That is true in everything my friend…
Seeya
M1
That’s the interesting thing about perspective though, because to me they’re very plug and play. Granted, that comes with 10ish years of 3d printing experience. I honestly don’t really know what it’s like for someone new to 3d printers, to operate something like the A1 or X1C for the first time. To me, it all makes sense and is delightfully simple.
However, I do think Bambu should include some sort of getting started guide for 3d printing, with their 3d printers. Not something printer specific, but something that discuses 3d printing in general, and talks about issues one might encounter and how to fix them. Could be very visual. Something more than a few page pamphlet or a QR code. The world seems allergic to physical manuals anymore, but having a generalized guide like that included would probably do a lot. It’s a physical item that isn’t as easily brushed aside like a QR code. I think a lot of people would probably pause and check it out. Maybe it doesn’t have to be included, but could be sold along side the printers, given a discount when purchased with, just like select accessories and filament.
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I mean, sure, you get to skip hardware issues with Bambu. Well almost, you can’t skip the periodic maintenance or random issues. But the other side of printing, like calibrating filament, drying, figuring out the best supports, profiles and so on, it’s still something that you have to do, if you want better quality. Unless you buy only Bambu filament and use only those already made profiles, and makerworld already made profiles, which can be ok to some degree.
There is already their wiki website that has instructions for basically anything, from changing hardware components, print problems that can occur, to explaining the software side. For every problem there is, there is a wiki page that I’ve found, with detailed instructions.
I bought this book and it helped me with each and every problem i had.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NCHYQV1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I mean… yeah. That’s the point. No one wants to endlessly fiddle with settings. There are guys that are constantly chasing perfection in their prints. To me it’s a fool’s game. I’ve never jumped through half the hoops some of these guys claim you need to, and I still get great prints. I got those great prints even before Bambu existed, so it’s not even just their machines, but I think people get lost on this idea that you need to tweak everything; else you’re just gonna get garbage output.
When I design, I think a lot about printability too. I want my stuff to be easy to print so people have a successful and fun time! And it’s freakin’ brilliant. I talk to users all the time, that this is their first 3d printer, and it’s just heart warming. It’s an interesting thing, because it’s the old school guys that seem to have the most issues and most to complain about. The new users for the most part are out there having a blast. They’re the ones that know how to appreciate something for what it is, rather than constantly trying to seek out what it isn’t.
There is, but it’s not a universally known thing either. For all the guides on the internet, or the book that Barryg41 linked, there are still people coming and asking very basic questions. I’m sure Bambu support gets flooded with those questions too. If there was a visual guide as such that is right there when you open the box, people will probably reference it. It puts it right in their view, makes them have to handle it (To remove it so they can remove the printer itself). It’s more than an easily glossed over QR code on the side of the box. If someone is having trouble, they’re gonna at least check it out first because it’s there and they’re aware of it!
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What problems have you had with Bambu printers? My A1 has worked flawlessly right out of the box for months now! I do like my Prusa Mini better, though because I don’t have to run it at desk shaking speed and the prints are a little cleaner.
Well other than the heat bed cable nothing, The hardware is solid. I have had a couple glitches with software.
Here is what I’ve noticed, if the printer is left with certain screens open the WiFi will not connect in LAN mode. I’ve had this show up several times. It appears it’s a issue with the software not the hardware.
With that said there is the biggest problem that I’ve had is spending more money on filament because my prints are coming out great and the machine is so much faster printing. This mean less money in my wallet, now if I can only get my clients to pay up as fast. 
Seriously if you do your calibration and maintenance, this machine has been an absolute rock. Thanks Bambu Labs
Happy Printing
M1
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I have to laugh a little. My 11 year old daughter got an A1 Mini for Christmas. Set it up herself (I watched) and loaded filament, ran set up, and found her first print on Makersworld by herself. It was her first printer. The only thing she needed help with was taking it out of the box. She’s never had feeding issue, or any issue.
She’s also never whined when something of hers breaks. She asks nicely for help and doesn’t resort to calling people names.
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My A1 Mini is so far ahead and above my Ender 3 it’s astonishing
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That’s exactly what its about. These things really aren’t supposed to be complicated, I think a lot of issues are introduced by bad habits and mods. I bought a Mini and am happy to slap a spool on and send models to it all day.
There is an old Ender sitting in the spare room now, I kind of feel sad for it as its been sorted and runs reliably (I’ve put rails etc on it). I considered giving it to an engineer mate but seriously can’t imagine myself having patience with him calling me up in the middle of the night because its not level 
…
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This comment is 90% of bambu lab’s user base… All of that 90% that just keep going and are happy as of now will sadly be mistaken or not heard of when the issues start hitting them lol.
