REVIEW – I’ve reviewed a number of 3D printers over time, and till the final one which I reviewed, they have been all extra of a toy than a great tool. That final 3D printer was the Bambu Lab A1 Mini (proven above on the left). It was the 3D printer that lastly made 3D printing enjoyable as an alternative of a problem. I’ve continued utilizing the A1 Mini, however now I’ve its large brother to check it to. Let’s check out the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 3D printer and see if greater actually is healthier.
⬇︎ Soar to abstract (professionals/cons)
Value: $1449.00 (printer solely), $1749.00 (with AMS) – $1879.00 (X1C with AMS 2 Professional and filament hub)
The place to purchase: Bambu Lab
What’s it?
The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon is an enclosed 3D filament printer with a 256 × 256 × 256 mm construct quantity and multi-color capabilities.
What’s within the field?
The model of the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon that was despatched to me included the AMS arrives in a big and heavy field.
- Bambo Lab X1C 3D printer
- AMS
- 2 packs of dessicant
- 4-Pin Bus Cable
- Switching Adapter
- Filament Buffer
- PTFE Tube Coupler
- Contact display
- Spool holder
- Filament pattern
- Spare Scorching Finish
- Spare Filament Cutter
- Allen keys
- Unclogging device
- Mattress scraper
- Energy cable
- Fast begin information
Tech specs
Construct Quantity: (W×D×H): 256 × 256 × 256 mm³*
Nozzle: 0.4 mm Hardened Metal Included
Hotend: All-Metallic
Max Scorching Finish Temperature: 300 ℃
Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
Supported Filament: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PVA, PET
Superb for PA, PC, Carbon/ Glass Fiber Bolstered Polymer
Construct Plate Floor: Bambu Textured PEI Plate or Bambu Cool Plate (Pre-installed, Random, Each appropriate with Micro Lidar)
Max Construct Plate Temperature: 110℃@220V, 120℃@110V
Max Pace of Device Head: 500 mm/s
Max Acceleration of Device Head: 20 m/s²
Bodily Dimensions X1C：389 × 389 × 457 mm³
Package deal measurement: 480 × 480 × 535 mm³
Web weight: 14.13kg, Gross weight 18kg
X1C Combo: Package deal measurement: 480 × 480 × 590 mm³
Gross weight (AMS included): 22.3 kg
Electrical Necessities: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 H, 1000W@220V, 350W@110V
Design and options
In case you return to the highest of this evaluation and have a look at that lead image, you will note the Bambu Lab A1 Mini subsequent to the X1 Carbon. There’s fairly a distinction in measurement/footprint. I preferred the A1 Mini fairly a bit, primarily because of the small measurement. Besides that after I wished to print in multi-colors, I needed to make further room on my desk for the AMS. I actually like the truth that the AMS for the X1C may be positioned on prime of the printer. And I additionally like that the X1C is enclosed, which helps to maintain the fumes down when printing. The X1C has a rugged steel housing with a glass door on the entrance.
And one other glass door on prime.
The AMS unit has a plastic housing with room for 4 rolls of filament.
A filament tube is hooked up to the again of the unit, together with the connection ports for the 3D printer.
I acquired the X1 Carbon with the AMS unit and the Filament Buffer, however should you determine to order this printer and wish the choice to attach a number of AMS models, get the model of the X1C that features the Filament Hub. It’s solely $20 extra and with it, you possibly can truly join as much as 4 AMS models to the X1C 3D printer. Meaning that you could have as much as 16 particular person rolls of filament to select from to your prints!
The AMS does much more than feed filament to the printer. It additionally doubles as a filament dry field. Why do you want dry filament? 3D printer filament is inclined to humidity, and when it absorbs an excessive amount of moisture, it turns into brittle, which might clog the printer. The AMS has two desiccant holders that take in moisture. You possibly can see the holders within the picture above. The doorways over the holders have holes in them.
The brand new AMS 2 Professional unit, which is now a brand new possibility when buying the X1C, is even higher than the AMS that I’ve as a result of it has a built-in dryer. The drying system heats as much as 65°C and makes use of dynamic air air flow to take away moisture from filament spools. This technique can rotate the spools throughout drying for even outcomes. I hope I’ll get an opportunity to evaluation the brand new AMS 2 Professional sooner or later.
The again of the printer is the place you join the AMS and the filament tubes. That module protruding from the again of the printer is the filament buffer that I talked about above. Additionally, you will discover the shoot on the again. That’s the place blobs of extra filament which might be deposited after switching colours. You’ll wish to put somewhat container beneath it to catch the pool.
Organising the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 3D printer may be very easy. The short begin information supplies clear illustrated steps to attach the cables for the AMS unit.
And the directions for connecting the included contact display.
The contact display snaps into the entrance of the printer and likewise holds a micro SD card slot the place you possibly can insert your individual micro SD card to make use of for capturing timelapse movies of your prints.
At this level, we’re able to energy up the printer and check out our first print.
The contact show is large and vibrant and may even pivot up and down to supply the proper viewing angle.
After all, you’ll must load some filament earlier than you possibly can print one thing. Bambu Lab does embrace a partial spool of filament to get you began, however you’ll undoubtedly wish to order some further rolls. The beauty of ordering filament immediately from Bambu Lab is that the spools have RFID tags that the AMS can learn to know precisely what sort and coloration of filament is being utilized in every slot of the AMS.
