Introduction
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my hands-on experience with the Bambu A1 3D printer. I got it when it was on sale, and it’s turned out to be a fantastic addition to my DIY toolkit. While it may not be the fastest or have the largest build plate compared to more expensive models, it has certainly impressed me in numerous ways.
Initial Impressions
When I first bought the Bambu A1, I wasn’t completely convinced. My son had a different 3D printer which seemed cumbersome to use, although I could see the benefits of owning one.
Fast forward to today, I now have my own 3D printer and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. Yes, a bigger build plate and slightly faster operation would be nice, but overall, I’m very happy with this machine, and I use it a lot.
It’s required a lot less expertise to get running than some other brands which has been helpful. Eventually, I may get to a point where the other brands may be a feasible alternative, but I like a product that I can use RIGHT out of the box.
That said- the easy part is printing tried and true projects made by experienced 3D designers. Those have the least learning curve.
Learning to do your own 3D designs is a COMPLETELY different ballgame and much more complicated. I’ve started to dive into it and it’s fun, but often frustrating to figure out. I’m still learning how to think and design in 3D vs. 2D.
Filament and Recycling
One important thing to remember is that with 3D printing, you often end up with excess filament. The Bambu A1 is no exception, especially when changing colors. The waste filament is recyclable, which eases my concerns about contributing to plastic pollution.
I am not sure if all filaments are recyclable, however, so if this is a selling point for you, you may want to research further.
Ideally, I’d like to have dedicated storage boxes for the “poop” which would help me organize these materials better by color and type. You can shred and melt them down for reuse or even make new filament out of it, although I’m not sure how easy or feasible that is.
Max Print Size for Bambu A1
The max print size is 256 * 256 * 256 mm3. This is roughly 10″ x 10″ x 10″… but I’ve been hesitant to go larger than 9″ on mine.
Filaments for the Bambu A1
The Bambu A1 printer supports multiple filament types, including PLA, PETG, TPU and PVA.
There are also a lot of variations of each type of material.
PLA
This is the typical product most people use for 3D printing when they first start. It’s sold for roughly $0.52 to 0.74 per ounce. It comes in many different colors, including some rolls where the color changes on the roll.
I buy Black and White PLA in sets of 2 rolls, seeing they get a lot of use. I like this light grey because it looks a bit like stone, but it’s not the rock PLA.
But there’s also…
- Rock PLA: Stone like finish
- AirPLA: Lighter for objects that need to be as light as possible (ie. flying things)
- Super PLA: Stronger version of PLA
- Matte PLA: It’s not glossy.
- Glow in the Dark and Glow Blue
- Silk (metallic finish): This bundle has 4 types which is nice.
- Color Changing: Purple Starlight | Green Starlight
PETG
PETG is generally used for projects that are outdoors or need to be a little stronger than what you get with PLA.
Buy White PETG or Black PETG on Amazon
TPU
TPU is good for products that need some elasticity. It’s durable and it’s supposed to be somewhat similar to rubber. It may be the right choice if you’re making something that will get a lot of repeat use or if the item needs to be a bit flexible. I haven’t needed to use it yet so I’m not familiar with it.
I think it’d be useful to have a roll in black and/or white if you think you’ll print with it, but again- I haven’t tried it yet.
PVA
PVA is water soluable so it’s a good option if you want to use it to print the supports for something printed with PLA or another filament. When the print is done, you can dip it in water and the PVA (the supports) will disintegrate.
You can also use PVA to create a smoother surface for your prints. I’m tempted to try this, but it seems to be a lot more expensive than other filament types and I’m not sure why I’d opt for this unless I REALLY needed a perfect print. I can sand if needed. I think this PVA was $1.83/oz and was the cheapest price I saw— compared to PLA which can go as low as $0.52/oz, I just can’t see wanting to spend more money for the dissolvable option.
Multi Color Printing: Is it worth it?
The Bambu A1 comes with four different pieces that allow color switching. Some printers only support one color at a time, making the Bambu A1 an easier and more versatile option.
I really can’t imagine NOT having the multi color printing option. It’s really convenient and requires less machine babysitting.
I’ve used a great variety of machines for different types of crafts and DIY, and I also have ADHD— I find that machines that require less babysitting are generally worth every dollar.
Practical Tips
Tip 1: Start Out Using Quality Designs.
Designing your own things is complicated, but there as SO many quality low cost or free prints that you really don’t need to design your own stuff if you don’t need to! Usually files are $1-5 and it’s awesome.
Tip 2: Filament needs to be stored in a dry, non-humid environment.
I use a storage box with silica packets to keep the filament dry, which has been quite effective. You want to create something called a DRY BOX to hold it all in, or keep it in a room built for managing humidity.
You can purchase one (or multiple) of these rechargeable mini-dehumidifiers to make your own dry box.
Why avoid humidity? Moisture gets into the filament which can cause steam to rise when the filament is heated and pushed through the nozzle. This can cause defects in your design.
If you don’t need to open the bag that the filament comes in, however, you need to worry less about the humidity. So I only store filament that’s been opened in the dry box. Sealed bags of filament aren’t stored the same way (although they’re inside my house which isn’t generally super humid).
Tip #3: The A1 Printer Bed Moves… Plan Accordingly.
Some 3D printers have the bed move (like the A1) and some predominantly have the nozzle move and the bed moves only up and down (not back and forward).
Apparently, this can cause print quality issues that can be improved by slowing down the print speed.
But unrelated to that, plan for human and pet error. Keep pets, children, and antsy adults away from it. Touchy touchy can cause issues. Filament isn’t cheap.
Tip #4: DO NOT TOUCH THE PLATE
Greasy hands touching the plate can cause a LOT of issues with your 3D printer. If you’re having issues, one of the best troubleshooting tips is just to wipe the plate with rubbing alcohol. It’s a good cleaner because it dries quickly (don’t pour it on- just wipe a bit over the plate).
Ask me how much filament I wasted trying to figure out the issue before I finally figured this out… actually… don’t.
Tip #5: Are you printing more than one thing on one plate? Here’s some tips.
1- Use the clone feature vs. uploading it multiple times (oops).
2- If it starts to mess up one of the items, but not others, turn on the Bambu app and view the printing project on there. There’s a SKIP button to the left of pause and stop. You can skip individual pieces.
3- #2 only works if you didn’t restart the print on your machine when it messed up the first time and you didn’t know about #2.
3D Printing Projects
Here are some fun and practical projects I’ve tackled with my Bambu A1:
- Multicolored fidget toy
- Bookends
- Guinea pig house
- Croc charms
- Organization items and boxes
- Cash gift holder
- Small Flexis for Halloween treats
You can easily find and purchase design files online, which supports small businesses and allows you to customize your prints.
3D Print Designs by DIYDanielle
We’re homeschooling this year and it’s been fun to work through tutorials on 3D print design software. We’ve been coming up with creative ideas and trying to develop stuff that helps us solve problems or that might be cute or fun gifts for friends. Some of the software is also good for making woodworking plans so I feel like it’s a great thing for me to learn so I can develop a small model before I start building.
I’m working on some of my own 3D print designs that may eventually go into my store, but I have a couple listed on Bambu’s MakerLab for free.
Check out my profile on there: https://makerworld.com/en/@DIYDanielle
Video Review
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bambu A1 3D printer has exceeded my expectations. It’s become a highly versatile tool on my farm and for personal projects, solving many practical problems. While there is a learning curve in designing 3D prints, the availability of free or inexpensive designs makes it worthwhile.
The machine is user-friendly, and the extra parts included have been invaluable for quick fixes. I highly recommend this 3D printer and hope my review has been helpful.
Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day, and take care.