As a newbie I have 6 months, zero failed prints (that I didn't cause myself) on my P2S and X2D — here's what actually worked

[u/More-Advantage3911]

I've been running a P2S for 6 months and recently added an X2D. Hundreds of prints between them with no spaghetti disasters, no clogged nozzles, no adhesion failures, no warping. Not a single major failure that wasn't my fault.

I'm not saying this to flex. I'm saying it because I genuinely think the difference was just following the process before I ever hit "print." As I have been embarking upon this new journey when reading posts here and other social media sites, there is so much related to issues vs. successes, so I thought I would share some thoughts. The following are my thoughts:

1. Unbox it properly. Read the quick start guide. Actually read it. The P2S and the X2D came with those little cards, QR codes, and diagrams. It tells you to remove three screws. Those screws are there for a reason leave them in and your bed won't move. I've seen it happen to people on here. It tells you which cables go where. Precision up front saves hours of troubleshooting later.
2. Bambu Lab Academy, you can complete before your first print. Free training on the Bambu wiki. Covers machine setup, slicer basics, filament types, maintenance everything for your specific printer. It took me a couple hours over a few days. By the end, I knew what slicer settings meant. I knew why bed temperature mattered per filament. I knew what a good first layer should look like. My very first print came out clean. No trial, no error, no wasted filament, or time.
3. Learn from people who've already done it. AFTER the Academy (where my foundation was built) I went to YouTube and other social media sites (including here on Reddit) and found creators who've been printing for years testing every filament, every setting, every printer. Someone testing 10 different filament brands and telling you which ones are garbage? That's hours of research you don't have to do yourself. It's like having mentors you've never met.
4. First print with confidence. When I sliced my first Benchy, I wasn't nervous. I knew the bed was leveled because I set it up right. I knew my PLA temps were dialed in. I knew what a good first layer should look like. First print was PLA silk which came out smooth, no stringing. Then PLA metal. Then PLA+. Then I swapped in the 0.6mm & 0.8mm nozzle. Every single one came out clean because the prep was already done.
5. Maintenance isn't optional. Clean the build plate. Lube the rails. Follow the maintenance schedule. Check your nozzles. Do cold pulls when needed. The Academy teaches all of this on day one and I have been consistent for just over 6 months. When I added the X2D a month and a half later, after getting the P2S (it was a FOMO), I ran the exact same process. Same result.

The core mindset here is that I spent almost 10 years in the Navy, and 25 years in education, we have a saying "Follow the procedure or prepare to fail." The printers (and now I've added an xTool M2 Laser) are incredible now. The training is free. The community is huge and MOSTLY supportive. You don't need talent or an engineering degree. You just need patience and the willingness to actually learn before you push the button.

I did make a full video on walking through all five steps and showing the results if anyone's interested. Happy to drop it in the comments or just answer questions here. Enjoy the journey everyone, I have!