Bambu Lab A1 Mini printer test
Introduction
The A1 Mini is the first Cartesian printer of Bambu Lab, manufacturer known for its Core XY printers fast and reliable (P1P, P1S, X1C).This new A1 range is aimed at beginners and users seeking a Plug & Play solution.
Main characteristics
Strengths
- ** Plug & Play printer **: ready to print in 15 minutes
- ** Print bed **: 180 × 180 × 180 mm
- ** fully automatic calibration **
- ** Printing in 4 colors ** with AMS Lite
- ** noise less than 48 dB ** in silent mode
- ** linear rails and fully metallic bearings **
- ** Compensation for vibrations and flow **
Detailed technical specifications
| Element | Specification A1 Mini |
|---|---|
| ** Body ** | |
| Print volume (L × L × H) | 180 × 180 × 180 mm³ |
| ** Print head ** | |
| HOTEND | All metal |
| Bush | Stainless steel |
| Max Hotend temperature | 300 ° C |
| Diameter Nozzle | 0.4 mm (included) 0.2mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm (optional) |
| ** Heating tray ** | |
| Print plaque | Bambu textured plaque (included) PEI Smooth Bambu Plate |
| Temperature max tray | 80 ° C |
| ** Speed ** | |
| Max speed | 500 mm/s |
| Max acceleration | 10 m/s² |
| ** supported filaments ** | |
| Ideal | PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA |
| Acceptable | Abs, asa, pc, pa, pet |
| Not recommended | Fiberglass/carbon -loaded polymer |
| ** Sensors ** | |
| Surveillance camera | Low FPS camera (up to 1080p) Timelapse support |
| End of Filament Sensor | Yes |
| Filament odometer | Yes |
| Restoration Loss of Pas | Yes |
| Filament winding sensor | Yes |
| ** Physical dimensions ** | |
| A1 Mini | 347 × 315 × 365 mm³ Net weight: 5.5 kg Gross weight: 8.2 kg |
| A1 mini combo | Cardboard size: 385 × 430 × 495 mm³ Net weight (AMS Lite included): 10.2 kg |
Cardboard contents
The tools included
In the tool card, you will find:
- ** Two Allen keys **
- ** A bump outlet **
- ** A replacement nozzle cleaning pad **
- ** The screws for assembly **
- ** The support for the external coil support **
- ** The clip for the tubes PTFE **
- ** Replacement cutting blades **
- ** A small oil tube **
- ** The blade for the scraper ** (to print)
Bambu Lab surprises
Filaments color chart
The first surprise is a color chart that Bambu Lab sells, very useful for choosing its colors.
Mystery electronic kit
The other surprise is a mystery box containing an electronic kit.Bambu Lab offers different kits such as:
- A mouse
- A USB LED lamp
- A game of balls
- The representation of an engine
The particularity of these kits: you will have to print all the plastic parts.I had the engine.
Printer assembly
Quick installation
The manual is in English, but it is well done and clear.The printer is 99% assembled and settles in less than 15 minutes.
Unpacking steps
- ** Release the printer ** from the protection systems used for transport
- ** Cut the plastic necklace ** which keeps the print head
- ** Remove the plastic foams **
- ** Unscrew the plastic plate ** which keeps the printer arm
Finalization of assembly
The following steps are:
- ** tighten the 3 screws ** under the tray
- ** Set the purge system ** to the printer arm
- ** Fix the rear cap holder **
- ** Place the PEI tray **
On the printer side, it’s over!
Installation of AMS Lite (system automatic system)
AMS Lite installation steps
-
** Install the four bike racks ** on the AMS CAUTION: Bob holders have two colors (green and yellow) On the AMS, you also have corresponding color benchmarks
-
** Install the foot of the AMS **
-
** Connect the ptfe tubes ** There are 3 sizes and 5 tubes The two shortests go to the left of the AMS The longest go to the right The one is for the use of the rear bobbin holder
-
** Place the Tube PTFE ** clip and the printing head power cable
-
** Connect the AMS to the printer **
Important limitations
- ** You cannot use the rear bobbin holder ** When the AMS is disconnected
- ** We cannot use both at the same time **
- The A1 Mini can only manage one AMS even if there are two connection ports
First start and configuration
The first start allows you to configure the printer:
- ** Choice of language **
- ** Choice of the region **
- ** Connection to your wifi **
- ** Connection to the Bambu Lab application **
- ** Machine calibration **
Once finished, the printer is ready to print!
