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 A heated bed always helps adhesion. With PLA the exact bed temperature doesn't matter too much, but "a bit too hot to touch" is about right.

Also beware that printers' free spool of filament is often junk. I mean REALLY bad. I've used Sunlu and Amazon Basics filament a lot and that works for me.