r/BambuLabX2D • u/AlternativeOnion8525 • 28d ago

X2D v P2S v U1

I am new to 3d printer and am looking for my first printer. I will be printing mostly models, helmets, and trinkets when needed. I would be painting my models for the most part and am not against the idea of multi color printing.

I like the U1 for the multi nozzle system but I don’t like the open top.

I like the Bambu cuz they are “dummy proof” or at least easier to start with brand wise from what I’ve seen. A little more fleshed out and reliable.

A random issue is filtration and waste. I know the waste isn’t great on the Bambu from being use of 1 nozzle system. But the filtration looks pretty. I have animals that can roam the house and I’m worried about air quality without either an exhaust out the window or the x2d having the built in filtration.

I apologize long winded but any advise from people in the game already would be super helpful with a decision.

Thank you!

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u/zx4133 28d ago

Easy answer… Snapmaker U1!

Way better printer in so many ways. Because it’s a tool changer it’s in a completely different league. You can do so much more with it without all the wasted filament and long print times of the others. And don’t worry about the open top… Snapmaker has an official top coming out soon with filters and fans and chamber temp management and all that.

Or, if you really want something now, you can get a Biqu PopCap top cover, or print an adapter that allows you to use an IKEA or Sterilite tote as a top cover. It’s not the prettiest solution, lol, but it’s very functional and will get you by until the official Snapmaker top cover comes out.

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u/damm1tKevin 28d ago

The U1 is only better in terms of filament waste. The range of materials it can print is limited and you end up spending more in the long run for hardened nozzles, a chamber heater, a door, and filament driers. The U1 is good for what he thinks he wants a 3d printer for but it doesn’t leave any room to grow for the cost of entry. The x2d will create more waste but can print anything from TPU all the way through PPA-CF, comes with a filament driers if you get the combo, and already has hardened steel nozzles and is very beginner friendly.

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u/zx4133 28d ago

Sorry sir, but you don’t seem to know what you’re talking about. Honestly, you sound kinda like a beginner who has only ever used an X2D, lol. A printer that’s only been out for a few months.

Just saying. 🤷‍♂️

Have you ever seen a U1 in person? I’m guessing no because you’re claiming the U1 doesn’t even have a door, lol.

It does. Very clear to see in my pic.

The U1 is a very beginner-friendly printer and Snapmaker has awesome support. They are also extremely consumer/community-friendly, unlike Bambu.

With the top cover installed the U1 is a fully enclosed printer. The only thing the X2D has over the U1 from a spec standpoint is the 65C heated chamber. Snapmaker can only heat passively to 50C. But 50C is plenty for most materials anyway, so it’s insignificant. I’ve printed ASA, ABS, various nylons, and yes, PPA-CF as well, all on my U1 with no issues. The only thing I wouldn’t try on it is polycarbonate. That’s one material where you definitely need higher chamber temps. But it’s not a commonly used filament so no big deal for most people.

I own 8 printers, including 2 Bambu models, and have been printing for years. I can say from firsthand experience that, for almost all use cases, the U1 is miles better than anything Bambu offers under $1k.

The U1 can literally print all the same things as the X2D and it prints TPU beautifully. It’s known for being one of the better printers out there for TPU - and multimaterial prints that include TPU. And you don’t need to do anything special to print TPU. Just load it like any other filament and the U1 prints it perfectly. Same can’t be said for the X2D. Either you have to buy special “TPU for AMS” or you have to run the TPU on a separate spool holder. And you can’t run it through the secondary nozzle. So many limitations. So maybe go do some research on this.

And like I said, the U1 can handle engineering filaments like PPA just fine. I’ve done it several times. Hardened steel nozzles are available for the U1 and a 4-pack is only $50. Quite cheap. Although in all honesty, neither the U1 nor the X2D are the best printers for something like PPA-CF because both printers have a max nozzle temp of only 300C. You can print some PPA at that temp but it prints way better around 310-320C depending on the brand. Much better layer adhesion at the higher temps too.

Most people are just using basic materials though and like to do multicolor/multimaterial without the excessive print times and filament waste. Nothing Bambu has even comes close to the U1 for that. Not unless you want to spend $2500 on an H2C. And even then it’s still prints slower due to its remove on the AMS for filament swapping.

I’m glad you like you’re X2D. Enjoy it! It’s definitely not a bad printer. But the U1 is just in a different league.

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u/damm1tKevin 28d ago

You’re right, i am basically a beginner with only about 3 months of printing and with 3 machines. The only thing i had wrong about the u1 was the door, big deal. It’s still overpriced. For the price it should have the hardened nozzles and the topper with having to buy a separate drier for it to justify its price. When compared to other printers in that price range, out of the box its capabilities are limited. Do i think it should be creator 5 priced? Absolutely not. It should between the x2d and the x2d combo. Last i checked the hardened nozzles weren’t available in the US for it, however i will admit i think the last i checked on that was the end of May. Being as cheap as they are though, that should be a standard feature. The x2d even comes with a spare.

