Mastodawn

Lauren Weinstein Aug 19, 2024

Damn. Just did my first print on the Bambu Lab A1. Given my experiences with other 3D printers over the last almost 10 years or so, this thing comes across like genuine alien technology. Printed the traditional 3DBenchy calibration test boat. Essentially all I did was push the filament into one of the four AMS Lite entry funnels, clicked print ... and ... that was it. Crazy fast -- about 20 minutes. Looks and feels essentially flawless. If I didn't know better, my first impression would be that it was injection molded. It takes a number of minutes before that print started since the machine was doing a variety of automated cleanup/purge/calibration steps, and then it launched and was almost a blur.

Very cool. Or hot. Or sick. Or groovy. Or whatever current euphemism you prefer. We're definitely in the 21st century with this one.

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Marcus Jenkins Aug 20, 2024

@lauren Nice!

I haven't tried Bambu Labs but I have noticed an uptick in usability across the board since about 2 years ago now that just about all manufacturers offer auto calibrating Z height, no-springs buildplate designs. These things Just Work compared to the old Ender 3 standard. And don't get me started on my first 3D printer - a Sunhokey Prusa-i3-based design with a perspex chassis. Never heard of Sunhokey? Yeah, well, that says it all.

#3dprinting

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LeonianUniverse Aug 20, 2024

@marcusjenkins @lauren wow, I am using An ender 3 V 2 and I am lucky if I can get any print at all to not just end up a solid blob, this sounds cool in comparison.

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Marcus Jenkins Aug 20, 2024

@LeonianUniverse @lauren That's a real shame because 3D printing can be good fun. I'm definitely not an expert, but I've wrangled about a dozen printers in the last 8 years.

Solid blob sounds like whatever you're printing isn't sticking.

* Try normal PLA first, not PETG, PLA plus, ABS
* Print at ~ 190°C nozzle with 50°C bed
* Bed levelling - easy after the first few times
* Clean build surface with alcohol & kitchen towel between prints
* Use a little glue stick on the bed

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LeonianUniverse Aug 20, 2024

@marcusjenkins @lauren I am using normal PLA, or at least that is what the printer came with, 190 though? Is that not too cool? Also 50 degrees? hmm,gonna have to try this for sure.

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Marcus Jenkins

@LeonianUniverse @lauren Hi, sorry, I just read your profile so, yeah, bed levelling is going to be tricky if you have to work by feel and not burn your fingers. Unfortunately bed levelling is crucial to getting prints to work, so the auto bed levelling on newer printers would be a huge benefit for you. With respect to temperature, of course, check what's specified on the spool you bought, you might want to tweak that up a few degrees to get better adhesion.