If you have considered a 3D printer, I can highly recommend the Bambu X1C (with AMS) which is on sale as part of Bambu Lab's Black Friday sale (Oct.21st 2024 05:00AM (PDT) - Dec.3rd 2024 00:00AM (PST)). The discounts are pretty decent on the X1+AMS combo which normally runs $1450 but is on sale for $1200.
I bought my first X1C over a year ago, and was skeptical that the LiDAR would work, but it's a feature I would not want to be without now. It was the first printer which literally just printed great the first time out of the box - in multicolor, which is really something impressive for a 3D printer. If you've never used a 3D printer before, one of the steepest learning curves is calibration, and that is where the LiDAR on the X1C shines. I used to have to run at least one, sometimes two or more test objects, to set up a new material (filament) on my old printers (Ender3, CR10SPro and a Kossel). That calibration process takes time, is iterative, and can be subjective. The X1C's LiDAR does all the calibration necessary if it is run as part of a print, and has worked with anything I've thrown at it. There are some caveats however, the first is that the calibration does not work well on textured build plates, and if running more than one color on a print, the calibration has to be run separately (since it will only run one color when doing the auto calibration as part of a print). The calibration is also only run at the beginning of a print, and does not actively manage flow through feedback, as the A1 series printers do. However none of those limitations has been much of an issue for me. I'd probably buy another X1C combo if I had the space, since they just work,
The P1S is also a good printer, but lacks the LiDAR and touchscreen of the X1C (though there are now some good options for adding a DIY or aftermarket touchscreen). The A1 series are not enclosed, but they have an "Active Flow Rate Compensation" system which manages flow throughout the print. I am not too familiar with that system, but I don't think it actually sets the flow rate like the LiDAR on the X1C will, however it will manage the flow which is set in the slicer, throughout the print (unlike the X1C). The people I know who have A1 series printers have liked them, with one exception (which was due to some bad linear rails on an A1 I believe. The A1 Mini is well known to be a great starter printer, and is a pretty inexpensive way to try out 3D printing. Overall though the A1's would be a good choice as a first printer, but I'd pick up or build an enclosure, if I were running one (and also set up some method of ducting the air outside or filtering to avoid indoor air pollution). Really, any printer, even the X1C and P1S should be enclosed though, since their enclosures are not air tight and they don't have effective built in filtering (very few consumer printers do though).
Bambu is probably gonna release a new printer in Q1 2025, however that is expected to be more (possibly much more) expensive than the X1C, but will likely have a larger build volume and some other goodies (I'm hoping for a multi toolhead printer myself). I don't think it will be in the same class as their current lineup though.
I don't receive any commissions from Bambu for this, I just wanted to pass it along.
I bought my first X1C over a year ago, and was skeptical that the LiDAR would work, but it's a feature I would not want to be without now. It was the first printer which literally just printed great the first time out of the box - in multicolor, which is really something impressive for a 3D printer. If you've never used a 3D printer before, one of the steepest learning curves is calibration, and that is where the LiDAR on the X1C shines. I used to have to run at least one, sometimes two or more test objects, to set up a new material (filament) on my old printers (Ender3, CR10SPro and a Kossel). That calibration process takes time, is iterative, and can be subjective. The X1C's LiDAR does all the calibration necessary if it is run as part of a print, and has worked with anything I've thrown at it. There are some caveats however, the first is that the calibration does not work well on textured build plates, and if running more than one color on a print, the calibration has to be run separately (since it will only run one color when doing the auto calibration as part of a print). The calibration is also only run at the beginning of a print, and does not actively manage flow through feedback, as the A1 series printers do. However none of those limitations has been much of an issue for me. I'd probably buy another X1C combo if I had the space, since they just work,
The P1S is also a good printer, but lacks the LiDAR and touchscreen of the X1C (though there are now some good options for adding a DIY or aftermarket touchscreen). The A1 series are not enclosed, but they have an "Active Flow Rate Compensation" system which manages flow throughout the print. I am not too familiar with that system, but I don't think it actually sets the flow rate like the LiDAR on the X1C will, however it will manage the flow which is set in the slicer, throughout the print (unlike the X1C). The people I know who have A1 series printers have liked them, with one exception (which was due to some bad linear rails on an A1 I believe. The A1 Mini is well known to be a great starter printer, and is a pretty inexpensive way to try out 3D printing. Overall though the A1's would be a good choice as a first printer, but I'd pick up or build an enclosure, if I were running one (and also set up some method of ducting the air outside or filtering to avoid indoor air pollution). Really, any printer, even the X1C and P1S should be enclosed though, since their enclosures are not air tight and they don't have effective built in filtering (very few consumer printers do though).
Bambu is probably gonna release a new printer in Q1 2025, however that is expected to be more (possibly much more) expensive than the X1C, but will likely have a larger build volume and some other goodies (I'm hoping for a multi toolhead printer myself). I don't think it will be in the same class as their current lineup though.
I don't receive any commissions from Bambu for this, I just wanted to pass it along.
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