Why does everyone talk so positively about these mediocre printers?

Bambu Lab A1 Series General Discussions
169

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.

5 Likes
170

@ProtoSpyre

Exactly. You can waste so much time tuning your slicer settings. Bbl can still improve a many points that for sure and I love open source hardware. But it’s the close source nature of thier products than makes all of this conveniences possible. Every user has the same printer, they are well build and reliable. Good luck to implement that when every users start upgrading thier printer because they are only 80% finished at the first place and the QC is practically inexistant.

3 Likes
171

How so? I’ve never owned one, but I’m curious.

172

This is truly amazing because after 16 months of being part of Bambu Labs user base, I’ve yet to ever have success with their default parameters in any form. (Printer, filament, or Print Settings)

Not try to argue any part of your response but I’d find advanced users would likely not even bother with bambu studio because it lacks so much still in customization properties along with a recently proven video also showcasing the comparison between [ PrusaSlicer - Bambu Studios - OrcaSlicer] which was underwhelming any how already having done a test myself, but OS happens to provide a cleaner print in terms of surface finish and tolerance using exact same parameters. I also have zero idea as to why or how that is even.

BL’s has created a very diverse user base at the end of the day. They’ve brought people to the industry who’ve never had to deal with many of the things experienced users had to endure over the past decade. I also understand being transparent and reasonable to others and their opinions such as why I involve myself heavily within this community so I can bring awareness to people that bought an A1/A1 Mini because of a commercial and a web page.

Being fully transparent and honest myself, 16 months ago when I opened my facebook page and seen someone within a huge group I follow talk about their kickstarter X1C from this company I’ve never heard about I instantly jumped on and read that webpage. Fully intrigued by the companies engineers and CEO I threw $1650 right at them that day. Scrolling down and seeing the 7 micron ABL, AI detection, 20,000 mm/s3 accel, built in camera, all of which were nice selling points ultimately the AMS was my instant decision to pursue in BL’s.

This was before knowing the extent of what I was going to end up needing further down the line. This was before they had a store and allowed users to purchase every component as a replacement. This was before they created a warranty plan and we originally were stuck with a 14 day return policy only. If i were to come out from the ender/voron scene I was in and seen this today, I would’ve chose differently.

The 1 and only given reason being the AMS, I already had and seen every feature of which the X1C had to offer. Basically as an experienced printing enthusiast myself, I’m skeptical on the integrity of this company more so than the product they sells relatively easy out the box printing capabilities. Learning more and more sus news as time goes on, seeing new verbiage in fine print with addressing it. I’m lost on what they really want to gain from being a leader in the market.

$249-$600 printers can’t possibly generate enough for a company of their size anymore especially if they want to grow… if you understand and know business economics than this is very clear the only way for them to advance will be to implement new machines that contain new features but we can certainly expect their next generation of FDM printers to be no where near $1,450… expectations are high and investors are wanting more money. This wasn’t started by 1 guy and wasn’t funded by 1 guy. things will change when we see a normal price tag of $2500+ but I’m not sure if it’ll be worth the wait.

Everything completely my opinion and I understand everyone especially here in the forums will have a very different outlook. But this is how I’m seeing it.

173

This is where I knew BBL’s was going to have trouble with. FDM printing as with SLS and SLA involve a vast amount of variables that all need to align for the best results. When you try to create a standard there’s given circumstances that those standard must apply to, so when you use PLA Basic and print the default settings but live in florida and humidity is 90% plus it’s 105 degrees outside. Those same default settings and filament won’t necessarily work exactly how it would for me in the PNW during summer when humidity is 15% and 70 degrees peaked.

Nothing in this industry is plug and play from everything I’ve done and used. I’ve taken upon additive manufacturing within my career of CNC machining. The general lack of knowledge when it comes to essentially using an arc welder on a 10 axis robotic arm that’s fed by an augur tiny tiny pellets of titanium, Inconel, stainless 15-5 is what makes it a low paying job code but requires a lot of training to make it work. It’s layers but fully engulfed in itself, the “print” needs to hold excess material tolerances otherwise when the CNC aspect comes in and uses an endmill to mill out the final product but theres not enough or to much, that causes a crash or tool breakage but yet those machines cost $800,000 upwards of over $1.4million and you can’t google them because its direct vendor/manufacturer supplied like DMG Mori (Mori Seki) , Okuma, Brother so on.

