If you're considering purchasing the new Bambu Lab A1 Mini, here are the most important things you need to know:
Pros:
Ease of Use:
The Bambu Lab A1 Mini arrives fully assembled right out of the box. Users simply need to remove a temporary bracket and some packaging. This convenience sets it apart from many other 3D printers in its price bracket.
Fully Automatic Calibration:
Gone are the days of manually calibrating your 3D printers. The Bambu Lab A1 Mini boasts of precise bed leveling and active flow control, ensuring top-quality print results.
Price:
At an astonishing $299, the Bambu Lab A1 Mini offers high-speed, pre-assembled, professional-grade 3D printing. In comparison, its closest competitor, the Prusa Mini, offers fewer features at $459 for a semi-assembled kit.
Multi-color 3D Printing for Everyone:
Bambu Lab's proprietary AMS, or Automatic Material System, stands out, allowing for prints of up to 4 colors in a single project.
Silent 3D Printing:
The engineering team at Bambu Lab, some of whom played key roles at the renowned drone company DJI, have truly excelled. With proprietary stepper drivers featuring custom noise cancellation, the Bambu Lab A1 Mini offers a more silent printing experience compared to its predecessors.
Cons:
Build Volume:
For those looking to print larger items, the Bambu Lab A1 Mini may not be the ideal choice with its build volume of 180mm x 180mm x 180mm. Larger tasks might require components to be printed separately and then assembled. The Bambu Lab X1 and P1 printers, on the other hand, offer a larger volume of 256mm x 256mm x 256mm. It's worth noting that the Bambu Lab CEO hinted at the forthcoming X1 XL 3D printer with enhanced technology and features in a recent interview.
Bed Slinger? More like Bed "Flinger":
The optional AMS Lite upgrade enables multi-color printing with up to 4 colors but comes at a cost of space. During color transitions, the printer flings away purged filament, which can lead to a messy workspace. Future iterations would benefit from a purge-less color change system.
Images from: Uncle Jesse Youtube Channel
The Verdict:
The Bambu Lab A1 Mini is a user-friendly and affordable 3D printer that stands out for its automatic calibration, multi-color printing capability, and silent operation. However, its build volume may not be suitable for larger projects, and its multi-color printing feature can be a bit messy. Compared to its peers in the market, it offers excellent value, especially for those prioritizing ease of use and print quality.
Available now on the official Bambu Lab website.
