Review: Bambu Lab A1 Mini

There are so many fdm 3D printer brands that have been on the market for years and yet, it’s one of the latest entrants that has quite simply revolutionized the sector in just 2 years. The brand? Bambu Lab. Its latest printer? The A1 Mini.

At a time when everyone is bringing out larger-format printers. Bambu Lab has once again surprised us with a mini version.

It’s a bold choice, given that fans have been waiting for an XL printer. But the reasoning is surely even better: 95% of prints are actually small, and Bambu Lab is already ahead of the game technologically, so we need to democratize small-format, low-cost 3D printing to attract new users.

Bambu Lab is a Chinese company, but the products could just as easily come from Germany with this attention to detail and material quality.

Specification

[nextpage title=”Unboxing & Calibration”]

Unboxing

To be honest, I thought I’d received the printer without its AMS (material selector), so small was the package. But inside, no empty space, polyurethane foam everywhere, no risk of breakage, even if your delivery man is playing soccer with the package… That’s the kind of unpacking we appreciate. But if you have to send the machine back… it’s going to be a real headache. Zip ties are even used to hold the foam in place.

It takes 15 minutes to assemble the AMS Lite, all the tools are supplied, the screws are well packed for each step, and the instructions are easy to read. An assembly that’s within anyone’s reach.

For our tests, Bambu Lab sent us 3 spools of filament: PLA Galaxy, which is a new color, PLA Basic Green and PLA Basic White.

Start

Once the machine is plugged in, you’ll need to choose the language, the region and you can connect to Wi-Fi, which is rather recommended to use all the software features later on, but not at all mandatory if you’re worried about the Chinese government spying on you.

Then calibration begins. But it’s not a calibration of the platter as you’d expect from the competition – no, it’s already calibrated. The A1 Mini compensates for vibrations to improve print quality. You’ll need to restart this calibration if you move the printer. And sound calibration… Because yes, this 3D printer has ANC (active noise cancelling). For my other 3D printers, I prefer to isolate them in another room to be able to work, but the noise level of the Bambu Lab printer is so much lower when it’s on my desk. So no, it’s not silent, but I can work or watch a movie without turning up the volume or subtitles. Only the fan makes any real noise, and Bambu Lab offers a silent mode.

Finally, there’s a firmware update. And if you wish, you can link your printer to the BambuHandy smartphone application via a QR code displayed on the screen.

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Design

In terms of design, you could have seen the A1 mini in any spaceship, starting with the Nostromo’s infirmary (Alien). And yet it’s a bed slinger printer, which shouldn’t have impressed anyone.

Steel and aluminum construction that exudes confidence.

The plastics are well finished and robust. There’s no play in the mechanisms.

The screen is very small, 2.4″ with a definition of 320×240 pixels, but the interface is well designed and everything is very legible. But if you’ve got big fingers, it could pose a few problems.

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The extruder has also been designed for fast, tool-free operation. Removing the cover reveals 4-step instructions for changing the nozzle. And with this printer, there’s no need to think about heating the nozzle to remove the filament… no, there’s simply a lever to cut the filament. And so change the nozzle cold. Simple and efficient.

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As for the nozzles, they’re proprietary and that’s a bit of a problem when you’re innovating, sometimes you need new, slightly better thought-out solutions that don’t align with the very open community model that’s been the order of the day until now.

Another small detail: the PEI plate is reversible. It will therefore last twice as long. Bambu Lab has also thought of easy alignment thanks to the notches on the back of the plate.

And this is precisely where we find 2 curiosities. Each time you start printing, the nozzle does a little dance to clean itself on the little rasp and silicone scraper.

Now let’s talk about the AMS lite, Bambu Lab’s system for multi-color printing, but not only!

One criticism is that the AMS must be placed to the right of the printer, because of the length and location of the cables. Otherwise, though simple to use, it’s packed with features:

• Automatic filament loading, no need to push and unwind the spool
• Spool filament is always “taut” with a spring system in the holder.
• RFID reader for each spool . This enables the AMS Lite to recognize the type and color of the brand’s filaments automatically.