Basically there isn’t a standard within any of these methods. It would make it too easy. Knowledge is power and with that you can never fail. I don’t see myself not wanting to adapt and further increase my knowledge or doing. I don’t want a machine to do everything and from what I see you can add all the robots and AI but still need someone to develop, program and build that robot.

174

You’ll have to watch his video and create your own opinion. He from I see has created experienced users so he’ll have a widespread follower base anywhere from people who own 1 printer and do 1 thing with it to people that have 5+ printers.

I don’t see his followers being contained to a certain degree of knowledge which made his poll/survey very interesting.

176

With the extra discount code, the bundle, including “free” camera and 1kg pla, is now at $419. Their AMS doubles as a 200w 55C filament dryer, which is a nice feature if it works. I’ve not seen any actual hands-on reviews as yet, which is unlike just about all other printers released lately (where the reviews start even before release).

177

You know, when we first started talking on the forum here, you didn’t seem so cynical. We got into it a bit, but you still kept a chill vibe about yourself, and lately it seems what’s been going on with Bambu has changed those vibes a bit.

I don’t know why I can sit and have the experience I have, but it’s eluding you. I have had a mostly plug and play experience. There’s moments of frustration, or moments of broken parts. It happens. My experience in 3d printing certainly makes it a smoother ride, as most any issue that comes up with, I’m prepared for in some manner. I don’t think the issues I’ve faced are that big of a head scratcher though.

I’ve only owned 1 pre-assembled 3d printer before Bambu. I’ve assembled and modded every other one, including one which I designed and built. I mean, it’s a CoreXY, so not like ground breaking, but still.

Hey look! Here it is!

image
image701×992 57.6 KB

When I built that, I set out to produce the most advanced bit of kit I could. This was pre-klipper. It had all the fancy features though of the time. The two LCDs is because one was old school, text, the other was a touch screen. I had got about half way through doing the UI for it. I was trying to finish the UI before I ditched the text screen.

It had a swappable hotend. The whole thing freakin’ swapped. It used magnets and stuff and worked awesomely. My second hotend was a E3D Volcano. It used an ethernet cable so I could quick disconnect the cables.

I did all the firmware setup, and setup a slicer profile in Cura, as the screen I used had a feature to display a thumbnail of the model, which I needed cura to generate.

Is this advanced enough to qualify as an advanced user?

I hope so.

I’m sick and tired of going through all of these hoops constantly. I’m not a circus performer. I’m sick and tired of tweaking slicer settings. I never want to have to look at firmware code ever again. I think there’s people that are much smarter that can make very will refined slicer profiles that don’t need constant tweaking. I don’t want to feel like I have to constantly be chasing perfection, and that’s what tweaking slicing settings constantly gets you. You should spend all your time chasing a perfection that will never be.

I was so relieved when I opened up Bambu Studio, and how simplified it was compared to like Prusa Slicer. I don’t want to be bombarded with every setting under the sun. I don’t need to be. If the person that built the profile did a good job, then I shouldn’t ever have to worry about it. I should only concern myself with what I consider personal preference settings. Things like infill type, or amount of walls.

I’m not gonna get into the prusa vs orca vs bambu argument. I honestly don’t care. I’m not looking at this stuff under a microscope, and I find the fit and finish to be awesome for the most part. It’s been an improvement over past printers in general. Since I also target Makerworld, my playground is in Bambu Studio, so it doesn’t do me any good crying over what Prusa or Orca has. Instead I can use the tool I do have, which works just fine.

Not everyone is gonna agree with me. I’m sure there’s a selection of peeps that’ll call me a fool because I’m so careless and loose with my slicer settings.

