3D Printers and Printing

[Col_Sanders]

The AMS has caused me some headaches. Filament can and will break off inside the AMS or in the hub on the back. If it is a big piece, its usually easy to find and clear, but I had a small piece that was less than an inch long bust off from slot 3 (which I had not used in weeks) and fall down into the 4:1 on the bottom of the AMS. I took it apart at least 3 times before I found it.

As for waste, it can waste a lot depending on how many changes you make. A neat trick is to set it up to purge into an object like a fidget toy. Makes it look cool with the different colors and helps prevent bleeding colors into your main print.

Working on the P1S is not going to be as easy as the A1 but luckily I havent had to do anything other than find chunks of broken filament. If you know you'll only be printing PLA, the A1 would probably be my choice but I did not want to limit myself. I print with PLA, PETG, and ASA. I will eventually start printing reinforced materials as well. I bought the hardened extruder gears but do not have the hardened nozzles yet.

 

[Greatscott]

Well, as a reward for working almost 100 hours of OT in five weeks, I think I am going to pull the trigger on the Bambu Labs P1S. The big question is to get it with one AMS, or not. The difference is $250, which is not a big deal, I just don't know if I will want or need the AMS...

This will replace my long-in-the-tooth CR-10.

 

[bgredjeep]

Imo, get the ams.

 

[smog]

I have not had any issues with my P1S in combination with the AMS. According to the Matt and Josh show, using non Bambu filament in the Bambu AMS has been the common thread in the issues that have arisen.
The AMS is definitely handy.

 

[Greatscott]

I have not had any issues with my P1S in combination with the AMS. According to the Matt and Josh show, using non Bambu filament in the Bambu AMS has been the common thread in the issues that have arisen.
The AMS is definitely handy.

Good to know. Right now Hatchbox is my go-to, but honestly, also long as I am getting good reliable prints, I really don't care.

How are you running your P1S, though the Chinese-based cloud, LAN only, or sneaker-net?

 

[smog]

Good to know. Right now Hatchbox is my go-to, but honestly, also long as I am getting good reliable prints, I really don't care.

How are you running your P1S, though the Chinese-based cloud, LAN only, or sneaker-net?

Just at my home off of my PC using Bambu software. So yeah, LAN only.

It's my first printer. I held out quite a long time waiting for a plug and play unit. Something that produced relatively high quality prints. I have to say, I am not disappointed in that department.

 

[Greatscott]

After five weeks of night shifts and overly abusive over time I have rewarded myself with a P1S with AMS (also bought a Wham Bam PEX plate). With any luck, the whole mess will be here this week.

I have been looking at my CR-10 with some sadness, more or less, it has been a good printer, but it just is not up to par with what is out today. With that, there is little to no resale value for it, and there will be no room for the CR10 and the P1S to cohabitate. I have trying to come up with ideas for it, there is a lot of extruded aluminum in it, and the steppers are interesting to tinker around with. Just when I thought I would be putting the whole mess in the trash a lightbulb exploded over my head... I am going to turn it into a laser cutter/engraver! Creality actually has a 10w plug-n-play laser kit for this printer ($200). At this time, I have no idea what I will use it for, but I am sure I will find something to burn with it. Plus, this thing can live in the garage (the laser will work just fine when it is 10*/f outside and the garage is down to 40*.

 

[hpiguy]

New to all of this, and our printer won't be here till Monday. Been doing TinkerCAD tutorials. Currently working on small storage boxes that I tend to need frequently. Coming right along so far. Excited for a new hobby!

 

[Greatscott]

New to all of this, and our printer won't be here till Monday. Been doing TinkerCAD tutorials. Currently working on small storage boxes that I tend to need frequently. Coming right along so far. Excited for a new hobby!

Yup, that is the way to do it. Three common mistakes I see is people not taking the time to learn the software, not taking the time to learn enough about the machine, and trying to go too big/complicated right off the bat. Every time I design something, I try to do something new with the software to build my skills. A lot of times this produces good results, but sometimes it fails hilariously and I just go back to what I know works.

 

[hpiguy]

Yup, that is the way to do it. Three common mistakes I see is people not taking the time to learn the software, not taking the time to learn enough about the machine, and trying to go too big/complicated right off the bat. Every time I design something, I try to do something new with the software to build my skills. A lot of times this produces good results, but sometimes it fails hilariously and I just go back to what I know works.

Thanks, I have some good mentors here on RCC helping guide me. I've wanted to get into this for a LONG time now. But just doing basic boring stuff for a bit till I learn the ropes. But, basic boring stuff is what will get used a lot also.

Finished up my little box project just a minute ago. Hope it prints well.

 

[hpiguy]

Got the printer and got it setup yesterday evening. So far so good. Printed a couple test prints, then a suppressor tool for me, and a flexxy rexxy for the wife in PETG, and of course, orange.

