Their printers just work. If you’re not interested in printers, but only printing the apple-of3d-printing is exactly what you want, which seems to be the majority of people. I own a Bambu and a sovol, to satisfy “both hobbies”. But at the end of the day, when I just need to print a replacement part I spent a non-trivial amount of time designing, my first pick is always the Bambu. Sadly, convenience beats freedom
My Prusa pretty much works. I’ve had a couple feed problems. I’ve had to revert the firmware twice because 6.4 and later just don’t work well. Prusa is stretching themselves thin and it shows.
So do machines like Snapmaker (U1) and especially Prusa, but without the amount of involuntary butt stuff.
And it’s not even true, the amount of issues with Bambu are piling up. A1 even manage to melt themselves recently, print failures with the print head becoming a plastic blob, the whole shebang. It’s the same with Apple indeed, as in people being ignorant in regards to all their issues because of the whole lifestyle feeling the marketing team managed to create.
Until they don’t. I use OrcaSlicer, a perfectly good slicer for many 3D printers, including for my Bambu A1. However, I have it set to LAN-only mode and locked at v4.0.0.0, since the latest firmware blocks the use of third-party software (and hardware, if you bought one of those Panda Touch displays, those no longer work because Bambu said more e-waste!)
Although I have an A1 (and it prints quite well, but nothing special. It, like any other 3D printer, struggles with complex prints and has adhesion issues with taller ones), I no longer recommend Bambu printers because they as a company are no longer trustworthy. They have already blocked non-Bambu software and hardware, what’s stopping them from becoming the HP of 3D printers and restrict what kind of filament you can use? They have the RFID tags already, so it’s just a software patch that needs to be sent out.
Other companies have printers that work just as well while not locking down on a tight ecosystem. Prusa is the obvious alternative, but you also have Qidi, Sovol, Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon, etc. who are more price-competitive with Bambu, especially on the value end of the market
I fully agree with you. My next one won’t be a Bambu, but as long as my P1S works, it’ll be my main machine. And back when i bought my A1 mini, there simply was no comparable alternative in the sub 200€ range. It’s great that this is now a different story, but since printers take a couple of years to break down, the change in market share won’t happen overnight.
This is why courts and laws are the way to rein in companies like this. Because boycotts just…don’t…work. There will always be someone who will buy the product despite the issues with the company.
Their printers just work. If you’re not interested in printers, but only printing the apple-of3d-printing is exactly what you want, which seems to be the majority of people. I own a Bambu and a sovol, to satisfy “both hobbies”. But at the end of the day, when I just need to print a replacement part I spent a non-trivial amount of time designing, my first pick is always the Bambu. Sadly, convenience beats freedom
My prusa just works. Haven’t done anything to it in years other than change the nozzle. Zero failed prints.
My Prusa pretty much works. I’ve had a couple feed problems. I’ve had to revert the firmware twice because 6.4 and later just don’t work well. Prusa is stretching themselves thin and it shows.
Haven’t personally touched the firmware in years now. It works, I don’t need any new features personally. Can’t comment on the quality of new fws.
But, but, but… The Prusa is SO EXPENSIVE cause it’s made with not slave labor!
And they slightly changed their open source licensing system to try to prevent Chinese cloans from duplicating their work for free!
And… It takes a few more days to ship since it’s not coming on the same barge as the rest of the Alibaba slop!
/s (my only printer is a Prusa)
So do machines like Snapmaker (U1) and especially Prusa, but without the amount of involuntary butt stuff.
And it’s not even true, the amount of issues with Bambu are piling up. A1 even manage to melt themselves recently, print failures with the print head becoming a plastic blob, the whole shebang. It’s the same with Apple indeed, as in people being ignorant in regards to all their issues because of the whole lifestyle feeling the marketing team managed to create.
If quality really drops, the problem should solve itself, as their target clientele probably will be looking for alternatives.
That’s not really how brand recognition and advertising works. If it was people would have stopped buying 2D HP printers decades ago.
Until they don’t. I use OrcaSlicer, a perfectly good slicer for many 3D printers, including for my Bambu A1. However, I have it set to LAN-only mode and locked at v4.0.0.0, since the latest firmware blocks the use of third-party software (and hardware, if you bought one of those Panda Touch displays, those no longer work because Bambu said more e-waste!)
Although I have an A1 (and it prints quite well, but nothing special. It, like any other 3D printer, struggles with complex prints and has adhesion issues with taller ones), I no longer recommend Bambu printers because they as a company are no longer trustworthy. They have already blocked non-Bambu software and hardware, what’s stopping them from becoming the HP of 3D printers and restrict what kind of filament you can use? They have the RFID tags already, so it’s just a software patch that needs to be sent out.
Other companies have printers that work just as well while not locking down on a tight ecosystem. Prusa is the obvious alternative, but you also have Qidi, Sovol, Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon, etc. who are more price-competitive with Bambu, especially on the value end of the market
I fully agree with you. My next one won’t be a Bambu, but as long as my P1S works, it’ll be my main machine. And back when i bought my A1 mini, there simply was no comparable alternative in the sub 200€ range. It’s great that this is now a different story, but since printers take a couple of years to break down, the change in market share won’t happen overnight.
This is why courts and laws are the way to rein in companies like this. Because boycotts just…don’t…work. There will always be someone who will buy the product despite the issues with the company.