BambuLab A1 Mini, testing with PLA, PETG, TPU. When to use AMS?

Summary

In this tech review, the presenter introduces the A1 Mini 3D printer, highlighting its speed, ease of use, and auto-calibration features. With a build volume of 180mm and a max nozzle temperature of 300°C, it's suitable for PLA, PTG, and TPU materials but not for ABS or ASA due to bed temperature limitations. The printer's $249 price point for the base model and $399 for the combo with AMS light is noted. The video explores the printer's capabilities, including color printing and material efficiency, emphasizing the importance of printing multiple objects at once to minimize waste. The presenter also discusses the printer's energy efficiency and its suitability as a second printer for hobbyists, especially in regions where energy conservation is a concern.

Takeaways

• 🖨️ The A1 Mini printer is a fast, beginner-friendly device with full auto calibration and a maximum printing speed of 500 mm/second.
• ⏱️ It boasts a quick benchy print time of only 14 minutes, showcasing its efficiency.
• 💰 The printer is affordably priced at $249, with a combo package including the AMS light available for $399.
• 📦 The build volume is 180 mm in the X, Y, and Z directions, suitable for a variety of small to medium-sized prints.
• 🔥 The maximum nozzle temperature is 300°C, adequate for PLA but not sufficient for ABS or ASA which require higher bed temperatures.
• 🌡️ The bed temperature can be set as low as 80°C, which is suitable for PLA but not for materials like ABS or ASA that need higher temperatures.
• 🎨 The printer is capable of color printing with materials such as PLA, PTG, and TPU, offering creative flexibility.
• 📊 The video emphasizes the importance of material usage efficiency, suggesting strategies to minimize waste during color printing.
• 🏡 The printer's compact size makes it an excellent choice for beginners and as a second printer for more experienced users due to its energy efficiency.
• 🌐 The reviewer highlights the printer's quiet operation, with noise levels at approximately 46 dB from half a meter distance.
• 🔩 The video includes a demonstration of the printer's performance with various materials and a discussion on the printer's suitability for different printing tasks.

Q & A

What is the maximum printing speed of the A1 Mini printer mentioned in the script?

The maximum printing speed of the A1 Mini printer is 500 mm per second.

What is the maximum acceleration of the A1 Mini printer?

The maximum acceleration of the A1 Mini printer is 10,000 mm per square second.

What is the build volume of the A1 Mini printer in terms of X, Y, and Z dimensions?

The build volume of the A1 Mini printer is 180 mm in X, Y, and Z directions.

What is the maximum nozzle temperature for the A1 Mini printer?

The maximum nozzle temperature for the A1 Mini printer is 300°C.

What is the minimum bed temperature required for printing with ABS or ASA materials on the A1 Mini printer?

The minimum bed temperature required for printing with ABS or ASA materials is 100-105°C, which is higher than the A1 Mini printer's capability of 80°C.

What is the current price of the A1 Mini printer without the AMS light?

The current price of the A1 Mini printer without the AMS light is $249.

What additional features come with the combo package of the A1 Mini printer?

The combo package of the A1 Mini printer includes the printer and the AMS light.

What is the price of the combo package that includes the A1 Mini printer and the AMS light?

The price of the combo package that includes the A1 Mini printer and the AMS light is $399.

What are the advantages of having a smaller printer like the A1 Mini for beginners?

Smaller printers like the A1 Mini have the advantage of requiring less energy and having a smaller footprint, making them suitable for beginner users who want to enter the 3D printing world.

What is the AMS light and how does it benefit the printing process?

The AMS (Automatic Material Switching) light is a feature that allows the printer to switch between different filaments automatically, which can be beneficial for multi-color printing without manual intervention.

What is the recommended bed temperature for printing with PLA material on the A1 Mini printer?

The recommended bed temperature for printing with PLA material on the A1 Mini printer is 70°C, although the presenter usually raises it a little bit.

What is the user's opinion on when it is worth using the AMS feature for color printing?

The user believes it is worth using the AMS feature for color printing when the weight of the object itself is heavier than the waste material, suggesting a 50/50% limit as a personal threshold.

Outlines

00:00

🖨️ Unboxing and Overview of the A1 Mini 3D Printer

The presenter introduces the A1 Mini 3D printer, highlighting its fast printing capabilities with a maximum speed of 500 mm/second and acceleration of 10,000 mm/s². The printer is plug-and-play with full auto calibration and can print a bench in only 14 minutes. It has a build volume of 180 mm in X, Y, and Z directions and a maximum nozzle temperature of 300°C, suitable for PLA and other recommended materials, but not for ABS or ASA due to the 80°C bed temperature limit. The printer is priced at $249 for the base model and $399 for a combo with the AMS light. The presenter discusses the printer's suitability for beginners and as a second printer for more experienced users, emphasizing energy efficiency and the smaller footprint of smaller printers. The unboxing reveals the printer, an AMS light, tools, spare parts, a user manual, and filament samples. The presenter notes the lack of a spool for sample filaments, which could pose challenges for beginners, and the need for better packaging for the foam inserts.