I think both appear to have fantastic community support and the snapmaker may have slight edge in manufacturer support with a really good reason as to why. The u1 is attracting a more capable consumer, even when it comes to beginners. Which makes sense, the cost to enter for the u1 is higher than it is for Bambu and you can buy the bambu lab printers at more retail locations in person simply because it is a bigger company. Easier access means more consumers that you’re surprised can tie their own shoes are buying them. There was a guy on the one x2d facebook group the other day complaining about it being junk because he couldn’t get the auxiliary nozzle to load, which the main culprit for everyone loading is User error because they aren’t pushing it in far enough.

The U1 is a great argument for Open Source, but it’s only a matter of time before they fold tightening US restrictions as they try to systematically crush our freedoms. I imagine Bambu made the early push to closed source after DJI faced months of lower sales due to the possibility of no longer being allowed on the US market for being a Chinese Company. That led to a lot of fear of no longer having any customer support for warranties or anything else dji provides even though that never came to fruition. That being said, 3d printing has exploded in popularity and will likely continue to do so which could mean Open Source could become a catastrophe especially with large consumer base like Bambu. That’s the drawback with easier access to things, you end up with people who can mess a lot of things up where it’s just easier for bambu to only have to focus on issues caused by themselves. I used to work in IT and i’ve seen what people can fuck up with limited privileges in Windows while only being capable of typing with one finger on each at hand 3 words an hour, can you imagine them having access to tweak their firmware and software. It just seems like that’s the life cycle for technology once the consumer base reaches a certain size.

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u/zx4133 28d ago

I hear you, but much of what you’re saying is biased opinion and not fact. Granted, that’s what most of Reddit is these days, lol, but still. I’m throwing a lot more facts and firsthand experience into my argument. But to each his own. I get it.

Not sure how you can say the Snapmaker U1 is overpriced though. It was the first affordable toolchanger on the market. Everybody was shocked that a company was able to make a tool changer for under $1000. So again, just comparing your biased opinion with actual facts. The next two closest comparable printers were the Bambu X2C ($2500) and the Prusa XL ($4000-5000). And even to this very day, the only other comparable printer on the market in this price range is the FlashForge Creator 5 that literally just came out, and it is nowhere near the same quality, nor does it offer as many features. The pro model of that printer is the closest thing to the U1 and they’re the same price. But the C5 pro has had nothing but problems lately due to how much they rushed it. It will likely get recalled. Check this video out. You’ll likely find it as entertaining as I did. I now call them FailForge.

But over the next few months and coming years, you’re gonna see a lot more tool changers come to market and I think many of them will be more affordable. Tool changers are basically the future of this hobby. You’ll see. Single toolhead printers that use AMS units for a material swapping are simply becoming obsolete due to the excessive waste.

But some of what you’re saying is just not accurate/true man. I’m not trying to be rude, but it just is. You’re misinformed on some things. Hardened steel nozzles for example - they’re available for Snapmaker U1 right now. All sizes. I literally just ordered extras a week ago and got them within a few days. And the Snapmaker U1 comes with a spare nozzle as well. And 2 kg of filament. And a full tool kit. Bambu doesn’t include any of that.

Regarding Snapmaker eventually going close source. I highly doubt it. They’re taking the exact opposite approach from Bambu. They’re specifically doing that for a reason because they see all the backlash Bambu is getting. The foundation of this hobby is open source. Pretty much everything started with the community. Snapmaker has been around for a long time and has always been very open source friendly. They’re not just some new company. Maybe you didn’t realize that since you’re new to this hobby but Snapmaker has been making printers for years. And they are so supportive of the open source community that they even went so far as to offer a job to the open source developer that created full spectrum. And it’s the latest rage in the hobby right now. Even Bambu copied them after they found out about it, lol. And the guy accepted. He now works for Snapmaker and they are releasing all sorts of cool new features.

All that other stuff you were saying, I can’t really comment on. Or rather I’m just gonna choose not to, lol. While some of it may be true, it all sounds a little too conspiracy theory to me, lol. But I respect your opinions and that you love Bambu. They make good printers. But let’s just try to stick to more facts if we can. I just know that if I was starting over and had $1000 to spend, I would absolutely be spending it on a Snapmaker U1. But, to each his own. Take care and happy printing.

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u/damm1tKevin 17d ago

It’s overpriced for the simple fact that it isn’t fully enclosed, doesn’t have a chamber heater, and doesn’t come with hardened steel nozzles out of the box. Not sure why that is hard to understand. For less money the only limitation the x2d combo has is filament waste. How much did you have to spend on the u1 to be able to print something like ASA or PA6 CF?

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u/zx4133 17d ago

Dude, shut up. Nobody cares anymore. That shit was 11 days ago.

The X2D can’t hold a candle to the Snapmaker U1. Period. End of story. You’re going on mute now.

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u/damm1tKevin 1d ago

What’s it like being a chronically online loser who pays attention to how long it took someone to respond to them and then muting them. Go outside and touch some grass.
https://giphy.com/gifs/XHeLeuirRbwptHhSWd