Modix Generation 5 Brings Tool Changing and Pellet Extrusion to BIG Printers

What Modix Generation 5 Changes

Large-format 3D printer manufacturer Modix has announced Generation 5, a new electronics platform that moves its BIG series to Duet 3 control hardware with CANBUS distributed electronics. The company says the architecture supports more than 20 axes and drivers, which opens the door to more complex machine configurations.

The headline feature is automatic tool changing. Using Bondtech's INDX platform, Generation 5 printers can swap extrusion tools mid-print. That means multiple materials and colors can be combined within the same component on printers with build volumes of one meter or more. Until now, that capability has mostly been limited to smaller desktop machines.

Pellet Extrusion and 45-Degree Printing

Alongside tool changing, Modix is introducing a compact pellet extruder designed specifically for the BIG series. The setup lets users choose between standard filament extrusion and higher-throughput pellet deposition depending on the part geometry. For large structural components, that flexibility could cut print times significantly.

Generation 5 also adds 45-degree printing. By depositing walls at an angle relative to the build surface, the system can produce hollow geometries that would otherwise need extensive internal supports. On meter-scale parts, that translates to less material wasted on supports and less time spent cleaning them up afterward.

Upgrades for Existing Owners

Modix is not limiting these features to new buyers. Automatic tool changing, pellet extrusion, and 45-degree printing will be available as upgrades for machines already in the field. That is a meaningful detail for customers who bought BIG series printers in recent years and do not want to replace entire systems to gain new capabilities.

The company will showcase Generation 5 at Formnext 2026 in Hall 12.1.