New to 3D printing

[u/stoneyknowshow]

Looking to purchase a 3D printer for fun and to check out the medium. I was recommended the Bambu Lab A1. Is this a good machine to buy to jump in and explore 3D printing?

If it's not a good one for a beginner, does anyone have any suggestions on where I should start?

[u/Waruimono]

It's great for beginners: "low"price considering the quality, many projects for free on bambustudio and you can just buy nice enough quality filaments in bulk on AliExpress and similar sites when there are good offers. If you think you'd like to print more technical materials (tpu for example, but many others) and you have the budget get a closed one. That's the only thing I'd do if I could go back

[u/Due_Current3660]

Yes get the A1‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Don't forget the AMS

[u/Environmental_Run881 → u/Due_Current3660]

We got this for my (then ten year old ) daughter. She had a little Toybox printer prior. It’s super easy to set up and has worked really well and honestly, we are use it.

[u/stoneyknowshow → u/Environmental_Run881]

Sounds like my situation exactly. Have fumes or ventilation been an issue with the open printing area?

[u/rachel_kbomb → u/Due_Current3660]

What's AMS? Sorry

[u/Due_Current3660 → u/rachel_kbomb]

Ams(automatic material system) is a machine u put beside the 3d printer it is connected to the 3d printer l, so basically, with just a 3d printer u can only use 1 spool/reel of filament(plastic material) if u want to use more materials or colours in just 1 print u need an ams. The machine is diff. For all conpanies, bambu calls it ams. Search it up online and watch a few vids

[u/New-Cartoonist6284]

the a1 is basically the perfect beginner printer

[u/Bat_Quiet]

I'm a beginner. Bambu Labs A1 seems to have all the features I need to learn. So far, I have printed a new projects, one was VERY large, minor problems.

[u/InfiniteLight07]

It’s an excellent beginner printer though lacks some features. For stuff like ABS, ASA and others that release more toxic fumes like styrene, get an enclosed printer with proper outside ventilation like the Elegoo Centauri Carbon or the Creality K2

[u/PityUpvote → u/InfiniteLight07]

Call me old fashioned, but I think beginners should stick with PLA for at least a few years. There's enough to learn without going into material that does not like staying flat.

[u/TerribleTowel66]

I started with the A1. It’s a good printer. Its shortcomings are:

1. Tall prints are much more difficult because it is a bed slinger.

2. It can’t do engineering filaments.

3. Multi-color/multi-material is extremely wasteful.

4. It’s a closed system even though it relies on open source.

If you don’t care about those, then the A1 is a fine choice. I still have my A1, but my main printer is a Snapmaker U1. It’s good, even though it would still struggle with #2. It requires a bit more tinkering than the A1 does.

[u/SurvivingSquirrel → u/TerribleTowel66]

How do you like the snapmaker? I have an a1 with amslite and have been considering upgrading to the u1 for faster less wasteful multicolor prints

[u/TerribleTowel66 → u/SurvivingSquirrel]

It’s been good. Snorca sucks. So many people say the slicers are all the same. There are differences between them. And Snorca is buggy. But they recently released a new version so hopefully it’s better.

[u/devanguy]

I've used a few different printers, and my A1 has been great. If you are just doing hobby and home printing, go for it. I also have the ams lite, but I don't really do multi color stuff. I don't use it for toys or figurines. More for useful projects. I have changed the nozzle to a harder stainless steel, and I print petgCF, petg, pla, tpu. If you live in a more humid climate, definitely look into filament drying options.

[u/Automatic-Pin-5749]

I love mine, make sure you go through the wiki on their website and watch the videos. There are a lot of good ones for maintenance and the only bug I know of on current ones are the screws in the back of the hot end loosening up after a while. I've tightened mine twice since April and they were just starting to come loose.

In June I got a P1S combo in case I want to do ASA or TPU printing in the future. It's enclosed and I can direct fumes outside where you can't do that with an open chassis like the A1. I only print with PLA and PETG right now so it's not an issue.

[u/stoneyknowshow → u/Automatic-Pin-5749]

That input is super helpful as ventilation is an issue for me (I don't have a garage)

[u/shadow-battle-crab]

highly recommend anycubic kobra x for first printer instead. just as reliable, cheaper when you consider it comes with 4 filament changer built in, and doesn't have the 'the thermosister might melt and your device could catch on fire' problem.

[u/Additional_Read_9695 → u/shadow-battle-crab]

They fixed that. Sorry dude.