A1 Combo order questions

Bambu Lab A1 Series General Discussions
1

I’m about ready to buy an A1 Combo and I wanted to ask some questions about what I should order at the same time. This is my first 3D printer and though I’ve read most of the forum, and watched dozens of YouTube videos, I know just enough to be dangerous.

There’s an appreciable discount when I order stuff at the same time as the printer (25%-30% depending), so I would rather order supplies and filaments now.

The A1 comes with a textured PEI Plate and I want a smooth plate as well. Is there any reason to buy the smooth plate over the Dual-Texture plate? The cost is about the same and (not knowing any better) it seems to me that having a “backup” textured surface on the back of the smooth plate is worth the two bucks. Unless the single texture smooth PEI plate is somehow better than the smooth side of the dual surface plate. I don’t know much about the plates other than you want your print to stick to it, but not too much. I’ll order some glue too…

I plan on ordering some extra Hotheads. The A1 comes with a 0.4mm stainless head. I was planning on ordering the 0.2mm stainless head and the 0.4mm and 0.6mm hardened steel heads. Is there any reason for me to order the 0.8mm hardened head? I also planned on ordering extra Hotend Silicone Socks. btw, due to the discount on extra Hotheads when you’re buying a printer, buying the extra heads and socks individually is cheaper than buying the Hotheads “package”.

Do I need to buy the A1 Maintenance Kit? (Silicone Sock, Filament Cutter, PTFE Tube, Lubricant Grease and Oil, Bambu Scraper, Nozzle Wiper, and Purge Wiper). Has everyone actually needed most of this stuff? If all I really need is, e.g. the lubricants, then I don’t need to spend the $36 for the whole A1 Maintenance Kit. Does the A1 Combo come with some of these items already? That asked, are there any maintenance items I should buy that I don’t know about? I’m buying the 4000mm ptfe tube because it looks like the included tubes may be a bit tight if I decide to mount the AMS lite on top.

Which brings me to the subject of what (and how many) filaments to buy. I thought to just start with Bambu brand before trying other brands, to cut down on the variables while learning how to print. What is the difference between the PLA Basic and the PLA Matte? I know what the word matte means, but is there any difference other than the Basic is “shinier” than the matte? Is one more colorful than the other? Why would I want one over the other? Should I buy the white/black/gray in one kind and the colors in the other? I’d really appreciate your input on this. Should I buy some PETG as well? If so, should it all be the PETG HF or is there some reason to buy the PETG Basic before it’s discontinued? I know this is a lot of filement questions but I’m clueless about this and because of the 30% discount ($16 on spool) offered on the PLA and PETG spools I planned on ordering maybe a dozen spools and I would prefer not to discover after the fact that I made a poor decision.

I don’t have much of a sense of how much filament gets used for a given project. I saw Supergrapher’s Ultimate Filament Spool Enclosure 封箱 for AMS Lite on MakerLab that encloses the AMS lite spools to keep the filament dry. I’m pretty sure I want to make that and from what I read I think that it will take about one (1kg) spool to make.

My last question is whether you think there will be a Black Friday sale with a significant enough discount that I should consider waiting. Right now the A1 Combo is discounted to $489 and includes significant discounts on accessories and filament.

Thank you for whatever help and advice you can offer (and let me know if there are any things I should order that I don’t realize, or any questions that I forgot to ask).

Billy

2

I got the A1 a few months back.

I’m a fan of the ivory/off-white PLA matte, great for statues, the prints almost don’t look like plastic. Matte in general looks more “premium” but some prefer the shininess of the normal PLAs (details show better at the expense of it looking more plasticy)

For a great black look, try the PETG-CF black (requires a hardened nozzle).

For soft/rubbery parts like phone cases you’ll need TPU (more expensive and a smooth plate is recommened)

I’d get the 3-nozzle (normal 0.2 + hardened 0.4 and 0.6 + silicone socks) pack. The 0.2 is great for miniatures if you’re printing them. Haven’t used the 0.6 yet but I suppose it’s good for faster/high volume/less detailed printing.

The textured plate lasts forever, so if you only buy one other plate I’d get the smooth one if you want to print TPU (add some glue for easier release) or want to have smooth bottom layers.

1 Like
3

I’m leaning toward the matte for most of the PLA versus the basic but your note about the basic showing more detail is something I didn’t know; thanks for the info! I’m also trying to decide on whether to get one spool of PETG-CF or the PLA-CF. I don’t know much about PETG.

I plan on getting the 3 nozzles (and the socks) but for anyone else considering the same thing at the same time you’re buying the printer, note that it’s $5 cheaper to buy the nozzles and socks separately rather then in the pack due to the individual items being discounted when you buy the A1 Combo. The package for some reason doesn’t get the discount.

Thanks for the help!

4

I’d just buy PLA in whatever colors suit you from Bambu. A smooth plate and an .2 nozzle are a good idea. I wouldn’t bother with a .6 or .8, but thats just me.

