A Mislabeling Controversy
Bondtech, the manufacturer behind the highly anticipated INDX toolchanger system for the Prusa CORE One+, has acknowledged a significant error in the technical specifications provided with their kits. The company admitted that the nozzles included in the package do not meet the expected industry criteria for "hardened steel," despite being marketed as such.
The situation—dubbed "Nozzlegate" by the community—centers not on the performance of the components themselves, but on the transparency of the branding and the subsequent gap in customer expectations. Had the company clearly stated that the kits contained standard nitrocarburized steel nozzles prior to pre-orders, the controversy likely would have been avoided.
Technical Specifications and Performance
The discrepancy was brought to light after a Reddit user shared internal communication from Bondtech founder Martin Bondeus. According to the email, production hurdles prevented the machining of the intended hardened material, as the manufacturing tools failed to withstand the process. Consequently, the firm opted for nitrocarburized steel to avoid compromising the overall quality of the release.
While these nozzles are objectively superior to the standard brass alternatives—registering roughly 30-32 on the Rockwell C scale (HRC) compared to brass's sub-10 HRC rating—they remain significantly softer than professional-grade hardened steel, which typically tests between 55 and 60 HRC.
"Rather than releasing a product with inconsistent quality, we decided to supply the nitrocarburized version for the time being," stated Bondtech founder Martin Bondeus.
While these components perform well with standard materials, Bondtech cautioned that they will experience accelerated wear when printing with highly abrasive filaments, such as those infused with carbon fiber, glass fibers, or metal particles.
Customer Frustration and Future Steps
Bondtech has advised users to hold off on returning the kits while they work toward a resolution. The company noted that a final solution is currently in development, though it may take several months to produce truly hardened, induction-compatible nozzles. As of now, they have not detailed any compensation plans for early adopters.
The frustration is particularly high among "Founders Edition" buyers who faced complex installation processes and, in some cases, early performance issues. One user even launched a protest website, Nozzlegate.com, to challenge Bondtech’s warranty policies, arguing that the company’s 90-day guarantee contradicts mandatory consumer protections in Sweden.
Prusa Research, which collaborated on the INDX project, indicated that they were caught off guard by the incident and plan to issue a formal statement shortly. For now, early users are finding that the kits remain functional for non-abrasive printing tasks, despite the ongoing debate over marketing accuracy.