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Bambu Lab is abusing the open source social contract

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Why This Matters

This article highlights Bambu Lab's aggressive approach to controlling user access and data, raising concerns about privacy and open-source principles in the 3D printing industry. It underscores the importance of consumer rights and the need for transparency in hardware-software integrations, especially as more devices become connected and cloud-dependent.

Key Takeaways

Bambu Lab is abusing the open source social contract

Last year I said I'd probably never recommend another Bambu Lab printer again.

I still use my P1S, but after Bambu Lab started pushing their always-connected cloud solution as the new default:

I blocked the printer from the Internet via my OPNsense Firewall

I stopped updating the firmware

I locked the printer into Developer mode

I deleted Bambu Studio and started using OrcaSlicer

I had to do that to keep it under my control, instead of Bambu's.

But I'm weird—I acknowledge that. I'm one of those crazy ones who likes to own something they purchased, and not have the company watch everything I do with hardware I paid for.

Bambu Lab could've left the status quo at that, and I wouldn't be writing this blog post.

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