Bambu Lab released a printer in December last year, which we will look into in this Bambu Lab A1 Review.
Everyone was intrigued when the company released their A1 Mini featuring an AMS colour system. Generally, it was for beginners because of its low price tag, user-friendly setup, and small footprint.
However, people complained about its smaller bed size, so the company listened to the users and addressed this concern. So, Bambu Lab launched this product – a full-sized version of the previous printer.
Our Bambu Lab A1 Review will focus on all its essential details. These include its functionality, design, aesthetics, elements, specifications, and how it works.
Bambu Lab A1 Packaging
The printer ships in a sturdy, thick, protective box to ensure the product is safe inside. Bambu Lab includes all the necessary accessories to help you start with your printing activities.
The package contains the following items:
- The Bambu Lab A1 printer
- Spool holder
- Build plate
- Purge wiper
- A PTFE tube
- Bambu filament samples
- Pre-installed stainless steel nozzle
- Accessory box
Keep in mind that the filament samples come in random colours.
Bambu Lab A1 Review – Design and Functionality
While checking the product for our Bambu Lab A1 Review, we learned it is considered a user-friendly, entry-level printer. But despite this category, the A1 still consists of several innovative and efficient features.
These include the following:
- One intuitive IPS touchscreen for an almost Smartphone-like experience
- An HMS or Health Management System to assist you through troubleshooting and operational steps.
For this review, we have the combo version featuring an AMS to allow multi-material printing. Additionally, it supports up to four colours.
Like other printers from Bambu Lab, the A1 is speedy, offering a 500mm/s printing rate and acceleration of 10,000mm/s². It is all thanks to the vibration calibration for the X and Y axes at the beginning of each print.
The configuration accounts for the tension and environmental temperature to optimise the accuracy of the A1. You can skip this when loading files, but since it is quick, it is worth considering.
Layout, Design, and Build Quality
The A1 has a sturdy and durable build quality, featuring all-metal rails and linear bearings. The latter offers increased rigidity and accuracy for producing high-quality prints. This construction also requires minimal maintenance.
The advanced filament monitoring system does more than detect filament presence. It measures various aspects, including tension, speed, and pressure.
Bambu Lab significantly slimmed down the toolhead of the A1 compared to previous models like the P1 and X1. The 3D printer also has a filament cutter and a filament hub permanently mounted on top.
A feature similar to the A1 mini is the silicone brush close to the back of the plate. You can use it to wipe the nozzle before it taps the bed for calibration.
The end of the X gantry has a tray for purged filament deposits. An open filament box next to the printer collects these to keep things clean while preventing clogging.
The A1 has a filament runout sensor in the tool head. The AMS also has an odometer for detecting tangles and broken filaments.
Built-in Camera
In addition, this 3D printer lets you monitor and record time lapses of your prints with its camera. The lens is a fisheye and can capture a broad range of the area beyond the build plate. It also has a privacy shutter on the lens.
We suggest placing the A1 at a corner to avoid recording background movement.
When the A1 has a print error, it issues an error code to help you diagnose the problem. The issued code can also be a QR code redirecting to the Bambu Wiki, which will identify the problem. It will also fix your problem with quick video tutorials.
Key Features of the Bambu Lab A1
Multi-colour Printing
The AMS lite is reliable and efficient to allow multi-colour 3D printing for everyone.
Active Flow Rate Compensation
The A1 uses a resolution, high-frequency eddy current sensor for measuring nozzle pressure. It also has an algorithm that actively compensates the flow rate based on readings for accurate extrusion.
This technology improves flow control, offering impressive user experiences during our tests for this Bambu Lab A1 Review.
Full Automatic Calibration
The A1 independently and automatically handles various calibrations for every print job. These include bed levelling, Z-offset, nozzle pressure, and vibration resonance.
Quick Swap Nozzle of the Bambu Lab A1
The quick swap hot-end design allows it to pop in and out with one clip.
Active Motor Noise Cancelling
The A1 can calibrate parameters to match the drive motor differences to compensate for unwanted motor noise harshness.