Loading the filament is extremely fast and simple. Simply open the highest of the AMS, place the filament in one of many 4 slots…
Begin feeding the tip of the filament into the inlet, and it’ll robotically seize it and begin feeding it to the printer. And even higher, whenever you end your print, it robotically retracts the filament.
The printer’s menus additionally will let you load and unload the filament and see the humidity degree.
Let’s print our first print!
To make issues tremendous straightforward, Bambu Lab contains a number of 3D fashions saved proper within the printer that you could print instantly.
Similar to coders who be taught a brand new programming language will write a Howdy World program, the primary print most individuals do on a brand new 3D printer is a benchy. In order that’s what I selected to do first.
The printer runs by a sequence of steps that preheat the mattress, clear the nozzle tip, degree the mattress, and calibrate the filament extrusion.
The contact display supplies the standing of every step, together with the time it’ll take to finish the print.
The hotend is hooked up to the highest of the printer, so the print mattress raises to that degree and lowers as every layer of the mannequin is printed.
The benchy print is in progress.
The finished benchy. The print was glorious with nearly no stringing (stringing may be very skinny items of filament that remind me of spider webs). In case you click on the picture above, you will note some strings within the doorway of the boat.
For my subsequent print, I accessed the wonderful free mannequin useful resource at makerworld.com. On this website owned by Bambu Lab, you could find nearly any sort of print that you can imagine – at no cost! Bambu Lab places free prints there in addition to the 3D printing group. Since Easter was developing after I was testing the X1C, I made a decision to print a couple of bunnies.
From this website, you possibly can ship the mannequin to the Bambu Studio software program that’s accessible for Home windows and Mac.
The desktop software program makes it straightforward to arrange the mannequin for printing by selecting the printer, selecting the filament, even resizing or doing a number of prints directly.
I made a decision to print 4 fashions directly. The software program optimized the structure for the quickest print time.
One other good print x 4.
I really like how the designer of this print used filament for the eyes and nostril with out utilizing the AMS. I do know it’s now not Easter, however should you’d wish to print these bunny peeps, you could find the mannequin right here.
Along with utilizing a desktop app for printing fashions, it’s also possible to use the Bambu Lab Bambu Useful app. I like that the app sends a notification when the print completes or if there’s a difficulty whereas printing. It makes it handy should you don’t wish to babysit the printer for lengthy prints.
You can too entry Maker World by the app to seek out new fashions.
I used metallic-looking filament for this stylized owl mannequin, and I believe it turned out nice. You possibly can click on the image for a extra detailed view.
And here’s a fast AMS enabled print the place I had put in a roll of yellow, white, and black filament into the AMS.
Sure, I do know there’s extra to a 3D printer than simply printing out little collectible figurines and toys. However that’s what numerous new 3D printer house owners do first earlier than they begin determining distinctive and helpful prints that may assist make their every day lives higher and extra enjoyable.
I’ve to confess that I’m nonetheless printing out enjoyable (ineffective?) fashions extra usually than helpful fashions, however I do have plans. I’ve taken a really fundamental TinkerCAD class and have concepts for designing some easy fashions that can make life just a bit simpler. I’ll write an article about my creations quickly. Subscribe to the e-newsletter so that you don’t miss that article 🙂
Closing ideas
I want my conventional paper inkjet printer labored in addition to the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 3D printer! Similar to the A1 Mini, the X1C is a pleasure to make use of. There’s no stress concerned with it. Simply join the cables, add the filament, flip it on, discover a mannequin, and also you’re in your technique to printing nearly something you possibly can consider.
Is the X1 Carbon higher than the A1 Mini. Sure, it’s higher for the next causes which could not matter to you.
- It has a much bigger print mattress which implies that you could print bigger prints than the A1 mini. 180*180*180 mm³ vs. 256*256*256 mm³
- It’s enclosed in order that the fumes that end result from printing are higher container contained in the printer than within the room the place you’re printing. I discover a particular lower within the scent utilizing the X1C vs. the A1 mini
- The enclosed design additionally means that you can mount the AMS on prime of the printer saving area. That is extra handy and it appears so much nicer
I understand that the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon isn’t inexpensive for everybody, however it’s a really well-made workhorse 3D printer. Its giant mattress measurement, enclosed design, potential to make use of an AMS, and constant print high quality simply make it a winner. In case you can’t afford the X1C, then go along with the A1 Mini. You gained’t be dissatisfied both approach.
What I like about Bambu Lab X1C 3D printer
- Similar to the A1 Mini, the X1C is just about plug and play
- Maker World makes it straightforward to seek out and print free fashions
- Quick, flawless printing
- AMS 2 Professional makes multi-color printing straightforward
- AMS 2 Professional has a built-in filament dryer
What must be improved?
- Embrace a full spool of filament with the printer as an alternative of a partial roll
- Embrace 2 units of desiccants for the AMS
Value: $1449.00 (printer solely), $1749.00 (with AMS) – $1879.00 (X1C with AMS 2 Professional and filament hub)
The place to purchase: Bambu Lab
Supply: The pattern for this evaluation was offered by Bambu Lab. They didn’t have a ultimate say on the evaluation and didn’t preview the evaluation earlier than it was revealed.
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