diff --git a/cura/MachineManagerModel.py b/cura/MachineManagerModel.py
index 76786efe61..aa8b08cf7b 100644
--- a/cura/MachineManagerModel.py
+++ b/cura/MachineManagerModel.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QObject, pyqtSlot, pyqtProperty, pyqtSignal
 from UM.Application import Application
 from UM.Preferences import Preferences
+from UM.Logger import Logger
 
 import UM.Settings
 from UM.Settings.Validator import ValidatorState
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ class MachineManagerModel(QObject):
 
         active_machine_id = Preferences.getInstance().getValue("cura/active_machine")
 
+        self._printer_output_devices = []
         Application.getInstance().getOutputDeviceManager().outputDevicesChanged.connect(self._onOutputDevicesChanged)
 
         if active_machine_id != "":
@@ -72,8 +74,53 @@ class MachineManagerModel(QObject):
     outputDevicesChanged = pyqtSignal()
 
     def _onOutputDevicesChanged(self):
+        for printer_output_device in self._printer_output_devices:
+            printer_output_device.HotendIdChanged.disconnect(self._onHotendIdChanged)
+            printer_output_device.MaterialIdChanged.disconnect(self._onMaterialIdChanged)
+
+        self._printer_output_devices.clear()
+
+        for printer_output_device in Application.getInstance().getOutputDeviceManager().getOutputDevices():
+            if isinstance(printer_output_device, PrinterOutputDevice):
+                self._printer_output_devices.append(printer_output_device)
+                printer_output_device.HotendIdChanged.connect(self._onHotendIdChanged)
+                printer_output_device.MaterialIdChanged.connect(self._onMaterialIdChanged)
+
         self.outputDevicesChanged.emit()
 
+    @pyqtProperty("QVariantList", notify = outputDevicesChanged)
+    def printerOutputDevices(self):
+        return self._printer_output_devices
+
+    def _onHotendIdChanged(self, index, hotend_id):
+        if not self._global_container_stack:
+            return
+
+        containers = UM.Settings.ContainerRegistry.getInstance().findInstanceContainers(type = "variant", definition = self._global_container_stack.getBottom().getId(), name = hotend_id)
+        if containers:
+            ExtruderManager.ExtruderManager.getInstance().setActiveExtruderIndex(index)
+            Logger.log("d", "Setting hotend variant of hotend %d to %s" % (index, containers[0].getId()))
+            self._updateVariantContainer(containers[0])
+
+    def _onMaterialIdChanged(self, index, material_id):
+        # TODO: fix this
+        if not self._global_container_stack:
+            return
+
+        if self._global_container_stack.getMetaDataEntry("has_machine_materials", False):
+            definition_id = "fdmprinter"
+        else:
+            definition_id = self._global_container_stack.getBottom().getId()
+
+        containers = UM.Settings.ContainerRegistry.getInstance().findInstanceContainers(type = "material", defintion = definition_id, GUID = material_id)
+        if containers:
+            ExtruderManager.ExtruderManager.getInstance().setActiveExtruderIndex(index)
+            Logger.log("d", "Setting material of hotend %d to %s" % (index, containers[0].getId()))
+            self._updateMaterialContainer(containers[0])
+        else:
+            Logger.log("w", "No material definition found for printer definition %s and GUID %s" % (definition_id, material_id))
+
+
     def _onGlobalPropertyChanged(self, key, property_name):
         if property_name == "value":
             self.globalValueChanged.emit()
@@ -165,9 +212,6 @@ class MachineManagerModel(QObject):
 
             Application.getInstance().setGlobalContainerStack(new_global_stack)
 
-    @pyqtProperty("QVariantList", notify = outputDevicesChanged)
-    def printerOutputDevices(self):
-        return [printer_output_device for printer_output_device in Application.getInstance().getOutputDeviceManager().getOutputDevices() if isinstance(printer_output_device, PrinterOutputDevice)]
 
     ##  Create a name that is not empty and unique
     #   \param container_type \type{string} Type of the container (machine, quality, ...)
diff --git a/cura/PrinterOutputDevice.py b/cura/PrinterOutputDevice.py
index 7f6e51e1fd..6504de9cdd 100644
--- a/cura/PrinterOutputDevice.py
+++ b/cura/PrinterOutputDevice.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ class PrinterOutputDevice(QObject, OutputDevice):
         self._num_extruders = 1
         self._hotend_temperatures = [0] * self._num_extruders
         self._target_hotend_temperatures = [0] * self._num_extruders
+        self._material_ids = [""] * self._num_extruders
+        self._hotend_ids = [""] * self._num_extruders
         self._progress = 0
         self._head_x = 0
         self._head_y = 0
@@ -57,6 +59,12 @@ class PrinterOutputDevice(QObject, OutputDevice):
     # Signal to be emitted when head position is changed (x,y,z)
     headPositionChanged = pyqtSignal()
 
+    # Signal to be emitted when either of the material ids is changed
+    MaterialIdChanged = pyqtSignal(int, str, arguments = ["index", "id"])
+
+    # Signal to be emitted when either of the hotend ids is changed
+    HotendIdChanged = pyqtSignal(int, str, arguments = ["index", "id"])
+
     # Signal that is emitted every time connection state is changed.
     # it also sends it's own device_id (for convenience sake)
     connectionStateChanged = pyqtSignal(str)
@@ -212,6 +220,34 @@ class PrinterOutputDevice(QObject, OutputDevice):
         self._hotend_temperatures[index] = temperature
         self.hotendTemperaturesChanged.emit()
 
+    @pyqtProperty("QVariantList", notify = MaterialIdChanged)
+    def materialIds(self):
+        return self._material_ids
+
+    ##  Protected setter for the current material id.
+    #   /param index Index of the extruder
+    #   /param material_id id of the material
+    def _setMaterialId(self, index, material_id):
+        if material_id and material_id != "" and material_id != self._material_ids[index]:
+            Logger.log("d", "Setting material id of hotend %d to %s" % (index, material_id))
+            self._material_ids[index] = material_id
+            self.MaterialIdChanged.emit(index, material_id)
+
+
+    @pyqtProperty("QVariantList", notify = HotendIdChanged)
+    def hotendIds(self):
+        return self._hotend_ids
+
+    ##  Protected setter for the current hotend id.
+    #   /param index Index of the extruder
+    #   /param hotend_id id of the hotend
+    def _setHotendId(self, index, hotend_id):
+        if hotend_id and hotend_id != "" and hotend_id != self._hotend_ids[index]:
+            Logger.log("d", "Setting hotend id of hotend %d to %s" % (index, hotend_id))
+            self._hotend_ids[index] = hotend_id
+            self.HotendIdChanged.emit(index, hotend_id)
+
+
     ##  Attempt to establish connection
     def connect(self):
         raise NotImplementedError("connect needs to be implemented")