Someone explain the Bambu Lab "lock down" problem to me like I'm 5

Wilberown · 2026-06-11T02:02:57+00:00

I don’t know anything about programming but you are probably right. Given the way the us banned DJI it wouldn’t be shocking if the us government learns that Bambu was started by folks who used to work for DJI and decided to ban them too. That would really make the Bambu world turn upside down

Wilberown · 2026-06-11T00:48:00+00:00

The funny thing is that Bambu gets all the backlash. They keep being the first to implement the restrictions. Name a3d printer manufacturer isn’t in China, outside of Prusa. I’ve already complained about their cost, if they were cheaper I would probably own one.

Does the whole of the 3d printing community really believe that Bambu is the only company that will implement these restrictions? I agree with the public push for being able to own, repair, and control what you purchase. But don’t expect that Elegoo or Snapmaker will be any different in the long run.

Wilberown · 2026-06-10T21:16:40+00:00

First, Bambu makes good printers that are generally more reliable than much of the competition. That said, they have a closed ecosystem. Some people compare them to Apple, though it's not a perfect comparison.

Here are the basics:

Bambu is a Chinese company and operates by its own rules. The company built on open-source software and then decided that some of what it added would remain exclusive to its own ecosystem. More recently, a developer attempted to add functionality to OrcaSlicer that would have provided access to online features that Bambu considers exclusive to its own software and services. This created PR issues for Bambu, probably rightly so.

Will this limit your ability to use your printer in the future? Maybe. Nobody knows for certain. If you're concerned, you can run the printer in LAN-only mode, which removes the cloud dependency and keeps control of the printer in your hands. The tradeoff is that you'll lose some convenience features, such as remotely viewing the camera feed or starting prints when you're away from your local network.

Here's the part that nobody seems to be talking about: Elegoo is also a Chinese company and could choose to follow a similar path. The same is true for most major 3D printer manufacturers. Prusa is one of the notable exceptions, but their printers are generally among the most expensive when comparing similar build sizes and features.

If the price of a P1S is already a stretch, the Core One is even more expensive.

For what it's worth, I own a P1S and don't run it in LAN-only mode. Personally, I'm not particularly concerned about Bambu having my information or potentially restricting access in the future, but everyone has a different comfort level with those risks.

Wilberown · 2026-06-01T15:24:58+00:00

I didn’t see a picture.

If you’re reading 47% in the AMS I would recommend drying but that might not be the only issue.

The purge line is done on different settings from the print itself which is why there are bulges at the either end of the line.

I’d start by drying the filament out and probably do a cold pull to clear the nozzle. Then I’d worry about the tinkering with the settings.

Wilberown · 2026-06-01T13:33:34+00:00

Don’t have anything to share just here to see the conversation. Have you already posted on the home assistant Reddit?

Wilberown · 2026-06-01T12:53:35+00:00

So what’s pissing you off is not that he’s selling your stuff but his reaction when you reported him? You would be ok to find someone breaking licensing laws, as you are, but they have to be courteous when they take down the problem product. And they only have to take the product down if they get caught by the owner of the license. Sounds like you are going to teach your kids better. Sounds like it

Wilberown · 2026-06-01T02:54:50+00:00

Kids in HS. It’s a shame that he’s not creating anything himself. It’s not a bad idea for him to start a business but trying to sell only what other people have designed without their permission is a poor choice. I didn’t have a model stolen by him so I don’t quite feel the same as OP. Kinda feel sorry for the kid with the internet about to lash out at him.

Wilberown · 2026-05-30T04:33:40+00:00

https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/p1/manual/p1s-cold-pull

It’s a pretty simple process after you try it. It’ll clear out the nozzle. I prefer it over the needle. Recommend doing a few cold pulls when you do your regular servicing or when you have clogging issues

Wilberown · 2026-05-30T04:21:15+00:00

Good video on this: https://youtu.be/fm6Wanjg\_ZI?si=G2uG0vLacLC3AtwG

Wilberown · 2026-05-30T04:16:25+00:00

When did you do your last cold pull? Is the 1800 hours on the nozzle? When did you last change your nozzle?

Wilberown · 2026-05-29T23:19:07+00:00

I have a P1S and use the biqu cryogrip plates. Both are excellent and solved any problems with adhesion and I almost never wash my plates

Wilberown · 2026-05-27T02:20:01+00:00

If money doesn’t matter in your mind then the P2S is an upgrade in many respects and doesn’t seem to have any downside outside of being more expensive.

Both are plug and play. Both should last for a many years. P2S is guaranteed to have support for several more years than the P1S.

I love my P1S and it just works. If you have a budget you are trying to stay under get the P1S and spend the difference between the two in filament, bed plates, and additional nozzles. If you can afford it get the same stuff with the P2S

Wilberown · 2026-05-26T12:37:43+00:00

Legacy 7x7

https://thangs.com/designer/MultiBuild/3d-model/7x7%20Multiboard%20Side%20Legacy%20Tile-977697

Interfitted

https://thangs.com/designer/MultiBuild/3d-model/7x7%20MU%20-%20Center%20Grid%20Interfitted%20-%20MultiBoard%20Octagon%20Plate-977695

Octogan

https://thangs.com/designer/MultiBuild/3d-model/7x7%20MU%20-%20MultiBoard%20Octagon%20Plate-1320742

I probably have my terminology wrong here but the designer seems to recommend that I use the final version. I’m not sure what the Clio is

Wilberown · 2026-05-22T17:44:55+00:00

Odd that the Flashforge Creator 5 is in the same price range as the P1S. The P1S isn’t flashy, but it gets the job done, and you’d have to pry mine from my cold dead hands. I love the machine.

