5-Axis 3D Printing Is Just Around The Corner

5-axis 3D printing is finally looking accessible to hobbyists!

The basic idea: instead of printing straight up layer-by-layer, the part (or nozzle) can tilt and rotate mid-print. That means fewer overhangs, fewer supports, stronger parts since you can align layers with load paths instead of fighting gravity, and you can even print directly onto existing objects. This stuff has existed in industrial setups for years, but the cost and complexity kept it way out of reach for the rest of us.

That's starting to shift. The company TOP.E is launching a Kickstarter for the R1 in July 2026. The R1 is a desktop fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer with a tiltable bed that adds two extra axes via a triple independent Z-axis system. It's not full-freeform tilt (capped around 17 degrees), but it's a huge step toward getting this tech down to a normal price.

Meanwhile, Generative Machine has been building a 5-axis FFF printer, the GenerationOne. It features 2 closed-loop rotary axes set up for full 360-degree rotation, fast coordinated motion, and a quick-release tool head that swaps between print and laser engraving heads. The slicing for this beast runs through multi-axis software. The GenerationOne is currently available for preorder!

Slicers and toolpath software still have some catching up to do, but if you're into 3D printing, this is a fun corner of the maker world to watch.