Beginner’s Guide to Bambu

 

Getting started

 

 

In order to print cool things, you have to have a printer. There are many options to choose from, ranging from tiny bedslingers to really big combo printers. Here’s a breakdown of each combination of printers. We’ll start at the smallest and go bigger every time. Skip to the bottom for a simple overview.

 

 

Bambu Lab A1 Mini

 

• Relatively small (180mm cubed)
• Decently fast
• Easy to maintain
• Cheap (250~ USD)
• Color touchscreen
• Easy to use for complete beginners
• Camera remote monitoring
• Compatible with beginner materials
• Quick swap nozzle

 

Bambu Lab A1 Mini AMS lite Combo

 

• Same as A1 mini
• Up to 4 color printing
• Produces lots of waste
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 329~ USD

 

Bambu Lab A1 Mini AMS Combo

 

• Same as A1 mini
• Not AMS lite
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers if you get bigger ones in the future
• Waste
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 610~ USD
• Buy AMS and printer separately, and the hub.
   

Bambu Lab A1 Mini AMS 2 Pro Combo

 

• Same as A1 mini
• Filament drying
• Multicolor
• 1.5x faster than the other kinds of AMS
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers if you get bigger ones in the future
• Waste
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 620~ USD
• Buy AMS and printer separately, and the hub.

 

Bambu Lab A1 Mini AMS HT Combo

 

• Same as A1 mini
• High temp filament drying (85 C)
• Real time display
• Airtight
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers if you get bigger ones in the future
• 380~ USD
• Buy AMS and printer separately, and the hub.

 

On to the A1!

 

Bambu Lab A1

 

• Average print volume (256mm cubed)
• Decently fast
• Workhorse
• Easy to maintain
• Cheap (399~ USD)
• Color touchscreen
• Easy to use for complete beginners
• Camera remote monitoring
• Compatible with beginner materials
• Quick swap nozzle

 

Bambu Lab A1 AMS lite Combo

 

• Same as A1
• Multicolor printing
• Waste
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 560~ USD

Bambu Lab A1 AMS Combo

 

• Same as A1 
• Not AMS lite
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers if you get bigger ones in the future
• Waste
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 750~ USD
• Buy AMS and printer separately, and the hub.

 

Bambu Lab A1 AMS 2 Pro Combo

 

• Same as A1 
• Multicolor
• 1.5x faster than the other kinds of AMS
• Filament drying
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers if you get bigger ones in the future
• Waste
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 760~ USD
• Buy AMS and printer separately, and the hub.

 

Bambu Lab A1 AMS HT Combo

 

• Same as A1
• High temp filament drying (85 C)
• Real time display
• Airtight
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers if you get bigger ones in the future
• 380~ USD
• Buy AMS and printer separately, and the hub.

 

Now for the P series printers!

 

Bambu Lab P1S

 

• Enclosed 
• Relatively fast
• High quality
• Average print volume of 256mm cubed
• Medium difficulty maintenance
• Medium price of 700~ USD
• Lasts a long time
• Workhorse
• Camera for remote monitoring
• No touchscreen
• Compatible with beginner materials and some engineering

 

Bambu Lab P1S AMS Combo

 

• Same as P1S
• Up to 16 color prints with multiple AMS
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 950~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer

 

Bambu Lab P1S AMS 2 Pro Combo

 

• Same as P1S
• Up to 16 color prints with multiple AMS
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• Filament drying
• 1.5~x as fast as other AMS
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 1150~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer

 

Bambu Lab P2S

 

• Enclosed 
• Chamber heating/cooling
• Relatively fast (compared to p1s)
• High quality
• Average print volume of 256mm cubed
• Medium difficulty maintenance
• Medium price of 550~ USD
• Lasts a long time
• Workhorse
• High quality Camera for remote monitoring
• 5 inch touchscreen
• AI fail detection
• Strong extrusion
• Hardened steel nozzle for fiber-filled filament
• High quality at high speed
• Quick swap nozzle
• Compatible with beginner materials and some engineering

Bambu Lab P2S AMS 2 Pro Combo

 

• Same as P2S
• Up to 16 color prints with multiple AMS
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 800~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer

 

 

H series

 

 

Bambu Lab H2S

 

• Enclosed 
• Chamber heating/cooling
• Relatively fast (compared to other series)
• High quality
• Print volume of 340x320x340 (big)
• Medium difficulty maintenance
• high price of 1250~ USD
• Lasts a long time
• Workhorse
• High quality Camera for remote monitoring
• 5 inch touchscreen
• AI fail detection
• Strong extrusion
• Hardened steel nozzle for fiber-filled filament
• High quality at high speed
• Quick swap nozzle
• Heavy
• Compatible with beginner materials and engineering materials

 

Bambu Lab H2S AMS 2 Pro Combo

 

• Same as H2S
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 1500~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer

 

Bambu Lab H2S Laser Full Combo

 

• Same as H2S
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 2099~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer
• Laser engraving (10W, thin plywood max)
• Cutting machine (paper, cardboard, felt, etc.)

