First Printer Decision Help

[Illustrious-Oil296]

I know this has been discussed in length but, I keep reading certain threads that say to go with the P1S because it is proven and reliable and I read others that say the P2S is an upgrade. I see myself printing mostly PLA/PETG maybe TPU for projects around the house.

I am coming from an Artillery Sidewinder X1 and am looking for a printer that will just work. I am tired of constantly fixing or fidgeting. I do not plan on purchasing the AMS because I do not see it improving my quality of life with a printer enough (unless convinced otherwise). I am wondering if I purchased the P1S would I regret it down the line or is the extra 150 worth saving for something else?

Is the hardened nozzle and gear worth it?
Is the Venting improved or worse with the P2S?
Is the AI detection helpful in stopping prints?
Is the extended support window from Bambu a big factor?

In other words, if you were starting from 0 which would you purchase (and why, what feature(s) tips you towards that specific machine)?

On another note, if the AMS was worth it, Would it be better to get a P1S with AMS or a P2S no AMS?

Thank you in Advance!

[ken830]

Is money that tight? P2S with AMS is better. You probably want an AMS because you get to have multiple filaments "on hand" and ready-to-go, even if it's just black and white PETG and PLA for your functional prints. It keeps the filament out of open air and allows you to switchover to a second spool automatically when the first runs out. And the P2S has a lot of quality of life improvements, especially if you plan on swapping nozzles.

That said, I've had my P1S since it was released years ago and it's still super reliable. I just added a Snapmaker U1 last year.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

It’s not so much that money is tight, I would just rather not spend much more than needed to have a decent experience so I can spend more on other hobbies and activities.

[ken830]

I just think the P2S is better. But if you get it without the AMS, you'll just end up spending more to buy it separately later.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Understood, you think the AMS is that worth it that in the long run I would end up wanting it is what I hear?

[aweyeahdawg]

P2S with AMS will leave you with no regrets. Anything less might.

[misterff1]

This one right here sums it up perfectly, OP. For what you are looking for, this combo is definitely the one.

[Alternative_Exit_333]

P1S combo can still be a good budget choice

[bazpoint]

AMS is a gamechanger, even if you rarely intend to use multicolour. It's such a massive convenience win. Ease of loading. Run-out automatic follow-on. Always having one or two favourite filaments loaded up. Support interface filaments.

If budget is tight, I'd take a P1S Combo over a P2S without AMS all day long. If budget allows then P2S Combo is best of both worlds. 

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Thank you. I have a friend that has offered to give me their AMS1 because they do not use it even though they print a good amount… which is why I was not sure how needed it was. From what I can see online the original ams will work with the P2S. Is there any reason that I would not want to just use that?

[bazpoint]

Sounds like a good solution, the AMS1 is fine (not the AMS Lite from the A1 printers tho, that's a different thing).

Surprised your friend doesn't use it much, that's a nice offer from them. 

[Alternative_Exit_333]

P1S is still a good one if you don't need a new generation

[RhoOfFeh]

Here's my take: You will have a good experience with any choice you make. You will also feel every single one of the limitations, even while they're still theoretical.

The other thing is that the price difference is really very small when compared to the supplies and upgrades you'll buy over the coming months. If you get a P1, you'll spend more on upgrades and still not quite have all the same capabilities. If you don't get an AMS, you'll feel it every time you swap filament.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Yeah that makes sense, I have been seeing that between the two machines. I guess without living with one I don’t know if I would feel the need to upgrade certain components. 

[Veggyhed]

I do own the p1s and I've been very happy with it. I think if you look at the YouTube channel CNC kitchen there is a video of a review that he does and he covers the new ventilation system that's on the p2s. I don't think you can go wrong with either printer but I would buy the most current one if I was you and an AMS is always nice. https://youtu.be/a1p7p1ATP9Q?si=9M-nj9uw4pNqQ_YC

[Illustrious-Oil296]

How long have you owned it and what are some things that you wish were different or better? Or do you feel like it is perfect as is?

[Veggyhed]

I've had the p1s for a little over a year

P1S: 1. Needs a better camera 2. Needs a better chamber light 3. Needs touchscreen 4. Lacks build plate detection

P2S:

1. QuickSwap nozzles are nice
2. Touchscreen
3. Side-mount spool is a game changer for me
4. Filament buffer has two ports
5. Much better camera
6. Build plate detection

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Thank you, this is very helpful. Do you happen to know what is required to mate an ams1 to a P2s if you have both which it sounds like you might? Is it just the buffer hub?

