Modix BIG Series Gets a Major Upgrade Path With Gen 5 Electronics

Why this matters for large-format owners

Modix has launched the fifth generation of its BIG-series large-format 3D printer platform. The headline change is a new Duet 3 electronics architecture with CANBUS distributed electronics. Motors, drivers, sensors, and toolboards can now be placed throughout the machine, supporting more than 20 axes without a main-board redesign.

The company says the goal is to let existing customers add capabilities rather than replace the entire machine. That matters. The BIG series runs from the BIG-60 up to the two-meter-tall Everest. These are not cheap machines to replace on a whim.

What Gen 5 actually adds

The new platform arrives with several immediate improvements. An integrated accelerometer handles automated calibration and motion tuning. Ethernet is now standard, with removable Wi-Fi as an option for environments that need it. The touchscreen interface has been revised. Modix says reliability updates were made based on direct customer feedback.

The big upgrades coming at Formnext 2026

Three major capabilities are planned for Formnext 2026 in Hall 12.1, Booth F101. First, a Bondtech INDX automatic tool changer for the BIG series. Multi-material and multi-color printing has mostly been a desktop-machine feature. Modix is bringing it to one-meter-plus Cartesian machines, so a single large-format run can combine materials and colors inside one part.

Second, a compact pellet extruder for the BIG series. This extends Modix's dual-technology approach onto one platform. Pellets handle throughput and low raw-material cost. Filament handles detail work. The idea is to get the benefits of both without running two separate machines.

Third, a 45-degree angled print-head system. Tilted printing is well established on belt printers. Modix is adopting it on large Cartesian machines. Angled walls reduce the internal supports that would otherwise be needed on hollow parts. On a large build, that can save kilograms of material and hours of post-processing.

Modix's upgrade philosophy

Modix CEO Shachar Gafni put it plainly: the controller carries spare capacity for motors, sensors, tools, and accessories. New capabilities ship as upgrades whenever that is technically possible. Gen 5 machines are already shipping. Summer orders are moving on the new platform. Modix also flagged a minor price update to base models across the BIG series.

Bottom line

If you already own a Modix BIG-series printer, this generation is worth tracking closely. The INDX tool changer and pellet extruder are the two features that will most change what the machine can do. Neither is available yet, but both are targeted for Formnext 2026. For anyone considering a large-format purchase, Gen 5 makes the BIG series a stronger long-term bet than it was a year ago.