $15/month subscription managed directly by Helio Additive, unlocking up to 35 ‘one click’ optimizations monthly.
The H2D Pro Printer – What’s New?
Alongside the Helio Additive integration, Bambu Lab introduced the H2D Pro, a professional version of its dual-nozzle H2D printer launched in March. Designed with enterprise users in mind, the Pro model enhances both connectivity and hardware for more reliable, secure and durable printing.
Enterprise-Ready Network Capabilities
The H2D Pro’s new networking features, which include the following, make it more suitable for complex environments:
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Ethernet connectivity ensures stable communication where wireless signals may be crowded.
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WPA2-Enterprise Wi-Fi Authentication (EAP-PEAP/EAP-TLS/EAP-TTLS) for enhanced security.
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Physical Wi-Fi kill switches give users direct control over connectivity.
Additionally, users will have the option of receiving support from Bambu Lab’s software R&D team to develop custom fleet management tools, making the H2D Pro especially attractive for companies managing print farms.
The H2D Pro’s networking capabilities ensure reliability and security. (Image Credits: Bambu Lab)
Hardware Improvements
Additionally, note that the H2D Pro comes with two main hardware upgrades:
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A toolhead cooling fan improves extruder and heatsink cooling, with intelligent temperature control that reduces clogging and allows for a 3°C increase in recommended operating temperature.
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A tungsten carbide nozzle with a 90 rating on the Rockwell A hardness scale (compared to 74 for hardened steel), offers exceptional wear-resistance, extending lifespan by 50% when printing abrasive, fiber-reinforced filaments.
Both the cooling fan and tungsten carbide nozzle are compatible with the H2D printer and are expected to be available in the Bambu Lab store by Q4 2025.
The toolhead cooling fan (left) and the tungsten carbide nozzle (right). (Image Credits: Bambu Lab)
Beyond those updates, the H2D Pro differentiates itself from the H2D by coming equipped with a vision encoder. This high-precision vision encoder plate uses 5µm resolution optical measurement to calibrate toolhead movement, ensuring consistent and distance-independent 50µm motion accuracy across the entire build area. Other than these changes, the H2D Pro maintains the same core hardware as the original H2D. To learn more about the H2D Pro, check out the product overview here.
Bambu Lab’s Expansion Into Professional-Grade Printing
With the integration of Helio Additive’s Dragon technology into BambuStudio and the launch of the H2D Pro, Bambu Lab is clearly broadening its focus to include professional and enterprise-grade users. The updates not only provide greater precision and durability in hardware but also introduce industrial-level simulation and optimization tools to the desktop printing space. Together, these developments indicate a step toward bridging the gap between desktop convenience and industrial performance in 3D printing.
What do you think of Bambu Lab’s updates? Have you used Dragon? Would you purchase the H2D Pro? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*Cover Image Credits: Bambu Lab and Helio Additive