3DPrinting
3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.
The r/functionalprint community is now located at: or !functionalprint@fedia.io
There are CAD communities available at: !cad@lemmy.world or !freecad@lemmy.ml
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Their printers just work. If you're not interested in printers, but only printing the apple-of3d-printing is exactly what you want, which seems to be the majority of people. I own a Bambu and a sovol, to satisfy "both hobbies". But at the end of the day, when I just need to print a replacement part I spent a non-trivial amount of time designing, my first pick is always the Bambu. Sadly, convenience beats freedom
Until they don't. I use OrcaSlicer, a perfectly good slicer for many 3D printers, including for my Bambu A1. However, I have it set to LAN-only mode and locked at v4.0.0.0, since the latest firmware blocks the use of third-party software (and hardware, if you bought one of those Panda Touch displays, those no longer work because Bambu said more e-waste!)
Although I have an A1 (and it prints quite well, but nothing special. It, like any other 3D printer, struggles with complex prints and has adhesion issues with taller ones), I no longer recommend Bambu printers because they as a company are no longer trustworthy. They have already blocked non-Bambu software and hardware, what's stopping them from becoming the HP of 3D printers and restrict what kind of filament you can use? They have the RFID tags already, so it's just a software patch that needs to be sent out.
Other companies have printers that work just as well while not locking down on a tight ecosystem. Prusa is the obvious alternative, but you also have Qidi, Sovol, Elegoo's Centauri Carbon, etc. who are more price-competitive with Bambu, especially on the value end of the market
I got a Qidi for my first 3d printer about a year ago and honestly it's been pretty painless overall. The only time I really have trouble with it is when I go too long without cleaning the bed.
I fully agree with you. My next one won't be a Bambu, but as long as my P1S works, it'll be my main machine. And back when i bought my A1 mini, there simply was no comparable alternative in the sub 200€ range. It's great that this is now a different story, but since printers take a couple of years to break down, the change in market share won't happen overnight.
So do machines like Snapmaker (U1) and especially Prusa, but without the amount of involuntary butt stuff.
And it's not even true, the amount of issues with Bambu are piling up. A1 even manage to melt themselves recently, print failures with the print head becoming a plastic blob, the whole shebang. It's the same with Apple indeed, as in people being ignorant in regards to all their issues because of the whole lifestyle feeling the marketing team managed to create.
If quality really drops, the problem should solve itself, as their target clientele probably will be looking for alternatives.
That's not really how brand recognition and advertising works. If it was people would have stopped buying 2D HP printers decades ago.
As well as Apple products. and Microsoft Windows devices. The whole tech industry gets shittier and people merely adjust their expectations.
People are not buying rationally either, especially not when they're literally bombarded with manipulation attempts (ads, product placements, influencer marketing etc.). Something BambuLab does relentlessly.
My prusa just works. Haven’t done anything to it in years other than change the nozzle. Zero failed prints.
But, but, but... The Prusa is SO EXPENSIVE cause it's made with not slave labor!
And they slightly changed their open source licensing system to try to prevent Chinese cloans from duplicating their work for free!
And... It takes a few more days to ship since it's not coming on the same barge as the rest of the Alibaba slop!
/s (my only printer is a Prusa)
My Prusa pretty much works. I've had a couple feed problems. I've had to revert the firmware twice because 6.4 and later just don't work well. Prusa is stretching themselves thin and it shows.
Haven’t personally touched the firmware in years now. It works, I don’t need any new features personally. Can’t comment on the quality of new fws.
I have an H2C and it is my first, and likely last, Bambu printer.
I was ok with the idea of a “just works” printer, but coming from building Vorons.. Bambu has issues that I cannot fix and Bambu does not care or is just super slow to address. First layer is bad for ABS/ASA and every sliced file needs a z-offset to work. Bambu Slicer is not great. My filaments are constantly getting deleted or won’t sync. The list of open GitHub issues is massive.
This nonsense now with a Cease & Desist does not sit well with me. I regret my purchase.
So does my prusa.
This is why courts and laws are the way to rein in companies like this. Because boycotts just...don't...work. There will always be someone who will buy the product despite the issues with the company.