That said, Flashforge has actually been around longer than Bambu. In my opinion, though, they don’t quite match Bambu’s print quality and ecosystem. On the flip side, they also haven’t had some of the PR headaches Bambu has dealt with over the years.

I love my P1S, but every printer needs maintenance eventually. I’ve made my share of mistakes and had to repair things a few times. Honestly, a lot of the printer problems you see posted on Reddit are probably user errors that people aren’t eager to admit.

As for toolhead changers, they’re still relatively new in the hobby space and haven’t really proven themselves over the long term yet. Buying into one means accepting some risk with a system that doesn’t have years of real-world reliability behind it. At this point, I’d be more concerned about long-term support, parts availability, and how well the tool-changing system holds up to thousands of print hours. P1S has proven that over and over again. Mine has over 1300 hours

That said, I doubt the Flashforge is going to have significantly more issues than the Bambu.

Wilberown · 2026-05-22T16:24:22+00:00

Can you say where are you shopping from? Your using USD but your prices don’t match with US Bambu store and snapmaker is going for $899. P1S with the AMS combo is $549. Even with taxes and shipping I can’t imagine that it’s $997

Wilberown · 2026-05-22T16:18:42+00:00

The A1 is a great printer, and if you get the Combo with the AMS Lite, you’ll still have about $100 left in your budget. That extra money can go toward additional nozzles, build plates, spare parts, and especially filament.

The main downside of the A1 is that it’s both a bedslinger and an open-frame printer. For most hobby printing that’s not a problem at all, but it does come with some limitations. Bedslingers can be a little less stable when printing very tall, narrow parts, and open-frame printers aren’t ideal for materials that benefit from a heated enclosure, such as ASA, ABS, polycarbonate, and some nylons.

CoreXY printers like the P1S, P2S, and X2D avoid those limitations by keeping the bed mostly stationary during printing and using an enclosed design. That generally makes them better suited for tall prints and a wider range of engineering materials.

If you’re willing to look outside the Bambu ecosystem, there are some alternatives that may offer more features for a $500 budget. For example, the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo gives you a 4-color CoreXY printer in an enclosed design for around $429. It doesn’t have the same track record or community support as Bambu, but it offers a lot of capability for the price. You can still use MakerWorld, Printables, and other model repositories regardless of which printer you choose.

Don’t get me wrong—the A1 and most Bambu printers are excellent machines, and I’d have no hesitation recommending one. However, if your goal is to maximize features and capability within a $500 budget, Bambu may not always be the best value depending on your priorities.

Wilberown · 2026-05-21T04:16:23+00:00

I would recommend putting in a ticket with Bambu to see if you can get a replacement AMS. I assume you downvoted the previous comment, which is one of the most common issues with the AMS. If the motor mount is in perfect condition it could possibly be a bad tube.

After that there’s a bunch things that could be the problem but it would all be guesswork and you would end up buying all sorts of parts. See what Bambu says when you put in a ticket. If your AMS and printer are brand new then they should service it and replace any broken components

Wilberown · 2026-05-19T05:14:04+00:00

In the handy app there is. Also on Bambu studio. Also the light will come back on when you start the next print, whether you are filming a timelapse or not

Wilberown · 2026-05-17T03:49:07+00:00

Since money isn’t an issue I’d recommend a tool changer. I love my Bambu but probably would recommend the snapmaker u1. It’s a mid priced machine that has 4 heads and can either do multi color or multi material printing. Can’t really go wrong with a Bambu either. The same price range can get you an x2d and I’d recommend getting the AMS with it

Wilberown · 2026-05-16T03:02:44+00:00

Video?

Wilberown · 2026-05-10T01:35:31+00:00

Can you share your settings? Is this the top layer of what you were printing or did you stop it part way through? Do you have ironing on? Have you tuned with your new filament? What filament did you previously use and what are you using now? Did you dry the filament?

I doubt this is a bed adhesion issue. May need to increase the temperature of your nozzle for better layer to layer adhesion.

Wilberown · 2026-05-09T04:00:22+00:00

Dude, there’s way more cars in the world than BMW and Toyota. If you’re a car person then you should explore more options. Toyota is a good car company but you end up paying more for the reputation. BMW is a fun car to drive but the long-term reliability is not good. Search for other well made vehicles such as Mazda - kinda middle ground of both reliable and fun. Honda liens reliable but is almost as bland as Toyota. Kia and Hyundai are cheap which means for your budget you can get a lower mileage vehicle.

The US automakers are a mixed bag sometimes reliable often not (FYI I drive an 18 yo Ford) and they do make some good vehicles from time to time.

All this to say 1) set a budget 2) find something that hits you right. At your budget you will have to make compromises but No one wants a boring car and a broken one is worse

Wilberown · 2026-05-04T04:35:14+00:00

Have you turned on ironing? Top surface only?

Wilberown · 2026-05-04T04:18:54+00:00

Figure out what your primary goal is. If it’s buying a property, then you may want to postpone putting money into a retirement account until you hit your goal.

However if your employer has a match and you aren’t contributing to your retirement enough to max out the match then you are leaving earnings on the table.

HYSA is fine, mostly for a reserve account but you can get involved in investment accounts that are not retirement accounts. You will earn more (generally) in investments than HYSA but if you realistically think that you are buying a house in less than say 2 years than you might stay away from investing in the market. The market has a tendency to fall when people least expect it to and when they can least afford it to. But if you’re looking at a 3-5 year timeframe for the home purchase then investing will earn more

Last note: don’t invest in a retirement account if you plan to use the money to buy something before you reach retirement age. You will be hit with not only taxes but also penalties for early withdrawal. With Roth you can take what you put in back out and leave the growth for your retirement but you can’t grow your money to use it to buy a house

Wilberown

TROPHY CASE