What’s wrong with Bambu?
Comment on Any recommendations for a low-cost, low-hassle printer?
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Qidi X-Plus 3. If it’s anything like my Max 3, which is the bigger version, it ought to be plug in and use (after running the included calibration). It’s on “sale” right now for $500, but it’s always on sale. It’s also not made by Bambu, and if I were you or anyone else I would not give one rusty penny to Bambu for anything.
The draw with this thing is it comes with a fully enclosed chamber with a heater and PID to control it, and it’s the easiest time I’ve ever had printing ABS and PETG if that’s what you want to do. You can slap a 0.2mm nozzle on it easily enough if you want to print tiny stuff.
If you don’t care about high temperature materials you can get the X-Smart 3 which is based on the same system but is smaller and minus the heater, and is even cheaper.
CommissarVulpin@lemmy.world 1 day ago
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 1 day ago
They’re slimy. Their machines use proprietary software and parts, and their software has a highly questionable always-online requirement that phones home back to their servers, which is something that really ought not to be happening with anything that may be able to identify what objects people are 3D printing. Even if they’ve walked back the always-online thing and allowed local only operation on some of their printers, that still demonstrates that they are not to be trusted.
Their company was founded by former DJI employees. That should really say it all.
AbidanYre@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Bambu’s Chinese warrant canary.
ShepherdPie@midwest.social 1 day ago
Qidi is also a Chinese company so what’s the difference? Most printers come from Chinese companies outside of companies like Prusa.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Qidi does not have a proprietary slicer that phones home, and they have not been demonstrated to engage in any suspicious behavior.
My issue with Bambu isn’t that they’re Chinese. My issue is how they conduct themselves.
Boomkop3@reddthat.com 1 day ago
They’re always online, not all their printers can go offline. And when they find something they don’t like in your bambu account they can turn off your printer.
beastlykings@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Curious as well
Boomkop3@reddthat.com 1 day ago
Also, they’re being sued for patent infringement
Krauerking@lemy.lol 1 day ago
I think I would recommend the q1 pro over the x plus 3 since it’s a difference in size by about 2 inches but saves a lot of money for the same components with a few upgrades even for leveling and the processor.
Though I really want the plus 4 but am waiting for the inevitable revisions for that price point.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 1 day ago
The first gen 3 series machines definitely had some teething troubles, so waiting on the 4 is probably a wise plan.
Me, I’m mostly interested to see if they backport compatibility for their “Qidi Box” filament changer thingy (which thus far is vaporware in the first place) to also work with the Plus/Max 3. I don’t care about multicolor printing that much so I’m not about to buy a new printer just for it, but if I can slap on an add-on I just might.
Krauerking@lemy.lol 1 day ago
Oof right?
I’d just love a filament box AMS that also has a dehydrate setting. But them releasing a backwards compatible option would be great. It’s wild how far they have come since competing with flashforge.