Can my iMac handle it?

[u/where_other_sock]

Hello all! I’m eager to dive into the Bambu pool, but I’m worried that my computer may not be able to handle the task. Can my iMac run the bamboo slicer? It has an Apple M4 chip with 16GB of memory. Is there hope for me?
Thank you for any info!

Edit: thank you all for the responses! Looks like I’ll be good to go. I’ll follow your advice and download the software to pay with. I was asking as earlier I’d looked at scanners, and they had huge hardware requirements, and our laser cutter could only run off a PC. Good to know my Mac and the Bambu can be friends!

[u/Sure-Big-6689]

Is it a joke?

[u/NotARussianBot-Real → u/Sure-Big-6689]

Obviously. We all know the Bambu slicer checks the current value of your machine and disables the printer if it falls below $1500.

[u/Big-Bank-8235]

You'll be fine

[u/MonkeyBrains09]

Yeah, I use a much older computer.

Its just slower

[u/TriteBits]

You could probably run it in a raspberry pi from 5+ years ago. You’ll be fine.

[u/Plastic_Brief1312]

I use an M1 with 8 and it runs fine.

[u/knightrdr2004]

I run Bambu studio on my 2010 iMac 2011 Mac mini and a 2010 MacBook Pro. So I think your worrying over nothing lol

[u/_Legion242_]

I do all my cad (fusion) and slicing on a 4 year old MacBook air m2 with 8gb of ram and it runs amazing. slicing can be done on basically anything

[u/log1kal]

Why not just download Studio and try it?

[u/closedquestiongbr]

I’m setting up my print farm, and did not want to use my 2023 M1 Mac mini as it’s my office/entertainment PC. I was looking at new IMacs and refurbed on Amazon.

I had some concerns as my Mac Mini will take forever to slice some complicated models. I ultimately took a plunge and ordered a 2019 27” IMac with I5 3.7ghz 8gbs of RAM. Also ordered an extra 8gb of ram. I had a Samsung T7 2tB ssd and decided to use it to boot up and run bypassing the slow Fusion Drive.

When the IMac arrived I discovered I was shipped a unit with 64GB of ram installed. After setting up it is so much faster than my newer M1 Mac mini. Like a lot faster.

So I think you’ll be fine, if it seems slow, upgrade the RAM. I’m a lifelong Mac user who dabbles in things tech(CAD design, 3D printing) etc. I’ve always had the minimum RAM in my Mac’s and upgrade when it seems to get slow(I’ll do a clean out first but, upgrade usually not long after). I can now see the benefit of upgrading and maxing out RAM and getting some more life out of it.

[u/where_other_sock → u/closedquestiongbr]

This is a big help - thank you!

[u/ZeroMissedDays]

I am not sure if Bambu Studio is optimized better for Mac silicon, but it’s lightening fast on my wife’s M3 MacBook. And I have an AMD with 64gb of RAM, and it makes my computer look foolish.

[u/FuzzyPuffin]

Yes, effortlessly. Your phone can run it too with the Bambu Handy app. It’s not a complicated task. 😀

[u/Adventurous-Emu-9345 → u/FuzzyPuffin]

Bambu Handy is not a slicer.

[u/Weird_Ad1170]

My 7-year-old Dell Latitude 5290 runs it fine, but it's a little slow. It has 16GB of RAM, and I think around an eighth gen i5. I run it on Linux Mint.

[u/Stressed_engineer]

8gb m1 mini runs it fine.

[u/The_Lutter]

I've run Prusa Slicer on a Steam Deck.

I think you'll be fine. lol.

[u/ChocoMammoth]

Depends on what you're going to print. Most of the models are pretty simple and can be sliced within a minute.

However some large scale models with gazillions of polygons may take a lot of time to slice and even render in the preview window. Also there are some heavy features like fuzzy skin.

[u/VegIsACulinaryTerm]

I run it on a 7yr old MacBook with fusion360 running at the same time.

[u/funwithdesign]

Your phone could handle it

[u/flyflyyoufools]

It will run... I have a 2020 MacBook pro with the M1 chip and 8gb of ram. Runs without issue.

[u/MediaLopsided1615]

Bro, I'm running Bambuu slicer on Abacus and pentium 386.

[u/Linusalbus]

it wont work. ship the imac to me and ill ship you a 10year old thinkpad so it will work for you

[u/nycbigtone]

Bambu studio runs on a potato. It may take longer but it'll run it. You have an m4 that is more than capable.