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Software

Bambu Studio would need a full article, and we’re not going to do it here.

But you should know that, in terms of ease of use, it’s close to an Apple product. In fact, if this is your first printer, the menu is straightforward, and the software will tell you whether printing will go well or whether it recommends any changes. If you have Bambu Lab filament on your AMS, it’s automatically detected. And if you know your way around, you’ll have access to a multitude of parameters.

And if you want simplicity, there’s the BambuHandy app. Or simply select a model from the catalog, click “print” and choose your colors. Easy enough for a 5-year-old.

As the printer has a camera, you’ll have access to it via the app or software. This will allow you to view the printout from your phone, for example, but also to make timelapses automatically and share them on networks… A marketing idea surely, but so clever and cool. However, the camera is placed where it can, so the angle isn’t as good as on Bambu Lab’s bigger printers, the camera doesn’t seem as good, and the LED doesn’t light up very much.

[nextpage title=”Print quality”]

Print quality

Pre-loaded on the printer, we find the inevitable little Benchy boat! Bambu Lab’s creations could also come in handy, such as the spatula/scraper for removing your 3D prints from the bed.

If we find that the print is almost perfect, it’s because the input shaping is doing its job. So well, in fact, that we didn’t mention it, because it seems so obvious, the machine is perfectly calibrated, and the vibrations of the movements are not visible on the 3D prints.

We try a more organic design with BambuLab’s new Galaxy filament. You can see with and without support.

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My last Lego had a problem with the rear tire being too narrow. We fixed it with Elegoo’s PETG-PRO filament, which we had just calibrated in 2 steps.

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Next I wanted to test the accuracy of the dimensions and other printing difficulties with the Gabbox3D test. The overhang is the only problem encountered. The dimensions are exact. Printing is very clean and artifact-free.

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We move on to more ambitious projects, including one for the Tweak League using Elegoo‘s very inexpensive PETG-PRO filament, which was calibrated via the software.

Other comments:

• I never once had to use glue on the PEI plate. And this is the first printer that’s done that to me. It also means I’ve never had a problem with the first layer not sticking. With Bambu Lab or Elegoo filaments, which I had trouble with on the brand’s printer.
• All my 3D prints in PLA and PETG peeled off automatically once the bed temperature returned to normal.

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Conclusion

Bambu Lab is, to my knowledge, the best user experience. It’s plug and play:

• No need to spend hours setting up a new filament. If you use Bambu Lab products, everything is automatic. And if you want to use another brand of filament, the software and printer will help you find the best settings…
• No need to play around with calibrating the tray, or even input shaping.
• No need to wear headphones with the silent function and ANC (active noise canceling).
• You don‘t have to be an engineer to get beautiful prints. If your object is on the Makers World platform, it’s click and print.

Now, many will say that 180c180mm isn’t enough, so I took a look at my 3D printing history over the last 3 months. Out of just under a hundred, 3 are bigger than that. And I think I’m a space-hungry user, given the size of some of my projects. And given the ease of use, the A1 mini will stay on my desk for 95% of my 3D prints.

You’ll find this little gem for less than €280 in the single version and less than €450 in combo with the AMS Lite.

We liked :

• Perfect prints every time
• 15-minute assembly
• Simplicity across the board
• User-friendly interface
• Comprehensive software
• The price

Our least favorite :

• The camera and its low-power LED

Bambu Lab A1 mini

When I contacted Bambu Lab, I wasn’t much more convinced than that – the product was good, but I was being offered the smallest printer when everyone was talking about their X1C.
And having had my hands in printers since 2016 with Formlabs and Prusa, I thought we’d have gradual evolutions, and slow technology adoption. But with products like these, and at less than 450 euros with the AMS Lite, Bambu Lab is making printing accessible to everyone. It’s no longer a niche product. For us, it’s a clear “coup de coeur”.