HeyGears G1: Match the Package to the Print You Want
HARDWARE & DESIGN
HeyGears G1: Match the Package to the Print You Want
HeyGears G1 Series is on Kickstarter
The entry package and the full-color 3D package do different jobs. HeyGears' G1 campaign starts with UV printing, while the 3D setup discussed here costs more. Choose the required hardware and consumables before comparing the advertised starting price with a finished print.
HeyGears launched its G1 Series Kickstarter campaign on July 23. The platform combines UV printing with an upgrade path to full-color 3D. The advertised $1,999 entry package is the UV-only G1; the full-color 3D package discussed here starts at $3,599.
The three workflows share a modular platform but require different hardware packages: full-color 3D, raised-texture UV and direct 2D UV printing. The configuration matters more than the series name when comparing price and output.
▲ The G1 Series platform — G1 (UV) on the left, G1X (full-color 3D) with its resin station on the right. (source: HeyGears via Make:)
Base unit and 3D modules
Before the specs, the hardware. The G1 is the UV-printing base unit — a flatbed machine that prints ink directly onto objects with UV-cured depth. The G1X is the same chassis with the full-color 3D module — a Z-axis and a resin station — turning it into a layer-by-layer full-color printer. Same platform, different heads, and the G1 can be upgraded to G1X later rather than replaced.
▲ The G1X unit. It's an inkjet printhead plus UV curing plus a resin tank — closer to a small industrial machine than to an FDM printer. (source: HeyGears via All3DP)
▲ The configs, from the price-breakdown video: G1 Starter (UV only) through G1X Full-3D with the resin station. (source: HeyGears product video)
Three printing workflows
| Workflow | What it does | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| Full-color 3D (G1X) | Precision Piezo Inkjet + UV curing, layer by layer. Millions of colors, gradients, and transparent + colored materials in one print. Water-soluble supports. | Collectible figures, product prototypes, character models — no hand-painting |
| 3D-textured UV | Prints raised, tactile texture onto flat surfaces — up to 5 mm depth | Phone cases with grip texture, signage, embossed branding |
| 2D UV printing | Direct-to-object printing on compatible flat and cylindrical items | Custom merch, promotional products, personalized gifts |
HeyGears claims support for more than 400 base materials across the platform. Its “zero painting” language describes printing color as part of the workflow; it does not mean those hundreds of substrates are all 3D-printing resins.
The G1X workflow deposits color in the printed layers and uses water-soluble supports. That could reduce manual painting for some models, but printing, washing, drying and any finishing still take time. The campaign samples do not establish a universal saving of days of work.
Vendor output samples
The vendor samples illustrate two intended uses: a full-color figure and a textured surface. They show the output category, not a measured production yield.
▲ Full-color 3D print — a Viking figure straight off the G1X. Color, gradients, and detail printed into the layers, zero hand-painting. (source: HeyGears via Make:)
▲ 3D-textured UV print — tactile raised texture printed directly onto a leather book cover. That's the UV side of the machine doing what a flatbed printer can't. (source: HeyGears via Make:)
Both samples are vendor-provided. The figure illustrates collectibles, while the book cover illustrates surface customization. Neither establishes repeatable yield, operating cost or revenue for a printing business.
Launch packages and conditions
| Tier | Super Early Bird | MSRP | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 Starter | $1,999 | $2,699 | UV printer, upgradeable to G1X later |
| G1X Starter | $3,299 | $4,999 | G1X + upgrade path to full-color 3D |
| G1X Full-3D Pack | $3,599 | $5,499 | Full-color 3D out of the box |
| G1X Deluxe Bundle | $4,999 | $7,999 | Full-3D + accessories bundle |
| G1X Full-3D Twin Pack | $6,999 | $10,998 | Two full systems |
Savings up to ~38% off MSRP. Est. delivery December 2026, ships worldwide. Early-backer extras: customs/VAT covered in major regions, 1-year main-unit warranty, 180-day printhead warranty, 1-year HeyVerse Plus subscription, plus a free white-ink set ($109 value) and resin/ink bottles for 48-hour backers.
▲ Super Early Bird vs MSRP across the five tiers. The -26% to -38% range is the Kickstarter discount window.
The $1,999 G1 package does not include full-color 3D printing. For that workflow, the launch table lists the G1X Full-3D Pack at $3,599. Check the current package contents and the cost of each upgrade before comparing the entry price with another printer.
Operating costs and campaign risk
💸 This is a resin-and-ink machine, not an FDM printer. The consumables are where the money goes: UV ink, resin, and printheads. The i3200 industrial printhead has a 180-day warranty — replacement cost after that is a real question nobody's answered publicly yet. Budget for consumables before you budget for the machine.
HeyVerse handles slicing and color workflows, including announced text/image-to-model features. A demo does not establish reliability. Test file import, color handling and error recovery on the shipping software.
🏭 "World's first" in context. The claim is "first desktop" full-color 3D & UV combo — the technology itself (inkjet + UV resin, like industrial systems) is proven; the desktop packaging is the new part. Also worth knowing: the UV-printing category just had a monster Kickstarter (eufyMake E1 became the most-funded KS campaign ever), so this is a hot category with real momentum — and real hype risk.
📦 Kickstarter is still Kickstarter. December 2026 delivery, first hardware revision, renders that "may differ from the final product" (their words). HeyGears is a real, established printer company — not a garage startup — which is the strongest argument in favor. But the usual crowdfunding rules apply.
Modularity could make sense for a workshop that starts with UV products and later adds 3D work. It also makes the complete quote important: the base machine, added modules and recurring consumables need to be priced together.
For figures, evaluate the Full-3D package against repeatable color samples, support removal, ink use and printhead life. At the original publication date, shipping-unit evidence for those operating costs and consistency was not available.
This is a campaign and specification review. It does not include a personally owned G1X or a measured print test. Before backing, request a complete configuration and consumables quote for the actual work you plan to sell.
Sources and evidence limits
Sources: HeyGears official (store.heygears.com, heygears.com) · Kickstarter campaign (live since 2026-07-23; funding total changes hourly) · Make: · 3D Printing Industry · Tom's Hardware · All3DP · config breakdown video. Specs are vendor-reported; no shipping units exist as of this writing, and demo quality ≠ production quality. This is an information summary, not a recommendation to back.
Related on this blog: the other Kickstarter launch that week · the 93-gram glasses vs Quest 3 comparison
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