Let’s get back to what’s important. Your enjoyment, your happiness. Stop putting all those eggs in the Bambu basket. They’re taking your enjoyment from you, and you’re letting it happen. Bambu can crumble tomorrow, and we’re still gonna be here. You need to pull back a little and realize what’s important to you, and what shouldn’t be as important to you.

As a bonus, for fun, here’s a picture of the Halo 5 Magnum (The actual highpoly model used for the game’s model!). It was my first print on a just assembled Prusa Mk2. I didn’t waste time with a benchy to prove it’s worth. I went straight for the kill.

image
image1000×667 63.1 KB

10 Likes
179

I hadn’t realized the ship date was so far out. Since you’re getting it, do let us know what you think after you’ve had some hands on with it. Allegedly its AMS isn’t motorized, so it will be interesting to hear how well that minimalist approach works. It maybe explains how they kept the cost low.

180

I agree. Unless you happen to enjoy doing those things, the best use of anyone’s time is doing the things that only they can do while leveraging as much as they can. By their very nature, print profiles seem to require at least some amount of trial-and-error to perfect, and so developing them for a frankenstein printer can really sink your time. I have to remember that whenever I get the urge to make some kind of printer improvement that might knock out the print profiles. :man_facepalming:

181

Ahh yeah, very true. Haha, some do very much enjoy that whole process. I’m not as keen on it. I like the hardware side though.

The manager in me wants to pay someone else to tweak and refine slicer settings. :star_struck:

In general, 3d printers are getting more advanced to the level that it’s not a bad idea to specialize a little. It can be difficult to keep on top of everything, but if there’s room to focus on the aspects we enjoy without having to get bogged down in the other aspects, then that’s great.

If I was part of a larger team that had the guy that specialized in making the slicer perfect, while I focused on design, and just that kind of team breakup to play on strengths, that’d be awesome.

1 Like
183

eight colors? Did I miss something

Edit

Ah ok the anycubic. I didn’t you could have 8 colours, that’s pretty cool

186

A led bar… Just kidding XD

No I thing their plan is to connect a second AMS. But maybe they are some power limitations with the current PSU and how to manage 8 filaments with the current hub with only four channels. Maybe the best way is to add a spliter on each tubes just above the hub. I’m curious to see how anycubic solved this

187

I think that the issue is that the AMS Lite only pulls the filament the inch or so back past the splitter which is mounted to the head. To run dual AMS Lite’s there would need to be an 8 splitter mounted to the head with 8 PTFE tubes connected to the head. Getting filament to feed reliably thought a 8 splitter is a tough task. Not only that there might be an issue with the stepper motor trying to move double the amount of PTFE tubes back and forth.

3 Likes
189

The AMS Lite doesn’t have an active method of retracting filament further than an inch or so. The spools are not actively turned during retraction like the regular Bambu AMS. It’s not a limitation of programming.

1 Like
192

It is accurate. As I said, the AMS Lite does not have an “active” method of turning the spool during retract. The spools have a passive spring loaded return to provide tension on them and take up the inch or so of filament retract. Bambu specifically designed it this way.

3 Likes
193

Someone may care to do the sums, but the ams lite can have four spools of filament, out in the normal (humid?) atmosphere. How long would they be exposed when printing flat out? If you had eight spools, the exposure time would be doubled, at least.

194

Agreed. I run 2 P1S’s at home 24/7 as a side gig. They are much faster and print higher quality then the expensive industrial printers I have at work. Never had an issue, only maintenance so far is lubrication. I think they are pretty amazing, especially for the price.

3 Likes
196

probably many of them just are bad at 3d printing and need someone or something to blame for their failures so if they say “wet filament” it takes the blame off of themselves.

all my spools are in open air 24/7 although i live in az i never have had to dry filament either

198

I have no problem with the ams, since I do not have one. But some folk in some parts of the world have problems with humidity, and if spools are in an ams, they are in effect in the open air, the lite being obviously worse. If it takes a day to print a kilo, then the last of four spools will have the tail end exposed for 4 days. If more colour changes, then much longer. That can be a problem. Arizona - you’re living in a dry box.