After you get rolling with that, I’d buy PETG’s and TPU’s from amazon if you want to try different materials. Its easy to use a different brand of filament, most print well without any changes. Glue as well, either get elmers purple sticks for next to nothing, or buy Magigoo liquid.

1 Like
5

I planned on ordering BambuLabs Liquid Glue. Is the Magigoo liquid a better product?

6

I’ve used Anycubic PETG in red/black/white from Amazon. The red isn’t very red, and all are very shiny (not a fan, gloss like shine…). They print well, they were cheap. I’d definitely spend the money on Bambu PETG HF in the future over these.

I did find a nice use for the white though. Printing a bunch of trestles for Lionel fast track for the Christmas layout :grin:

Can’t start Christmas to early! :rofl:

1 Like
7

The Bambu liquid glue works great, it’ll last you forever.

1 Like
8

As far as the glue, any is prob fine. Magigoo ships quicker- and is cheaper. Whether it’s any better, or even different, I can’t comment.

9

Sales

Bambu seems to enjoy sales, a Black Friday one is likely.

The most recent sales was there 2nd anniversary sale. They took a lot of the printer prices. Weirdly, most of the discount remained after the sale ended.

That might mean a future sale has a smaller margin to play with.

Filaments

I like the PLA Basic and the Mattes, I have every one of them.

If you are printing smooth things, Basic is your friend, Matte has a rougher surface. Fidget spinners are better using Basic, models of animals don’t care as it doesn’t affect anything. What I am saying is, the models influence your choices more than anything.

The PETG high flow is really good, the translucent PETG filaments look good, I like the blue and orange ones the best. I’m not sure PETG basic is still available, at least in the U.K. it is unavailable now.

Glue

Never used it on any printer, not a BL one or any I owned before. Others swear by it.

Maintenance bundles

It sounds like you are sticking up on everything already, make sure you are not needlessly doubling up. The printer comes with a tube of grease, lubricant and blades for the scraper.

You get the PTFE tubes for the single spool and for the AMS lite with the printer as well.

I believe the kits are more for down the road when you run out of the stuff you get with the printer.

Build-plates

I bought a smooth plate for my A1 mini when I first bought that, I rarely use it. A second textured plate to swap out when the first one needs a clean would have been useful. So, I bought a dual sided smooth and textured.p 3rd-party rather than BL one, mostly to see if it worked, it did.

I bought a third-party dual textured and smooth carbon fibre effect plate for my A1 mini. Works great, the carbon fibre texture effect makes the bottom surface have the same look, looks great.

The printer was recalled, I bought my first P1S to replace it, the A1 built plate works on that now as they are the same build-plate size.

Poop bucket

Print one s soon as possible as even if you only use one colour, you will be poop thrown from the printer each time you start a print.

1 Like
10

I’ve been thinking about this and I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t want to wait two months for what will probably be a small discount (as you said, the price never came down from their second year anniversary sale).

HOWEVER, my girlfriend has pointed out that it’s often very humid in my apartment, it’s very dusty all the time, and I have a cat who needs to be involved with everything that moves. I noticed you also have a P1S and I’ve been thinking that maybe a P1S Combo would be a better choice for me. The AMS is enclosed as is the P1S. The P1S also supports a wider range of filament types. I can afford the $360 price increase over the A1 Combo. It seems like a no-brainer to just go for the P1S Combo, except for one thing. The A1 seems to have newer technology in some areas compared to the P series. The touchscreen, the way the AMS lite works when switching colors versus the AMS (the distance the active filament has to be rewound), and the extruder and nozzle assembly are so much easier on the A1.

In lite of the improvements since the P1 line was released, what concerns me is that there could be an updated P1S of some sort released in the next few months. Maybe a new model line, maybe a new version in the P1 line, I have no idea really, just a concern that a month from now I could be really pissed…

I would really appreciate your thoughts on the A1 Combo versus the P1S Combo. I’m sure this topic has been beaten to death, but I’d appreciate your 2¢.

Thanks, I’ve been reading more about the different types of filament but I guess the only way for me to really tell is to start printing stuff. :smiley:

Thank you for telling me what comes with the printer. I didn’t see it listed anywhere (that I could find).! I may just get some extra lube and oil.

Build-plates

Are all the PEI plates that Bambo sells dual surfaced? I know they sell one that is smooth on one side and textured on the other, but when you buy a smooth plate is it usable on both sides? Same question for the textured plate that comes with the A1, is it textured on both sides?

11

My home has been around 65-70º humid. Proper storage in zip lock bags and back in the boxes after use means I do not have any drying needs.

I use 1 gallon size ones normally used for sandwiches and other food.

My A1 mini (and the A1 when I had it) did not suffer from the humidity.

This,

and particularly this changes things a little.

Interested animals, cats in particular see this as cat nip (See what I did there).

You would provide a movement fest that will have them jumping like a laser pointer does. The warm bed might become a new home.

