While the build volume is small, the printer is fast and simple.
Couple that with the four-color AMS Lite, excellent community, and remote connectivity for under $500.
Yeah, it’s pretty great.
A picture of the A1 Mini, AMS Lite and parts, tool kit, filament swatches, sample filament, and lamp kit.
1.Price and availability2.Getting started3.Software and ecosystem4.Print quality5.Competition6.Should you buy it?
3D printing can seem daunting to many people.
Heck, it can even seem magical.
Bambu Labs is working to solve much of that with the A1 Mini.
Disclaimer: This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by Bambu Labs.
The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.
The printer was the first non-enclosed unit, serving as an entry-level product.
Since then, the company has released a larger model, the A1.
One is for the printer alone, for $299.
However, if you want to start with the AMS Lite, you’re looking at $459.
That’s because it ensures that everything is level and properly calibrated.
It’s awe-inspiring how well this works.
I was now ready to set up my first multi-colored print using the AMS Lite.
But the variant used for those machines won’t work for the A1 Mini.
The AMS Lite can hold up to four spools of filament.
This means the system will automatically recognize the bang out and color being loaded.
But, I used plenty of non-Bambu Labs filaments with the A1 Mini.
When loading these into the AMS Lite, you will enter the throw in of material and the color.
A picture of the A1 Mini, AMS Lite and parts, tool kit, filament swatches, sample filament, and lamp kit.
This all comes into play in the slicing software later.
The Bambu Labs A1 Mini can print PLA, PETG, TPU, and PVA materials.
However, the flexible TPU does not work well in the AMS Lite.
A1 Mini empty build plate and a box to catch print scraps.(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Bambu Labs A1 Mini: Software and ecosystem
OK, so you have a great printer.
But without great software to go with it, that machine isn’t going to do much for you.
This is part of what makes using a Bambu Labs printer so great.
Purge tray at the end of the printer rail(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
As for using Bambu Studio, it is a pretty good slicer.
It is based on PrusaSlicer by Prusa Research, but the company has its own twist on it.
All the expected options exist for layer heights, infill, supports, speeds, and more.
Test Benchy at standard print settings and speed(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
However, the addition of the AMS Lite and multi-color printing adds a wrinkle to the typical printing process.
This is where that part about entering the key in of material the color from before comes into play.
These colors are what become available to you within the “painting” process.
Purple and black “fuzzy” teddy bear
While the software gets the job done here, it can be a bit finicky.
Because a design you are working on in Bambu Studio is 3D, making it multi-colored can be tricky.
The Paint tool has a few options within it to help.
Bambu Handy app device tab screenshot(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
One that can be super helpful is the Smart Fill tool.
Assuming the design is initially created properly, it works very well.
Some are flat, and others are 3D, which is great for curved surfaces.
Bambu Handy app discover tab screenshot(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
That would be perfect!
When printing in multi-color, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
It can create a lot of waste, which I’ll dive into more in the next section.
Bambu Handy app deisgn tab screenshot(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
The other thing to keep in mind is the print time.
Changing the filament on the Bambu Labs A1 Mini takes some time.
The included stainless steel nozzle can reach up to 300C and the print bed 80C.
Bambu Handy app deisgn tab screenshot(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
These temps allow the A1 Mini to crank out great quality from various materials.
When I say crank out, I mean it with a print speed of up to 500mm/s.
But keep in mind that the faster the printer goes, the lower the output quality.
MakerWorld browser screenshot design print example(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Generally, I had very few issues with the printer with any of the materials I tried.
Below are some pictures of single and multi-color designs, larger PLA/PETG prints, and a small TPU design.
The camera on the A1 Mini is bad.
Bambu Studio single color design loaded(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
A better camera and viewing experience could help allow the users to manually intercept issues more easily.
A better camera and viewing experience could help allow the users to manually intercept issues more easily.
Above, you’re free to see a few of the failed prints.
Bambu Studio “painting” a design(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Others were clogged print nozzle issues that I could not find a reason for.
After the highly frustrating cleaning process, it was printing normally again.
I have to say that changing out the print nozzle on the A1 Mini is a very easy process.
Bambu Studio filament flushing ratios(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
The Bambu Labs A1 Mini starts out at $299 by itself, with no AMS Lite.
That is a great price considering all that the machine, software, and ecosystem offer.
But none offer the ability to do multi-color printing.
Bambu Studio Single color design print times(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Babmu Labs A1 Mini: Should you buy it?
The AMS Lite brings multi-color printing to the well-integrated ecosystem for under $500.
Though small, the Bambu Labs A1 Mini with the AMS Lite is a powerhouse.
Bambu Studio Multi-color design print times(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Print up to four colors automatically in a single design opens up amazing possibilities.
What really makes it all work is the excellent automatic machine calibration, software, and integrated ecosystem.
Multi-color print of a Grinch holiday design
Transparent PETG moon lamp(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Transparent PETG lamp shade(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Red and white PLA holiday puzzle(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Red and white PLA mini house(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Up close showing layers of White PLA print(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Desk organizer in White PLA(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Black TPU ring(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Failed print in white PLA(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Failed print in black PLA(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Layer shifting on multi-color print(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Clogged nozzle with red PLA spilling out(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Up close image of the print nozzle housing after a clog(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Windows Central)
Babmu Labs A1 Mini fully assembled with AMS Lite
Babmu Labs A1 Mini fully assembled with AMS Lite and a desk organizer
