GoKawiilDetail of identical pigeon figurine printed on white Bambu Lab PLA: A1 on left, P2S on right. Photograph: Kat Merck Photograph: Kat Merck
It Really Is That Easy
If you own another brand of mid- or lower-tier 3D printer, any Bambu Lab machine will already feel like an upgrade. Much like an iPhone, any Bambu Lab printer will work seamlessly right out of the box, with easy-to-use software and intuitive design elements. With a little assembly, you’re ready to go.
The large touchscreen allows you to perform many functions and troubleshooting right on the machine. These printers are easy for even the most clueless newbie to use and understand—so much so that some call the company “the Apple of 3D printing.” (Even better, the company’s free, flagship Bambu Studio software is open source.)
What makes both the P1S and P2S worth the upgrade from the A1 is the enclosed chamber that provides environmental control for acrylonitrile filaments like ASA and ABS, which require high temperatures to melt and are notoriously prone to warping. In the P2S, Bambu Lab incorporates a new airflow system that switches modes depending on the filament—it pulls in cooler air for more easily melted PLA, or retains air (and therefore heat) for ASA and ABS.
However, I did notice that when printing in ASA (note that the P2S comes with only a rough-textured build plate; I had to buy the smooth $30 engineering plate separately), the resulting fumes were overwhelming—I had to close the door, open the windows, and turn on an air purifier. There is a carbon filter in the back of the device, but during high-heat prints, the airflow is supposed to circulate inside the unit; instead, it seemed to leak out around the door and other cracks.
Video: Kat Merck
Fumes are emitted from all 3D printers, so this is not really a flaw on the company’s part, just an indication that the redesigned airflow system has room for improvement. Make sure you keep the printer in a room with a door that can close if you’re printing with any kind of impact-modified plastics. Bambu Lab’s helpful Wiki also offers a 3D-printable exhaust kit that can redirect fumes outside.
And speaking of locations, you will also want to ensure the 15 x 16 x 19-inch P2S is on a very firm surface—perhaps even on the ground. At 600 mm per second, the nozzle moves vigorously, which will shake whatever it’s on. I was using a low wooden table, but since I found myself using the printer near-daily, the shaking eventually loosened the table’s leg joints, resulting in multiple X-Y axis error messages on the machine. Research showed this to be a somewhat common issue, almost always resolved by finding a firmer surface.