After our test of the BambuLab A1 Mini, BambuLab asked us if we wanted to test new types of filament. So we said yes, asking them to suggest new filaments or filaments that are more complicated to print. As the A1 Mini is an open printer, it’s impossible to control the temperature, so this should limit the choice..
We received the following filaments:
- PETG HF – New filament. High Flow for faster printing.
- PETG Translucent – A more resistant plastic than PLA, but less easy to print.
- PLA Glow – The easiest plastic to print, but transparent
- TPU 95A HF – A flexible, high-flow filament.
It would be easy to print benchy or other downloadable models. But where’s the challenge? No, we’re not going to do that. We want a real case study. We’re going to start with a blank sheet of paper and recreate a room that will serve a purpose other than decoration.
Recreation process in PETG HF
As a car enthusiast, and more particularly a Porsche fan, I know that it’s sometimes hard to find the right part for the job. I know that it’s sometimes hard, if not impossible, to find certain parts. The part I’m going to recreate here is a simple insert in the door of a Porsche 928. This piece of plastic will easily cost you 150 euros, if you can find one..
So, out come the calipers and Autodesk Fusion.
The room isn’t flat, with a few curves and angles. To make sure my measurements are right, I start with PLA prints, which are simpler and cleaner than the PETG HF we’ll be using for the final model.
After 2 tests and a few corrections. Let’s get down to business with the PETG HF. Normally, BambuLab printers automatically recognize the brand’s filaments, thanks to an RFID chip in each spool. A firmware update later, and the job’s done. That must be the problem with getting the filaments in advance.
Anyway, I’ll leave you to admire the first PETG HF print of the copied part.
The supports are easy to remove and leave few traces. After a lick of paint, it will fit into a car being restored.
Yes, it’s the first one! As BambuLab does things right, each filament is pre-calibrated, which makes it all the easier to create, as there’s no need to fiddle around and do 10 tests.
