Summary of "News 4 Makers: Bambu Studio 2.5 Just Leveled Up (Plus Helio Additive Update)"

Summary — Bambu Studio 2.5 (slicer) + Helio Additive update

Bambu Studio 2.5 — key features and notes

Update/patch note: some users saw version 2.5.64 immediately followed by a required hotfix to 2.5.0.66 — you may need to update twice.
Remote AMS drying / drying filament while printing
- UI support is now in Studio, but printer firmware support (e.g., H2D) is not yet available. The referenced H2D firmware was 1.02.02, so the feature is unusable until firmware is released.
Ironing on support interface
- New option to “iron” support-contact surfaces to improve finish where supports meet printed parts (useful when not using specialty support filament).
- Credited to Noisy Fox.
Non-100% infill patterns allowed as top/bottom surfaces
- Lets you use non-solid infill patterns for top/bottom faces to create different textures/visual effects (prismatic, glacier, orange peel, fuzzy skin, textured/smooth PEI, etc.).
Standard 3MF color parsing support
- Imports face and vertex color data from 3MF files produced by tools like Fusion 360, MeshMixer, and OpenSCAD.
- Note: texture-based color import is limited to face data only.
- Useful for carrying CAD color/material assignments into the slicer.
Mesh subdivision (loop subdivision)
- Right‑click → Subdivide part to perform loop subdivision iterations and smooth low-poly meshes.
Scale to print volume
- Right‑click → Scale to print volume to auto-scale a model uniformly up to the current printer’s maximum build volume.
Abort filament load/unload from Studio
- You can stop filament load/unload processes directly from the application UI.

Notes and credits

Ironing-on-support feature credited to Noisy Fox.

Helio Additive (Helio) — roadmap and changes

Major announced changes

No more usage quota; lower pricing; 2‑week free trial.
Multicolor print support added.
Support for non-Bambu filaments (broader material support).
Rebranding of workflows toward “assess and enhance” (assess existing prints and enhance them).

“Assess and enhance” — new workflow framing used by Helio.

Release timeline

Beta on GitHub expected soon (mentioned as next week / later this week).
Helio 2.0 scheduled for release around March.
The host will publish a video interview with David (Helio CEO) when Helio 2.0 ships.

Guides, tests, and follow-ups

Host plans to test ironing and other new Studio features.
Live stream after the news covering prints and filaments (viewer-submitted prints may be featured).
Upcoming video/interview with Helio CEO when Helio 2.0 launches.