The touch screen
Features
- ** 2.4 inch screen ** with IPS touch slab
- ** Resolution of 320 × 240 pixels **
- ** clear interface ** but some messages are not translated into French
Use
- ** Sometimes little responsive **: we click with your fingers or with a stylus and it clicks next to it
- ** Allows you to launch prints ** that are on the SD card
The Bambu Lab ecosystem
Bambu Lab has built a complete ecosystem around its printers that includes:
Bambu studio
It is the slicing software (Slicer) supplied by Bambu Lab, based on Prusaslicer.
Makerworld
This is the 3D file database provided by the manufacturer: [https://makerworld.com/froquer(https://makerworld.com/fr)
Bambu Handy
A mobile application that gives access to its printer and the makerworld.
Cloud features
Thanks to the Bambu Lab cloud and the printer wifi, it is possible to print directly from Bambu Studio and Bambu Handy.
On Makerworld, in addition to the raw files (STL, OBJ, STEP), there are printing profiles made by users that you can send directly to Bambu Studio.
SD card
The printer is provided with an SD card that contains:
- ** Example files **
- ** Storage of files ** coming from the cloud (the printer has no memory)
- ** Backup of videos ** of the camera
The surveillance camera
Features
- ** Low FPS camera ** but sufficient for surveillance
- ** Integrated light ** to improve shooting
- ** Possibility to hide the lens ** of the camera
Features
- ** Live remote diffusion **: Observe the progression of printing at any time
- ** Time-Lapse **: Automatic creation of accelerated print videos
Here is a short film that shows you a Time Lapse, a normal recording and vision via Bambu Studio:
Print tests
Single -couleur printing
Speedboat Race (benchy)
I started by printing the speedboatrace, released in ** 18 minutes **, which is very fast!
Results :
- The impression is beautiful
- Light wave defect on one side of the benchy (normal given the speed)
- It is one of the most beautiful benches I printed
Printing time comparison
Here are some printed objects from the SD card.Comparison for a benching 3D:
| Printer | Software | Layer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ** Bambu Lab A1 Mini ** | Bambu Studio | 0.2 mm | ** 43 min ** |
| ** Sovol SV06 ** | Prusaslicer | 0.2 mm | 71 min |
** Conclusion: ** Printing in a single color is fast!
Printing in several colors
Multicolored results
Multicolored printing gives ** very good results ** and it’s impressive!
** Points of attention: **
- It lengthens printing time
- It generates a lot of waste (purge)
Compatibility of filaments
Tested and compatible brands
AMS can manage 4 coils and accept several filament brands:
** ✅ Compatible without modification: **
- Overture
- CC3D
- Iboss
- Bambu Lab
- Elegoo
- Jayo
- Gratkit
** ✅ Compatible with modification: **
- Anycubic (enlarge the central hole)
- Sunlu (with adapter)
- Geeetech (with adapter)
** ❌ Not compatible: **
- Prusament (coil hole too small)
RFID BAMBU LAB chips
Bambu Lab coils have a ** RFID ** chip which allows you to configure the coil automatically in the AMS (type of filament, color) and Bambu Studio collects this information.
Printer and after -sales service
Official documentation
To help you maintain your printer, Bambu provides a Wiki:
- ** A1 mini **: [https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/a1-viliquerriel(htps://wiki.bambulab.com/en/a1-vini)
- ** AMS Lite **: [https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/ams-litequoquer(https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/ams-lite)
Wiki is in English, but with translations in browsers, it is very easy to understand it.
After-sales service
For the after -sales service, I opened a ticket for a printer point and they answered me very quickly.
Replacement of the nozzle
One of the strengths of maintenance is the replacement of the nozzle:
Price and availability
- ** A1 mini alone **: € 319.00
- ** A1 Mini + AMS Lite **: € 489.00
** Note: ** Currently, there is a reduction of € 50 on the A1 mini.
Point after 6 months of use
I am still as happy with this printer, to the point that I bought a news without the AMS Lite.
Cardboard contents (recent version)
** Note: ** Here more gifts, just the printer and accessories.
Conclusion
It is a very good printer **, fast, which achieves quality impressions, very good for a beginner or for people who do not want to pay their printers for days.Calibration is 100% automatic.
Strengths
- ✅ ** fast **
- ✅ ** Quality printing **
- ✅ ** The Bambu Lab ** ecosystem
- ✅ ** very easy to use **
- ✅ ** The engines are silent **
- ✅ ** The replacement of the nozzle **
Weak point
- ❌ ** The noise of fans **
Recommendation
I always recommend this printer if the print volume suits you.
This article is an updated version of my personal blog article.