These things point to a P1S combo, the ability to close the door and enclosed filament will remove a huge set of headaches.

This was a surprise, I just checked and it is not listed. Here you go:

  • Tube of Lubricant
  • Tube of Grease
  • Two Allen keys (to attach parts when you assemble and disassemble.
  • Blade for the scraper (used with a model you print scraper)
  • Cable/PTFE tube connector (holds the cable together)
  • Three replacement cutting blades (I’m well over 1,000 hours of printing in and I have not changed the one already fitted)
  • Spare nozzle wipe rubber pade
  • Screws required
  • A thin device used to poke out any stuck filament.

The build plates are two-sided unless it says otherwise. I believe they all are.

There is one with replaceable sheets you affix to a metal plate, four sheets and two sides of one metal plate.

Dual-sided means two different things, the rest are the same on either side.

This is harder to guess, but, I will use some logic.

  • There are rumours of a new printer, one with a different dimension, the same rumours occurred last year and the A1 mini (much smaller and a bed slinger) was announced, shortly followed by a second full-size bed0sligner.
  • This year, if the rumours are true of another printer, it will likely be bigger than the A1 (full-size), P and X series. GUESSING
  • There will likely be P2S and x2C versions, but chances are those are next year.

If you wait to jump on when will you ever get one?

I just took delivery of my third P1S. It prints all the materials they sell and lets me have up to 4 AMS units per printer. I am likely staying with two each.

Upgrades

If yo are looking at upgrades and you wish to print the special PLA filaments (those with things as well as plastic in there) or the Glass-Fibre and Carbon Fibre, you will need a hardened steel nozzle and hardened steel gears.

Those are worthy upgrades.

The A series can’t print filaments that require an enclosure, the P & X series can.

1 Like
12

Yeah, umm, well I guess I really knew the answer to this already, but hearing it from you lets me just cross the A1 off the list and go over and read the P1 forum for a while. As much as I think of the A1 Combo, it’s not right for my environment.

SIgh. Can’t you just magically tell me what the P2S will be, how much it will cost, and when I can buy one? Oh, and the AMS2 also…

I don’t want to wait for a P2S until next year. I could wait until this year. maybe. or not.

I hope you appreciate how much I appreciate your help. really. :joy: (been reading a number of your messages)

EDIT: how hard is it to change out the hardened steel nozzle and hardened steel gears and can I leave them in all the time? (Is there any reason to remove the hardened steel gears once they’re installed)

13

Some deductive reasoning can be applied to determine such things.

  • What will it be?

The question is best asked when you think “What can they do to improve the current one?”

  • Speed: it is already fast
  • Quality: it is already excellent quality
  • Additonal filaments: it prints all of them so far
  • Screen †
  • Print volume ††

Then you add in the knowledge that the X series exists. Any changes to the P will affect and likely cannibalise the X series market. The gap between features vs the price difference is already too large.

† The screen on the P series is bad, but, you rarely use it, especially if you buy BL filaments as there is rarely anything to set. An after-market upgrade to the same screen the A has would be nice, they could ()and likely would) sell one to every single P series owner.

†† Any print volume increase would be best used on a brand new model that can be sold to a different market sector and to those upgrading beyond what they have now. The number of those sales will be limited by the ability (or inability) to find space for it in most domestic settings. Most people place these on existing desks and the depth of these are the main limiting factor.

The forum collective is demanding upgrades like displays, it must be a way for BL to obtain the money they are leaving on the table.

The rest of the industry. Eveyrone else is playing catch-up with BL, some are close, but there is an argument that others have a few even better features. The whole package is the sale here though. MakerWorld, the forum, the printers, even the filament (which until I bought some, I didn’t see the point, convenience is the point).

Then there is the AMS, the only other technology better than this is a multi-tool changer and those are very expensive and have been prone to reliability issues.

My view is.

  • A series continues as is.
  • P series gets some upgrade options, mostly screen-related or smaller features, possibly new hot-ends with faster swaps like the A series.
  • X series continues to be the prime model, possibly new hot-ends with faster swaps like the A series.
  • Q series, unreleased larger form factor, possibly rectangle build-plate (to allow it on more desks) possibly 350 x 300. Entirely guesswork. It will sell to fewer people and will cost more than all the other printers.

For my Q series guess, BL needs to make sure they can ship the printer in numbers, make it as reliable as the existing products and create many new accessories (which will splinter their marketplace) like build-plates and parts.

They will likely need to start selling 3kg filaments and have an AMS ready for that.

The big area moving forwards will be in the AMS and reducing the poop.

It has long been expected that a better AMS will arrive, one with a heated chamber, possibly 6 slots per unit and some stacking solution they will sell. Ideally with a scale per slot, so the slier can tell you if there is sufficient material for the print.

Having the filaments all converge closer to the printer rather than inside each AMS will also speed up prints that rely on multiple filament changes.

Just some random thought.