My odyssey into the realm of 3D printing commenced some five years back with the acquisition of a Prusa Mk3. That machine was a veritable fortress, impervious to the whims of fate. Yet, truth be told, my enthusiasm waned swiftly. The allure of the medium eluded me, lost amidst the clutter of the workshop. Once the novelty of printing sundry baubles wore thin, I cast it aside, consigning it to the depths of a closet, forgotten.
Then, about a year ago, a new contender emerged on the scene. Enter the Bambu Lab X1, heralded as a paragon of speed, reliability, and adorned with an array of accoutrements promising to transmute 3D printing into a plug-and-play affair. I fell hook, line, and sinker for their marketing spiel.
And the Bambu didn’t disappoint. Prints that used to take 3 hours were taking less than an hour and the machine seemed every bit as reliable as my old MK3. There were other positives as well:
While the Bambu uses Prusa’s open source slicer, they added so much functionality that it feels like a much more modern software package. Unlike the MK3, you can actually send prints from your computer to the printer over the cloud. Gone are the days of moving SD cards around. On top of that, the X1 features a camera – allowing you to monitor your prints anywhere you have an internet connection.
Plus, the X1 is fully enclosed – granting passage to exotic filaments previously beyond reach. Things like ABS, ASA, and different carbon fiber blends print without headache and not much more thought than earthly filaments like PLA. Not only that, but my X1 came packaged with an AMS that allows me to conveniently print in multiple colors.
I’d go as far as to say the X1 was the perfect 3D printer for me… Until it wasn’t. In January, my AMS system bricked itself – rendering the printer useless. I quickly created a support ticket with Bambu and waited… and waited… Three weeks went by before I got any kind of contact from Bambu. And over six weeks and many hours on my part were spent before I had a working printer again. In the end, I had to disassemble the AMS myself, diagnose the issue, and then request the parts from Bambu to fix the damned thing.
It was a nightmare of sorts… and I made my voice heard on various forums, Reddit, and anywhere else I thought Bambu might have eyes. Ironically, it wasn’t Bambu’s attention that I caught. It was Prusa’s. A few weeks after I got my Bambu back up and running, a packaged arrived.
“Ryan, we saw your trials and tribulations with the Bambu and thought you might want to give the MK4 a try.”
Now, the MK4 is not a new printer. In fact, most would consider it a generation behind the Bambu X1. Configured as a bed slinger (as opposed to the X1’s core XY), bereft of an enclosure (though one may be procured separately), and beholden to the same venerable slicer as its Mk3 forebear. Yet, it boasts the ability to print from one’s terminal, albeit with a modicum more effort and deliberation.
Despite these disparities, the MK4 is every bit as fast as the X1 and the print quality is every bit as good if not a little better. The damned thing just prints… and prints… and prints… And while these prints might take a little more effort on the MK4, those efforts are often rewarded.
As mentioned, I’ve owned a couple of Prusa printers in the past and have never had a reason to contact support. However, word from most is that their support is over-the-top good and very quick to respond. Prusa built the 3D printing industry we know today and they have earned a reputation.
And that brings me to another consideration… Bambu is a new Chinese owned company. That doesn’t bother me so much, but the amount of data they might or might not collect is concerning. As mentioned earlier, most of your prints go through the cloud that is both owned and managed by Bambu. The extent of their data gathering remains shrouded, yet the potential for privacy infringement looms large in my estimation.
At present, both the X1 and the MK4 hold court within my lab. Since its travail, the X1 soldiers on, capably executing any task laid before it. The MK4, ever steadfast, has yet to yield a subpar print. Yet the question persists: “With $1500 burning a hole in my pocket, which printer should I procure?”
Without hesitation, my preference inclines toward the MK4. It is the Toyota of 3D printers – unassuming, unpretentious… through storm and tempest, it perseveres. And should calamity strike, Prusa stands ready to right the ship.
Meanwhile, the Bambu X1, a veritable Lamborghini amongst 3D printers. Bedecked with finery, fleet as the wind, and alluring in its allure… Yet when misfortune descends, one may safely surmise their “service department” to be otherwise engaged, ensconced in latte-induced reverie.
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If any of you have any questions about these printers or 3D printing in general, fire away… I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.