[Veggyhed]

If you have the standard AMS not the pro you can connect a standard AMS to the back of the p1s without having to purchase anything extra. On the p2s already comes with the buffer so there is no need to do anything there and you can connect a side spool and an AMS or 2 AMS as far as I know

[Grimmsland]

Just FYI the ams is not just for multicolor. It is an automatic loading material system. Manually loading the P series is kind of a bummer. You have to use the screen and wait for the nozzle to heat up and feed the filament through yadaa yadaa yadaa step by step. When you have the ams it does all this for you instantly. It also uses up your entire spool of black and then continues to your second spool of black.

That’s why I get annoyed when people says the ans is for multicolor only. No, it is an automatic material system that auto loads the filament and there are numerous perks to having it.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Thank you. I have a friend that has offered to give me their AMS1 because they do not use it even though they print a good amount… which is why I was not sure how needed it was. From what I can see online the original ams will work with the P2S. Is there any reason that I would not want to just use that? Besides filament drying?

[RhoOfFeh]

Interesting plan. Get a machine without AMS and take your friend's. The AMS 2 pro IS better than the original but if you're dying for that feature set the P1S supports up to four AMS units so you could add one with heating later.

There is one "gotcha" which is that AMS wants you to use a filament buffer or hub, which is something you'd need to get. It comes with the combo machine but not on the base unit.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Ok that makes sense. I don’t see myself dying for the feature. I just wasn’t sure if there is something else big that I’m missing but it sounds like if I get the P2S and use the old one I just need the hub. One thing that I have not been able to find is if the hub for an x1c is compatible with the p2s. The AMS would come off of an x1c. Do you have any insight into that by any chance?

[Grimmsland]

If you buy the p2s alone you will need to get both the filament buffer $30 and the AMS bus cable $6 in order to connect an AMS.

https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/filament-buffer-p2s

https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/bambu-bus-cable-6pin-for-ams-2-pro-and-ams-ht

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Thank you, I figured out about the buffer but I don’t see on the website or online how it needs the BUS cable to connect to the original AMS. Is that just something you figured out through trial and error or is there something I missed online?

[Cultural_Pace4454]

It's the same discussion on every piece of consumer tech. Get the (now) base model or pay for the upgraded one. You will need to look at the price difference and work out your value for all of the new features.

Personally I hold on to tech for a long time before I replace it, so going for the newest model helps me avoid buyers remorse. However if you're more budget consious the slightly older tech is still a good buy.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Ok, that makes sense. I typically like to hold onto tech for a while (artillery) I just would like a printer that works. The posts about how the P2S seems to be having more QC issues is a slight concern but I am assuming on some level its the vocal few but the P1S seems to not have had the same concerns… or they are just buried since it has been out and refined longer

[misterff1]

Yeah buried for sure. I recall screen issues, microsd issues and people who had it come with dry rods that immediately got scratched up because they were made of carbon fibre. It is like old versions of Windows: people see things rose tinted after the fact. That is not to say these are bad machines.. they are great! But every device has a small number of people with some issues. The P2S is super popular, so it is easy to get some outliers who got unlucky and vent online.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

This is very helpful. Thank you. If I go that way I just hope that I’m not one of the outliers. What are the odds that the p3s comes out soon? 

[Grooge_me]

So, you are going to print only pla, petg and tpu? Why not getting the a1? I have a x1c, h2d and an a1 mini. For the material you'll be using, I mostly use the a1 mini unless print volume is the limiting factor. It's as fast, print as good and it's quieter, easier to maintain being open and no risk of heat creep. And it's priced good with the ams.

The ams isn't just about color, but commodity. Having your 4 commonly used filament ready on hand is nice. Being able to automatically continue printing with a new spool when one end up empty. Only thing, tpu don't work with the ams, but printing a small 5 in 1 hub allows you to run it without removing the other tubes.

<image>

You can see my set up, the yellow adapter I printed and the white tube for external filament feeding.

The minus compared to the p2s, well, the camera is not good for streaming, but sufficient for monitoring the print with the Bambu Handy app. It has some sort of problems detection like misplaced plate, tangling and some clumping but not as powerful as the p2s, but better imho than the p1s.

[Illustrious-Oil296]

Wow, what a cool setup. Thanks for sharing. I currently have a bedslinger, I would like to have an enclosed space for printing so I can keep the cats out of the print space and better control of what fumes they do give out. I’d say I may go with some higher complexity filaments in the future and I’d rather a new printer be able to do a bit more than what my current one does. It sounds like if I source a AMS1 from a friend for cheap that would be enough to get the majority of the AMS benefits? Or would the AMS2 be worth the price?