This is a preorder, estimated time of delivery is 2 months (~60 days) from end of preorder period.

The preorder period will last 2 weeks, will end Sunday night, November the 15th at 11:59pm est. After that, all the components will be ordered and should take about 60 days to arrive. Your orders should start shipping soon after the 60 days are up.

Hula Upgrade Package for Annex Engineering K3

Over a year in the making, we are ready to unveil the Hula Halo for the K3.

These premium metal upgrades from NorthPrint3D replace critical components on the Annex Engineering K3 (Gasherbrum) with stiffer, more reliable alternatives. The goal is higher rigidity, better heat management, easier maintenance,  and improved high-speed/high-acceleration performance.

Tiger3DPrinting has been running the test part of the Hula for over a year. You can see his videos on his Instagram page.

Check out these photos of his machine with the prototype halo installed.

This will be a limited release, I don’t plan on running the specific alloy steel parts again unless there is significant demand. The toolheads and SLM parts will be available indefinitely.

This was a group effort by the community. Thank you to Tiger3DPrinting, Glizzynator, Kevin R, MathymaticalPotato and Rentable Socks for your contributions and for your dedication to the project. Getting this kit supports us and their current and future projects. Additionally, thank you to the Annex Engineering team for giving us the K3, and to Cbon for giving us the Chube and the ducts that are used on these printers.

Why This Package

• Dramatically higher frame and toolhead rigidity
• Better high-speed / high-acceleration behavior with less ringing and flex
• Improved motor heat management
• More reliable belt tensioning
• Easier to service. You can lift the whole gantry off by removing a few bolts.
• Looks awesome

Package Components

Select a complete kit with this configurator, or mix and match the individual parts you want.

1. Hula Halo for Annex Engineering K3

The base of the upgrade. The Hula replaces the stock top extrusions with a precision-machined steel assembly that delivers true squareness out of the box—no more finicky gantry alignment. Combined with a 12 mm belt upgrade, live shafts, and added mass right where the motion system needs it most, the result is a stiffer, more consistent, and easier-to-maintain XY system.

Hula Halo for Annex Engineering K3

2. Hula Backers for Annex Engineering K3

Ultra wide steel rail backers made from the same steel as your linear rails. These backers reinforce the crossed X and Y gantry rails, significantly increasing stiffness so you can run higher speeds and accelerations with less ringing and better surface quality. Full length of the axis with integrated mounting to the xy-joints.. Attaches directly to the XY Joints.

Hula Backers for Annex Engineering K3

3. Hula Motor Mounts for Annex Engineering K3

CNC-machined metal motor mounts. Ideal for higher-current steppers (e.g. 2504/2804 class). Better heat dissipation and stiffness than printed mounts, which can soften or fail under load. They look awesome too.

Hula Motor Mounts for Annex Engineering K3

4. Toolhead Kit (choose one)

• Hula Toolhead Kit, or
• MathematicalPotato Toolhead V2

Aluminum toolheads that replace the standard k3 toolhead. Significantly stiffer toolhead, better heat dissipation. Compatible with Chube only. Extruder Compatibility depends on which toolhead you choose.

Hula Toolhead Kit is Sherpa Micro only.

MathematicalPotato Toolhead V2 is compatible with Sherpa Mini/Micro, LGX Lite/Lite Pro.

Hula Toolhead kit for Annex Engineering K3

MathematicalPotato Toolhead v2 for Annex Engineering K3 Hula compatible

5. MathematicalPotato K3rabiner Toolboard V2

Only compatible with MathematicalPotato Toolhead V2.

Updated toolhead PCB for clean, reliable wiring between the electronics backpack and the toolhead. Supports Sherpa Mini/Micro extruders, part-cooling fans, heater/thermistor, etc.

MathematicalPotato K3rabiner Toolboard v2 for Annex Engineering K3 Hula compatible

6. SLM XY Joint and Tensioner Kit for Annex Engineering K3

Metal XY joints and belt tensioners (SLM / machined). Stronger than printed versions for consistent belt tension and stiffness.

SLM XY Joint and Tensioner kit for Annex Engineering K3

7. Chube Hotend

The only hotend that is compatible with the two new Hula toolheads.

Chube High Performance Hotend

Shipping

Shipping is included for the full kit to Canada, USA, Europe, and most of the rest of the world. If you would like to have DDP shipping, the fees on top of the shipping is not included and would be billed before shipment. If you would like DDP shipping, please mention in the order notes in the shopping cart when submitting your order. If you would like a cost estimate for DDP, please email us with the items you would like, and your full shipping address/phone number.

Notes

Contact us if you need confirmation on compatibility with your specific K3 situation. Email or Discord.