That username
Jeff GeerlingSo it begins... Bambu Lab's latest X1C firmware no longer works with OrcaSlicer. See: https://github.com/bambulab/BambuStudio/issues/6726
Best solution for current X1C owners: don't upgrade your firmware.
R.L. Dane 
🍵 
Called it (more or less): https://polymaths.social/@rl_dane/statuses/01JSWX7GSC57RK95HZHJP3ZDEH
Post by R.L. Dane 🍵, @[email protected]
Bambu is the Apple of 3D Printers. And that is absolutely meant as an invective. *Hella* sus. (But admittedly, also *praise*, in a "I begrudgingly admire the engineering that went into that killdozer" kinda late-stage-capitalist dystopia kinda way) P. S. I know this is crazy over-the-top. Fi...
Andrew 
@geerlingguy I have a P1S, which I know is not the first target of this BS, but it’s staying on the current firmware and blocked from the internet as a precaution. It works - I’m not touching it.
jelle@piepants @geerlingguy good approach. P1S is targeted for a similar path in the near future.
Now I’m not completely against a walled garden firmware similarly to using Apple Mobile Devices. If it ensures smooth operations and it’s about true security only. But when it’s locked down with the presumed intention to software lock down features to monetize them in the future, I’m not privy to this. And as a tinkerer I’d advise looking into something like Voron.
Inspect your p1s firmwares in the near future carefully, because there are some coming to which you might want to upgrade to. At least if you’d like to have access to new hardware features like the AMS 2 or the filament dryer unit.
Now I’m not completely against a walled garden firmware similarly to using Apple Mobile Devices. If it ensures smooth operations and it’s about true security only. But when it’s locked down with the presumed intention to software lock down features to monetize them in the future, I’m not privy to this. And as a tinkerer I’d advise looking into something like Voron.
Inspect your p1s firmwares in the near future carefully, because there are some coming to which you might want to upgrade to. At least if you’d like to have access to new hardware features like the AMS 2 or the filament dryer unit.
@jelle @geerlingguy I’m probably ok sticking with the AMS 1. Honestly, I wouldn’t have bought Bambu at all if I knew they were going to announce the “security” changes 2 days after I ordered it. I’m trying to get more control over my devices, more local control, walled off from the internet where possible. The ability to use OrcaSlicer in LAN mode was a big selling point, so I was quite angry when they made the change.
@piepants @geerlingguy
I’m a bit more lenient in this. If Bambu’s newer firmware doesn’t restrict the product I bought in the sense of: Bambu doesn’t take away features, or hides them behind a premium payment wall, I had at the time of ordering the devices and it’s pheriphals; I’m fine with this.
A lot of consumers will not fight Bambu on this. All they want is a device that simply gets the job done. The majority of owners will not care about this step by Bambu. It’s the tinkerers, security and open source minded people that are effected.
Consider ourselves a vast minority.
I’m a bit more lenient in this. If Bambu’s newer firmware doesn’t restrict the product I bought in the sense of: Bambu doesn’t take away features, or hides them behind a premium payment wall, I had at the time of ordering the devices and it’s pheriphals; I’m fine with this.
A lot of consumers will not fight Bambu on this. All they want is a device that simply gets the job done. The majority of owners will not care about this step by Bambu. It’s the tinkerers, security and open source minded people that are effected.
Consider ourselves a vast minority.
@jelle @geerlingguy oh yeah, I know I’m in the minority here. I’m fine with that. It’s just that I would have shopped around a bit more if I knew about the firmware changes upfront.
Michael Horne@geerlingguy So what begins? (intrigued and was thinking of getting a Bambu A1, so...)
Ryan Walmsley@recantha @geerlingguy locking you into their ecosystem starting with blocking third party slicers.
Wittiko@recantha @geerlingguy Bambulab is starting to lock users into their software ecosystem
@wittiko Ohhhhh that's not good.
Jan Henkins@recantha @geerlingguy
Bambu Labs has created a very controversial new feature that blocks the use of Orca Slicer. Here is a synopsis:
@dotslash @geerlingguy Oh super... Guess that A1's out then. :-(
@recantha @geerlingguy You can still buy one, the actual hardware is awesome and the printer is a joy to use. But there is of course this rather glaring privacy risk. There are some mitigations available: (1) You can downgrade the firmware to an older version without the connector, and thus retain your ability to use Orca Slicer/Octoprint/Home Assistant and (2) you can also run your printer in LAN-only mode. My DHCP server also does not assign a gateway to my printer, so no internet access.
Gamy@recantha they decided to turn their back on compatibility & switch to a walled garden approach
✨ Mia’s Simulacrum 🏳️⚧️✨After all, this was the plan all along and they lied into our face.
Rob@geerlingguy I recommend X1Plus - works flawlessly with OrcaSlicer and will be in the future!
@digga_mies Do you really trust Bambu Labs to keep the X1 series from this connector change? After huge backlash they are still persisting with this totally unnecessary change, so the X1 series will still be targeted at some point in the future.
@dotslash Since X1Plus runs as a custom firmware on my printer, that does not depend on this Network Connector plugin i am quite confident, you don't need to worry about that!
@digga_mies That is brilliant!
PoopiSan@geerlingguy They are not the first company that can act like this. What I personally don't like is that they linked their own plugin against AGPLv3 software, and there is not much community doing anything about it. If we all believe that this is illegal, there should be a class action lawsuit against them. It works way better than tariffs against companies’ misbehavior. Do we all believe that this is the lost case already?
@geerlingguy If I had to buy a 3d printer a year ago it would have been a Bambu Labs one, today that would not be the case.
It is not about the action itself but about the intentions it shows. If they are trying to lock me into their ecosystem today then they won't be afraid to charge me for simple features tomorrow.
It is not about the action itself but about the intentions it shows. If they are trying to lock me into their ecosystem today then they won't be afraid to charge me for simple features tomorrow.