Comment on Should I get a b*mbulab printer? + More newbie questions
esc@piefed.social@piefed.social 3 days ago
Size: 256 mm^3 is good enough for vast majority of prints.
Filaments: you either go with premium priced name-brand filaments or you go with cheaper local manufacturers (there aren’t a lot of difference for basic filaments, except for color availability). Compatibility depends on material being used, some require hardened steel nozzles or higher temperatures, or both. You can check before buying a spool. For basic PLA (hyper/ultra/whatever), PETG (PCTG), you don’t need anything. When buying it’s a good idea too look for manufacturer supplied parameters for printing it, they often provide them. If there are noneand the filament isn’t directly supported in your slicer, you can always choose generic material. You can store your plastic wherever as long as it isn’t direct sunlight. If they are already opened/partially used, you can store them in airtight plastic containers for food.
Accessories are mostly unneeded.
Alternatives: You should look at Elegoo Centauri Carbon (2) or Snapmaker U1. Bbl ease-of-use is greatly overblown.
Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Thanks for the thought-out response, and for being one of the few who bothered with actually addressing the questions in my post 😅
I’ve been reading into all things 3D printing for a couple days (wide but not deep pool of knowledge) and in the end, I have decided to just get the cheapest thing available. Which Happens to be a bambu A1.
Mostly just to see if I’ll actually use the thing, then to see what bells and whistles I actually require, before spending too much on yet another abandoned hobby.
I’ll have another look at Snapmaker (or even Prusa) once I familiarize myself better with my needs.
Thanks again!
blue_morpho@lemmy.world@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
I have an Anycubic S1 and a Snapmaker U1. The Anycubic is cheap, enclosed and easy to use but not reliable long term. I print 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I’ve replaced almost everything on it. But it is cheap, easy to fix, and replacement parts are cheap.
The U1 has been amazing. You will need to buy their top cover or build one yourself out of a plastic bin ( there are many designs to pick from to print your own ). You will also need to make or buy filament dryboxes because the U1 leaves the filament open. Again there are many printable designs.
I have been using this: printables.com/…/1249376-the-ultimate-cereal-cont… He has an updated version for 2026 and under “remixes” for that 2026 drybox there is a self rewinding version specifically for the U1.
The only downside of the U1 is the print nozzles are hard to replace/unclog. On Bambu they are extremely easy to replace.
It’s something that has happened twice over the past year of almost 24/7 printing. Get a very nice hex driver tool set. (2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm)
esc@piefed.social@piefed.social 1 day ago
bbl a1 is a good machine, you can expect it to print fine. Most of the modern printers can, reliably, with exceptions like creality, where everytime it’s a lottery. I won’t recommend prusa unless you will find yourself being not only in the 3dprinting hobby but in a printers hobby as well. Anyway, start with simple, smaller projects, there is a learning curve, and don’t assume that everything will just work.
Good luck and have fun!