What happens to things that tend to go “Fast” ?.. Let’s see how you feel once you put some thousands and thousands of hours into them. Nothing last forever, you’ll be pushed into buying the next model trust me.
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because not everyone has had your experience.
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But, if you are printing thousands of hours, then you have created far more items in that time than if you were using a slower model from someone else, which was all that was available at the time. So, you factor in the initial cost against number of items made, and see what comes out on top.
Of course, you assessed the risk in purchasing something on the ‘leading edge’, made by an unknown company, which after a year or so would be surpassed by other, more established manufacturers, possibly with products more suited to your requirements.
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Yes, exactly. As they say in poker, this is the tell. Or even if you lead them directly to the solution, they don’t want to do it. It’s just a total waste of everyone’s time and good will.
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Everything breaks eventually but guess what you do…fix it just like any other printer…
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That’s what I DO, yes. Definitely not what the majority of people I see purchasing bambu printers want to do or even think of what will need to be done in the long run…
These printers will follow iphones and pretty much just like technology does, the next big and better option will come out and you’ll be buying that.
If there’s a poll on “Why did you purchase a bambu?” more than 60% of the answers would be because its fast, “doesn’t require tinkering” and works…
Then when it doesn’t those individuals will not take the steps to find out and fix it… that’s not how BL marketed these especially showing consumers “1 click printing” which no one cares about or wanted.
I think that’s where you’re wrong. A lot of people are interested by this feature, especially if this is your first printer.
Now with the A1 series, the main target of bbl is to convert those people, not the already existing 3D printer owner market. And those kind of features are the key to unlock this new market shares.
And concerning the repairability of their machines. I think they are doing a pretty good job. There is an extensive wiki doc, an extensive list of spare parts available to buy on their webshop. But they could improve the support services.
For the Apple analogy, I agree BBL looks like Apple in some aspects. They are thinking differently and offering products really more convient than the competition.
And BBL is way less aggressive on new release than competition. There are not releasing a new version slightly upgraded of their products each year.
There is only Prusa that offers the same kind of product longevity and support for their products. And for a similar price, I personally prefer to keep my older printer and buy a new one than upgrading my printer every 3 years or so.
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If you watch teachingtech you would’ve seen his recent video compiling his poll results based from about 1,700 total people. Along with those was a survey which consisted of features makers wanted in the future and what makers/users enjoyed with current machines on the market.
One of the questions was if users cared about the ability to 1 click print, which many users over 70% didn’t care about the feature.
It’s not a huge deal but he also was a big influence on Bambu labs as they also listen to his feedback quite often and happend to be 1 channel I watch and follow on YT versus the flood of 3D channels bought out by companies.
This is Not representive. 70% of which usergroup? Consumer-User or Maker-User?
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Okay, but he asked his audience, a group of people that are already steeped in 3d printing and such. It’s not the same as the budding market that Bambu is tapping into with like the A1 Series, especially with the A1 Mini. Maybe we should do a poll, just go out to the local grocery store and ask people "Would you use a 3d printer that allowed you to click print directly from your phone, or would you rather have to learn how to use a slicer software, learn what all the settings do, and you’re gonna need decent enough computer to run the slicing software, and learn how to calibrate your filament, etc etc etc. My point is it’s about perspective and who you ask. Seasoned 3d printer users aren’t thinking about ease of use features that help them get started.
I’ve talked to a ton of A1 Mini users that are non-designers, that enjoy “1 click print” ability, and that simple ease of use. To me, the ones that don’t want that stuff, that seem to fight it the most, are the old school users that want to gatekeep things, that want to justify their blood sweat and tears by telling everyone else they have to feel the same pain, else they wont know how to appreciate 3d printing, or whatever.
I like the ease of use of Bambu, and that’s even as an advanced user. Well, I rather like that I don’t have to constantly get bogged down with the 3d printer. I like for the most part things have become 1 click to print. I don’t calibrate my filament, or do any sort of test. I rarely change slicer settings from the default. Only things I’ve really changed are personal preferences like wall count and infill type. I just throw stuff into the slicer, auto arrange, and hit print, for the most part.
I remember in the past getting down these rabbit holes of trying to tweak slicer settings. Loosing hours at a time trying to get things up to a consistent quality. Most 3d printers didn’t come with quality slicer settings either, so it was always an adventure; one I didn’t always enjoy, of having to figure this stuff out for each new printer. I enjoyed it to some extent when I first got into printing, but after awhile, I just got tired of having to fiddle with the printer when I just wanted to design and see my designs come alive.
I love that I can just toss my model into Bambu Studio and more or less hit print.
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