 

[Greatscott]

Keep us updated on your experience with this machine. I like my P1S, but I love knowing what other quality machines are out there and the experiences people have had with them.

 

[350TacoZilla]

I keep thinking about getting one of the entry level bambu labs but I constantly feel like the day I finally buy one they will come out with something better the next day... Like the machines are getting better and better rapidly but it's a lot of money for me. Do you guys think its worth trying to save a few bucks and get a used A1 over say buying a new mini if they were the same price?

 

[hpiguy]

Keep us updated on your experience with this machine. I like my P1S, but I love knowing what other quality machines are out there and the experiences people have had with them.

Will do, really happy with it so far. Getting deeper in TinkerCAD, and Orca Slicer.

I keep thinking about getting one of the entry level bambu labs but I constantly feel like the day I finally buy one they will come out with something better the next day... Like the machines are getting better and better rapidly but it's a lot of money for me. Do you guys think its worth trying to save a few bucks and get a used A1 over say buying a new mini if they were the same price?

They will, I bought this and then learned the AD5X with AMS is just around the corner. But no word on pricing, and it's not available. Only the initial pre-order units have been shipped out. But I'm super happy with what I have, and would do it over again. I would highly recommend an enclosed setup personally though.

 

[Greatscott]

I keep thinking about getting one of the entry level bambu labs but I constantly feel like the day I finally buy one they will come out with something better the next day... Like the machines are getting better and better rapidly but it's a lot of money for me. Do you guys think its worth trying to save a few bucks and get a used A1 over say buying a new mini if they were the same price?

Honestly, I don't like buying the latest and greatest because they normally come out with a lot of bugs. The Bambu A1 is a good example, they used the wrong type of power cord for the bed heater and had to recall the whole lot of them.

In generally will buy a printer that has been out for a year at least so the bugs can be worked out of it. It also shows how well a company stands behind their products, and how responsive they are to their customers. Sure, you might miss out on a new wiz-bang feature or two, but the core question is if the printer will do what you want. For me, I just want to print, and not have to fiddle with the printer a lot. Also, I do not want to install aftermarket items that make the printer workable, it should be that way out of the box.

Bambu really turned the whole 3D consumer printer market on its ear, they pretty much fixed all of the common annoyances that the 3D community had just accepted and lived with. This made all of the other manufacturers like Pruse stand up, take notice, and bring their offering to Bambu's level, or better.

My biggest gripe with Bambu is the garden wall. Theirs is a closed ecosystem, unlike a lot of the other companies out there. And, I am not thrilled about having to run all of my prints through a Chinese server farm if I want all of the online monitoring features. But, I can take the printer to LAN-only or stand along if it starts really bothering me. I have a friend that REALLY wants me to start producing printed products for his business, which would not be a bad side hustle, but if I did, I would most certainly go LAN-only or stand-alone. Or, I would get new printers, like the Prusa XL and Core-One.

 

[Deerhurst]

Prusa never impressed me. Years and years ago I had a crappy little Anet A8 that printed better than the prusa it was a copy of.

I currently have an old Ender 3 for a FDM printer. I think I've worn all the texture off the PEI build plate as nothing sticks to it anymore. My cheapo Proxima 6 resin printer makes cool stuff still but it's build volume is very limited.

At work I get to run a Snapmaker Artisan. That thing rocks! It makes fantastic prints as a printer, IR, 10w or 40w laser and a light duty CNC that will do aluminum. Usually holds +/-.002" with the CNC. It is expensive though. If I had room I'd have one at home.

 

[bgredjeep]

I hear complaints about the "closed ecosystem" for bambu. Honestly, if there was anything the printer didn't do well that I felt the need to tune open source i might get it. After years of having to babysit a printer to get a good part, click and come back later to an excellent print has been amazing.

I did look at other printers when I was considering the x1 (mainly the creality k1), but every review I watched or read turned into a comparison about how it was almost as good as the x1c. No ragrets on my choice.

 

[89Industries]

I just got a Creality K1c in January. Luckily since I didn't get it or a k1 when first introduced early last year, they worked out a lot of bugs and it is very much a click go and get what you expect printed.

 

[smog]

I keep thinking about getting one of the entry level bambu labs but I constantly feel like the day I finally buy one they will come out with something better the next day... Like the machines are getting better and better rapidly but it's a lot of money for me. Do you guys think its worth trying to save a few bucks and get a used A1 over say buying a new mini if they were the same price?

I felt the same way. All the high praise for Bambu sold me on the timing to buy.

 

[W1ck3d0n3]

Well my first time 3d modeling came out good, it's a little long on one side but I think the frame is bent a little on my SCX10.