Bed Slinger Featuring CoreXY Speed and Quality
We immediately noticed the high-quality build of this 3D printer after unboxing it for this Bambu Lab A1 Review. It features a rigid frame with full-metal rails, accelerometers, a nozzle pressure sensor, and an advanced motion control system.
Sync the Bambu Lab A1 With Bambu Studio and Bambu Handy
Bambu Studio and the Bambu Handy mobile app let you use a remote control and monitor the A1. With the built-in camera of the 3D printer, you can record timelapse videos.
Specifications
- Build Volume: 256 x 256 x 256mm
- Material: PLA, TPU, PETG (up to 300 degrees)
- Extruder Type: Direct Drive
- Nozzle: 0.4 high flow
- Build Platform: Spring steel sheet, PEI textured
- Bed Levelling: Automatic
- Connectivity: WiFi, Bambu-Bus, Micro SD
- Interface: 2.4-inch Touch Screen
- Machine Footprint: 385 x 410 x 430mm
- Machine Weight: 8.3kg
Hands-on with the Bambu Lab A1
Can the A1 produce high-quality prints like other Bambu Lab 3D printers? We tested the product to determine if it would perform well and be worth purchasing. Before we share our user experience, we will focus on the setup process and the Bambu Studio software.
3D Printer Setup
Bambu Lab ships the A1 with pre-assembled parts, making the setup process easy for our Bambu Lab A1 Review. The 3D printer requires you to attach the gantry to the base with several screws. Next, place the spool holder and filament wiper on the A1.
After connecting a few wires, you can attach the AMS unit, and the A1 is ready to print.
The A1 presents a series of self-tests after booting. These include motor calibration, bed levelling, and some noise cancelling tests.
Bambu Studio
Bambu Studio is the proprietary custom slicer of Bambu Lab. The software also works for transferring files via cloud service or local LAN to the 3D printer for more convenience.
This software is also the paint program for setting colours for your prints. It allows direct interaction with the printer to define filaments in the AMS, heat it, and adjust its speed. Bambu Studio offers many filament presets from Bambu Lab and different manufacturers.
In addition, you can access Maker World, a file-sharing site hosted by Bambu Lab1 for all printers. You can find STL or pre-sliced files by designers and community members. Plus, you can send files directly to your 3D printer via the Bambu Handy mobile app.
Performance of the Bambu Lab A1
We used the 3D printer to share our user experience in this Bambu Lab A1 Review. With a maximum speed of 500mm/s, it offered excellent input shaping that effectively reduced vibrations while eliminating ringing.
We made various prints using PLA and were impressed with the print quality of our first models. The details were perfect, with smooth and even first layers, like most Bambu Lab printers produce. We also loved the quiet operation of the A1 despite printing at high speeds.
The AMS made printing with different materials more convenient. The prints automatically used the materials we selected in the slicer software. Also, we successfully made multi-coloured prints, and the results were impressive despite taking longer to print.
We loved using the AMS since it holds four spools, and we could conveniently load them into the extruder. Aside from multi-colour prints, it makes filament management easy.
Bambu Lab A1 Review Summary
The A1 is an excellent bed slinger 3D printer from Bambu Lab. With this model, Bambu Lab addressed the issues of the A1 Mini, offering additional cooling fans and reduced noise.
This 3D printer is easy to maintain, and we love the convenience provided by the AMS. The latter is also not prone to jamming and allows mounting on the gantry or the wall.
The A1 with AMS combo is an excellent choice for users who want speed and colour for 3D printing. It works best with easy filaments like PLA, PETG, and TPU. Plus, the AMS makes printing with different materials convenient since it can hold up to four spools.
Aside from the A1 and its features, we appreciate Bambu Lab for offering user-friendly companion software. It allows easy file access and print monitoring.
We highly recommend this 3D printer featured in our Bambu Lab A1 Review. It perfectly balances build quality and advanced features at a reasonable mid-tier price tag. This product is ideal for beginners and professionals who want a fast and efficient 3D printer that offers convenience.
Visit the official product page of Bambu Lab for more information about the A1.
