Who disapproved of the A1 Mini? I have had mine for over 2 years and have never had a problem!!!
I was really hoping this would be a dual-nozzle printer. Once you print multi-material support with multi-toolheads, you’ll never want to go back. I might pick one up if it’s $399 without AMS lite. Otherwise, Snapmaker U1 is the better deal.
Even though I think the Snapmaker is a good idea, the prices are hardly comparable to A Series: Snapmaker U1 $899.00 USD. For that price, you also get a P2S combo $799 or X2D Combo $899. The devices simply appeal to different customers: Snapmaker: Multicolor! Bambu P2S/X2D with an enclosed heating chamber: quality and advanced materials.
I don’t really see how the A Series fits into this comparison, since it’s significantly cheaper than the Snapmaker U1.
At the end of the day, the best deal is to buy the device that’s right for you.
If you want to print with advanced materials, Snapmaker is definitely not the right choice. On the other hand, if you do a lot of multicolor printing, it’s definitely an option. However, if you only need two nozzles - one for support, the Bambu P2S/X2D printers become very attractive again.
It’s not a direct comparison, they are two different type of printers. For the most bang for your bucks, U1 is the better choice unless you have the need to print beyond 270mm cube volume.
In the US, you can get an U1 for $855 with a referral code from other U1 owners. That’s only $286 more than a A2L combo. The U1 does a lot more than just multi-color printing. Printing multi-material support alone is a huge advantage. And the ability to instant swap toolheads can save you hours even days compared to using an AMS system for material changes.
Ever since I got U1, my AMS systems are being used solely as auto refill purpose. Bambu seems to be slowly moving away from the affordable printers like P series. Only time would tell if it is the right strategy.
Isnt the the whole point of the large printer for people that need the larger printer? If you dont need the larger printer you can get the smaller A1
But you did compare them, which is why I wrote the comment in the first place, right? 
Especially in your second comment, you start comparing printers again, so? If that’s the case, you should compare products within the same price range rather than across all price ranges, or not?
Or are you just trying to tell us that, for you personally, the Snapmaker U1 is the best printer? No problem - go ahead and get one; you don’t have to justify a purchase. 
Seems like you either don’t remember or have a selective memory.
A1 Mini received disapprovals only for one reason: … Bed Slinger
It was the first BL’s printer that was a bed slinger and was the first step in realization that BL’s principles are flexible.
Why? Because when Bambu Lab were created - they set a statement as:
That’s why A1M was received quite “meh” reaction, not because it was a bad printer or something.
I often feel that the “No more Bed-Slinger” quote is taken out of context. People seem to forget that at the time, the Ender-3 and clones were dominating the market, as far as the eye could see. To me the above statement reads more as “The ender-3 era has come to an end.” I do not read it as “No bed-slingers ever” as some people seem to interpret it as.
No disrespect, but your feelings and how you feel like it should be interpreted are completely irrelevant here.
It’s a black text on a white background that says it’s clearly. No. More. Bed-Slingers.
No one pulled them by the tongue. No one forced them to write what they did.
And Dr. Tao said in interviews numerous times about that statement. It was not that someone misunderstood something. It was Bambu Lab themselves misunderstood that bed slingers are dead and useless. He said in CNC kitchen interview (lazy to scroll that old video to find it) and he said similar thing not long ago here (with time code).
I think they just forgot to put a comma in.
No, more bed slingers.
I wonder what makes your feelings about what it said more relevant than someone elses?
I know why I don’t remember anyone disapproving of the A1 Mini. I don’t watch reviews from people who put their hats on one cheek at a time.
this looks a little ai look at the perge line matches p1 and the name does not say a2l just a2 and the mini Bambu spool in the back ground
I even found the old thread in the forum about “no more bed-slingers.”
“Tomorrow, we confess” by BambuLab
JonRaymond you were also participating in the discussion and shared your thoughts. Nice.
It’s always interesting to look back and read old threads.
Edit: Link didn’t work? .. okay here:
https://forum.bambulab.com/t/tomorrow-we-confess/28211
Link worked.
