Bambu Lab Unveils Helio Additive Integration and H2D Pro Printer

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.