 

Bambu Lab H2D

 

• Enclosed 
• Chamber heating/cooling
• Relatively fast (compared to other series)
• High quality
• Print volume of 350x320x325 (big)
• Medium difficulty maintenance
• high price of 1750~ USD
• Lasts a long time
• Workhorse
• High quality Camera for remote monitoring
• 5 inch touchscreen
• AI fail detection
• Strong extrusion
• Hardened steel nozzle for fiber-filled filament
• High quality at high speed
• Quick swap nozzle
• Heavy
• Compatible with beginner materials and engineering materials

 

Bambu Lab H2D AMS Combo (any kind)

 

• Same as H2D
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slightly slower prints (with multicolor printing) due to dual nozzles
• 2000-2270~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer

 

Bambu Lab H2D Laser Full Combo 10W

 

• Same as H2D
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slightly slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 2550~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer
• Laser engraving (10W, thin plywood max)
• Cutting machine (paper, cardboard, felt, etc.)

 

Bambu Lab H2D Laser Full Combo 40W

 

• Same as H2D
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slightly slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 3200~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer
• Laser engraving (40W, 15mm plywood max)
• Cutting machine (paper, cardboard, felt, etc.)

 

Bambu Lab H2C AMS Combo

 

• Enclosed 
• Chamber heating/cooling
• Relatively fast (compared to other series)
• High quality
• Print volume of 350x320x325 (big)
• Medium difficulty maintenance
• high price of 2400~ USD
• Lasts a long time
• Workhorse
• High quality Camera for remote monitoring
• 5 inch touchscreen
• AI fail detection
• Strong extrusion
• Hardened steel nozzle for fiber-filled filament
• High quality at high speed
• Quick swap nozzle
• Heavy
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Same speed prints (with multicolor printing) due to Vortek
• Buy AMS with printer
• Compatible with beginner materials and engineering materials (some may not be compatible within the AMS)

 

Bambu Lab H2C Laser Full Combo 10W

 

• Same as H2C
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Same speed prints (with multicolor printing)
• 2950~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer
• Laser engraving (10W, thin plywood max)
• Cutting machine (paper, cardboard, felt, etc.)

 

Bambu Lab H2C Laser Full Combo 40W

 

• Same as H2C
• Up to 24 color prints with multiple AMS and AMS HT
• Looks good
• Multicolor
• AMS Compatible with other Bambu printers
• Slightly slower prints (with multicolor printing)
• 3600~ USD
• Buy AMS with printer
• Laser engraving (40W, 15mm plywood max)
• Cutting machine (paper, cardboard, felt, etc.)

 

 

 

That’s all the printers! (there are two more industrial grade ones, but they are only available through resellers.)

 

 

To save space, here’s a quick overview: 

A1 series: The “beginner printers”

• Mostly limited to beginner filaments
• Low FPS camera
• Good, but limited quality
• Cheaper
• Bedslinger

 

P series:

• Any beginner filaments, plus some engineering filament (with hardened nozzle)
• Low FPS camera (the P2S has a high quality camera)
• Good quality
• Mid to low range pricing depending on sales
• CoreXY

 

H series:

• Almost any filaments, struggles with some industrial grade filaments.
• High FPS camera
• High quality
• High pricing
• CoreXY

 

Purchasing decisions

 

With so many printers, it can be hard to choose! That’s why I’ve made this guide.

 

If you want cheap but decent, or a gift to someone: A1

If you just want to see what it’s about or to give a gift to a kid: A1 mini

This doesn’t mean it’s only for kids, it’s just the best and cheapest option for any beginner wanting to learn.

 

If you want to make a print farm: Probably P series

If you want good quality, speed and space to print big things: P series

 

If you, want cutting-edge hybrid tech and lots of space: H2S or H2D

If you want a speedy, high quality big printer with almost zero waste: H2C

 

AMS

 

If you want fast, high quality multicolor with some drying: AMS 2 Pro

If you just want multicolor: AMS

If you want to dry engineering filament without multicolor: AMS HT