a thread for BambuLab machines

[GoMachV]

sweet! I leave the .2 in my main machine, when printing rc parts for test fitting I find its worth the extra time

[GoMachV]

Just a heads up, Bambu is having a nice sale right now. They have the X1C and P1S on sale as well as the A1 and A1 mini. Bambu very rarely has a sale, I picked up a couple more AMS for my existing machines

https://us.store.bambulab.com/pages/black-friday-sale?from=navigation_bar

[XLR8]

Just a heads up, Bambu is having a nice sale right now. They have the X1C and P1S on sale as well as the A1 and A1 mini. Bambu very rarely has a sale, I picked up a couple more AMS for my existing machines

https://us.store.bambulab.com/pages/black-friday-sale?from=navigation_bar

Thank you Jeff.
After procrastinating for years on a printer, I just pull the trigger on a P1S.
I have a backlog of things to print and learning the process should provide a nice winter project.
Not sure where to start but my RC4WD Blazer needs an alternator and power steering pump so maybe I'll begin there.

[GoMachV]

That's awesome, you are part of the cool kids club now

[XLR8]

FWIW, if you're like me and are unsure which model to buy (P1 or X1) you might find this video useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvPfh8CJTcE

With the flagship X1's Ai, convenience of use and time savings enhancements, I'll probably regret not buying that model. Perhaps someday, the X1 will become my second 3d printer purchase.

At least initially, most of my prints will be non-structural small parts to add scale details to my trail trucks. For the few high-strength structural parts I will need, I'll probably still use a printing service for their multi-jet fusion equipment.

Anyway, Bambu has sent my shipping notification - can't wait to try it out.

[GoMachV]

really I would just get the hardened nozzle and extruder as well as a flat build plate, at that point you should be able to print all the good stuff. I went overkill with the X1c and while I dont regret it, they were considerably more than I needed to spend.

[XLR8]

really I would just get the hardened nozzle and extruder as well as a flat build plate, at that point you should be able to print all the good stuff. I went overkill with the X1c and while I dont regret it, they were considerably more than I needed to spend.

From what I've seen, the X1 is a very very nice machine. It's worth the added cost especially since you use it for business.

Anyway, it's good to know the P1 is easily upgraded. At the moment, I'm considering a 0.2mm nozzle since I'll want very fine detail and can accept the increased print time over the standard 0.4mm. Apparently the 0.2 hot end assembly is available in stainless not hardened steel so I won't be printing the good stuff with it.

Someday I want to print an entire truck body (in panels, of course) and styrene is so easy to work with; it glues and sands beautifully. Will I need a different build plate to print ABS?

[GoMachV]

Yes, I keep the .2 nozzle in one machine for printing detailed pla and abs parts, on small items the time isn't much more and the quality of print is so nice. The other machine I keep a .4 nozzle in, and use it for mostly abs. I side load abrasive filaments on that machine as well. Swapping nozzles is a 5 minute deal if you get the complete assemblies. More like 10 to 15 if you get just the tip

I should have mentioned, if you do more than one AMS don't waste money on the splitter just get the cheap 4 into 1 adapters for $5. Those are also handy for the side loading. If you grab a couple of them you will have lots of options. If you didn't do an ams don't worry about any of that

[XLR8]

I didn't order AMS. I won't be doing multi color prints but I've heard they are useful for multi-material prints. For instance, printing supports in cheap filament and save the more expensive fiber-filled materials for the actual part. Is that "side loading"?

[GoMachV]

Yes the ams is awesome for multi material prints where you use a support material, the underside surface when used this way is just amazing compared to traditional supports. Also I will say, I didn't think I would use the ams either, but they are crazy cool for off the wall projects and fun stuff, even if you don't think you will want to... You will

What I consider side loading is a "Y" split between the ams and printer where you can load flexible or abrasive materials that you can't run through the ams. Basically you are just bypassing it.

The speed control i printed doesn't require an ams, just a filament change .. but the ams makes it unattended.