Yeah, I dunno how THAT can be interpreted or misunderstood differently. I sure hope today is the day when everyone suddenly have a temporary amnesia and not an attempt to downplay the situation shifting the perception…
Oh, come on. From the same video, Dr. Tao said: “But after that [the X1 printers], we have done some research, you know, homework! Bedslingers have its advantages, it can be very affordable… it can be a very ideal entry level printer for someone who have never done 3d printing. Can be very inviting… And why not? We were wrong.”
They were wrong. They learned. They changed their mind based on what they learned. That sounds rational to me.
I don’t care for games of “gotcha!” because they depend upon refusing to allow others to learn and change.
The A series band is the entry level group, a U1 is an excellent printer, but it is far from being the first printer.
I love what the U1 does, it moved in a direction that the entire H series should have moved, the H2C is a solution thinking it solves a problem by being different when simple was smart.
The U1 is a market shake up printer and will drive others to compete more efficiently, hopefully driving a better future for us all.
I only hope a U1, or an INDX printer gets multiple lam switches to multiple AMS (or equivalent) solutions.
The A series is designed to drive new users or switchers from other manufacturers. Its price is set to make the purchase an easy choice.
The A1 mini was the first Bambu Lab I ever bought. Not the first 3D printer I owned, far from it. For me, it was my hope that my degenerating health wouldn’t prohibit me using it like it had my prior printers.
I bought one and was amazed as the leaps it made from what I had before, one of which was a 300 x 300 x 300 IDEX (not to be confused with INDX). I admit the small build volume was smaller ^^ in reality than my expectations (possibly related to my Aphantasia).
^^ In reality, the build volume is capable of printing 80% of everything on MakerWorld, and very little by @Josh-3D 
.
I bought the A1 shortly after (those two closely scheduled releases was annoying), it was returned due to the recall. I have since bought four P1S printers.
I am about to buy the A2L, which in reality should be labelled A1L. Do I need it, NO, do I want it YES.
The price makes it an impulse purchase (for me at least).
I am intrigued by what I can gain by having the cutter (albeit an add on cost).
I do not create anything commercially, I spend my time currently printing things to donate them to schools the teachers can gift the kids. My health decline has meant I haven’t uploaded a new model in around 8 months. I have several CyberBrick products in development and some decals with the cutter are intriguing.
Back to topic.
£150 to £410 (sans AMS) for three different sizes is positioned to an entirely different audience, there is overlap, but the common market pitching is two different users.
I don’t think anyone here intends to play Gacha. However, given the historical context, it’s not surprising that it sparked such a heated debate at that time. Fortunately, Bambu was on hand to showcase its potential.
Beside: Take a look at the comments:
- DWdesigns: “Remember that the A1 mini was greeted with overwhelming disapprovals.”
- Advocado: “A1 Mini received disapprovals only for one reason: … Bed Slinger”
In my opinion, that’s exactly right, as Advocado pointed out. Nobody claimed that the decision to create Bed-Slinger was a bad one, retroactively. He were simply pointing out that it was a controversial topic at the time.
In a discussion like this, it can really be helpful to take another look at past comments. This isn’t a gacha game, but rather a historical summary. Objectively speaking, it was certainly worth pointing that out to DWdesign.
What can we learn from this? Of course, we shouldn’t believe every promise, but that applies to all companies. In Bambu’s case, it actually turned out to be a good thing that they didn’t keep their word this one time.
What about other matters where they didn’t keep their word? Well… there are already quite a few threads on that. 
Well stated. I’d add one more tidbit. Recall that Jobs brought Microsoft onboard in the early days of the Macintosh. It’s not that Steve didn’t have some very not-so-positive choice words for Bill. It was strictly a wise business move. As was the case with BL making a bed slinger. Both of those decisions proved quite lucrative for both companies. And yes, they both “changed their minds”. But haven’t we all from time to time?
That was the answer to the question of why A1 Mini received some negativity upon release. BL explained their position way later, after the release of A1M.
It’s not a gotcha, but rather a logical confusion from a company who put a mission statement “bed slingers suck”