[silvertriple]

The AMS is currently on sale. I started with one on my X1C,and bought a second one quite quickly. You may not see the interest of the AMS at first, but once you have it you are going to change your mind. My own use cases are:

• multi colors - It's rare but I use this time to times

• finishing a roll and starting a new one during a long print - again, rare use case, but it happens I do this

• multi-material : while it is always better to play with orientation and tricks to avoid using multimaterial, sometimes you don't have choices.

• Different use cases : PETG as support for PLA (opposite is true), PC as support for Nylon (opposite true again), Soluble material as support (but comes at cost of material waste)

• Different material to provide different finish and properties to a part (I have some ideas I want to try now that I'm thinking about it)

I also noted that recently they announced future availability of TPU material specifically designed for AMS (soon). That may open some specific use cases in the last category I noted.

Last comment on my side, @XLR8 , if I was to choose currently, it would be probably a P1S with hardened nozzle and extruder gears : the single fact it is close gives much more material flexibility. I rarely print high temp materials at the end, and the P1S would be probably enough.
And I saw you asked about how many rolls to order. Each material have its own characteristics, but I would advise start with PLA or PETG, and get a few rolls : 2 is a good start. And you should probably consider a filament dryer (specially with no AMS, as the AMS keep the filament controlled with dessicant, which won't be the case outside of the printer)...

[silvertriple]

The speed control i printed doesn't require an ams, just a filament change .. but the ams makes it unattended.

Just put the ESC under that fake servo head, and this will be even better

[GoMachV]

Just put the ESC under that fake servo head, and this will be even better

If the wires were longer I would have, that was the goal. Instead I have it so the wires can clip into the fake speed control from underneath. I should just extend them, it would be worth the little extra effort.

[XLR8]

The AMS is currently on sale. I started with one on my X1C,and bought a second one quite quickly. You may not see the interest of the AMS at first, but once you have it you are going to change your mind. My own use cases are:

• multi colors - It's rare but I use this time to times

• finishing a roll and starting a new one during a long print - again, rare use case, but it happens I do this

• multi-material : while it is always better to play with orientation and tricks to avoid using multimaterial, sometimes you don't have choices.

• Different use cases : PETG as support for PLA (opposite is true), PC as support for Nylon (opposite true again), Soluble material as support (but comes at cost of material waste)

• Different material to provide different finish and properties to a part (I have some ideas I want to try now that I'm thinking about it)

I also noted that recently they announced future availability of TPU material specifically designed for AMS (soon). That may open some specific use cases in the last category I noted.

Last comment on my side, @XLR8 , if I was to choose currently, it would be probably a P1S with hardened nozzle and extruder gears : the single fact it is close gives much more material flexibility. I rarely print high temp materials at the end, and the P1S would be probably enough.
And I saw you asked about how many rolls to order. Each material have its own characteristics, but I would advise start with PLA or PETG, and get a few rolls : 2 is a good start. And you should probably consider a filament dryer (specially with no AMS, as the AMS keep the filament controlled with dessicant, which won't be the case outside of the printer)...

Sounds like good advice. Thanks. Extruder upgrades, AMS, etc, all in good time. I am retired so must watch my spending and delay some things until next month.
That said, I can't print without filament so should I buy from Bambu or is there a better source? Also, can you please recommend a filament dryer? Thanks again

[silvertriple]

Sounds like good advice. Thanks. Extruder upgrades, AMS, etc, all in good time. I am retired so must watch my spending and delay some things until next month.
That said, I can't print without filament so should I buy from Bambu or is there a better source? Also, can you please recommend a filament dryer? Thanks again

I do use some of the Bambu filaments (they are not that expensive when you order in bulk and that you have already the spools). I'm not sure if the non combo printer comes with an empty spool or not, that being said.
Bambu filaments have profiles ready in Bambu studio, and they are generally good to go for printing.
I also use other filaments from various sources, often bought on Amazon for convenience on delivery side (next day delivery) : I used often Sunlu PETG as widely available, working nicely with generic PETG profile defined in the slicer, with a wide range of choice of colors, not expensive and with spools working in the AMS (a criteria I did not have before : when the AMS arrived, I droped a few Amazon basic rolls to my brother as the spools were too large for the AMS).