05:01

🔧 Setup and First Impressions of the A1 Mini

The setup process for the A1 Mini 3D printer is described, including the installation of the AMS light, securing the heat bed, and preparing the printer for use. The presenter notes the printer's thermal isolation, which should result in low power consumption. The AMS light is connected, and the printer is networked and calibrated automatically. The presenter opens new filaments and begins printing, discussing the printer's capabilities and the quality of the first prints. The video shows the printer's speed, the quality of overhangs and bridging, and the efficiency of the printer's use of materials. The presenter also discusses the printer's noise level, which is quite low, and the overall quiet operation of the machine.

10:02

🎨 Color Printing and Material Efficiency

The presenter explores color printing with the A1 Mini, discussing the efficiency of using multi-color prints versus single-color prints. They analyze the material waste associated with color changes and provide examples of when it might be worth using the AMS for color printing. The video includes a time-lapse of a multi-color print and a discussion on how to optimize print settings to reduce waste. The presenter also demonstrates the use of the AMS for printing objects with different colors and analyzes the material usage and printing time for various scenarios, including printing multiple objects at once versus single objects.

15:03

🔩 Testing Print Quality and Filament Performance

The presenter conducts tests on the A1 Mini's print quality using different filaments, including PLA, PTG, TPU, and PG. They perform a bond test to measure the pulling force of printed objects and compare the results with different bed temperatures and filament types. The video shows the successful print of a test object and a discussion on the importance of proper bed temperature for adhesion. The presenter also prints with TPU, noting the need for an external spool holder due to the AMS's incompatibility with TPU. The video concludes with a summary of the printer's performance, the presenter's recommendations for using the AMS, and a call for viewer suggestions on future printer comparisons and reviews.

Keywords

💡3D Printer

A 3D printer is a device that creates three-dimensional objects by successively adding material layer by layer, based on a digital model. In the video, the 3D printer is the central theme, with discussions around its features, capabilities, and the process of printing various materials. The A1 Mini printer is highlighted for its speed, ease of use, and the quality of prints it produces.

💡Plug and Play

Plug and Play refers to a device or system that is designed to be easily connected and configured with minimal user intervention. In the context of the video, the A1 Mini 3D printer is described as a Plug and Play device, emphasizing its user-friendly setup process, which allows beginners to start printing with minimal hassle.

💡Auto Calibration

Auto Calibration is a feature in some 3D printers that allows the printer to automatically adjust its settings to ensure accurate and precise printing. The video mentions full auto calibration as one of the printer's capabilities, which helps in achieving consistent print quality and reducing the need for manual adjustments.

💡Print Speed

Print speed in 3D printing refers to how quickly the printer can lay down material to create an object. The video emphasizes the A1 Mini's high print speed of 500 mm/second, which is beneficial for users who want to print objects quickly without compromising on quality.

💡Acceleration

In the context of 3D printing, acceleration refers to how quickly the printer's print head can change its speed. The video mentions a max acceleration of 10,000 mm per square second, indicating the printer's ability to start and stop quickly, which can affect the overall print time and the printer's responsiveness.

💡Build Volume

Build volume is the maximum size of the objects that a 3D printer can create. The video specifies the A1 Mini's build volume as 180 mm in X, Y, and Z directions, which sets the limit for the size of the objects that can be printed and is an important consideration for users planning their prints.

💡Nozzle Temperature

Nozzle temperature is critical in 3D printing as it affects the melting and extrusion of the filament. The video mentions a maximum nozzle temperature of 300°C for the printer, which is suitable for materials like PLA but not high enough for ABS or ASA, indicating the material compatibility and temperature limitations of the printer.

💡AMS Light

AMS Light, or Automatic Material Switching Light, is a feature that allows the printer to switch between different filaments automatically during the print job. The video discusses the AMS Light as part of the combo package, which enhances the printer's capabilities for multi-material prints, although it also brings up considerations regarding material waste and efficiency.

💡Material Compatibility

Material compatibility refers to the range of materials that a 3D printer can process. The video discusses compatibility with PLA, PTG, TPU, and the limitations with ABS and ASA due to temperature requirements, which is crucial information for users to select the right printer for their material needs.

💡Power Consumption

Power consumption is an important factor for 3D printers, especially considering energy efficiency and cost. The video mentions the low power consumption of the A1 Mini due to its thermal isolation, which is beneficial for users who are conscious about energy use, especially in regions where energy is a luxury.

💡Bed Adhesion

Bed adhesion is the process of ensuring that the first layer of the print sticks well to the print bed. The video discusses the bed adhesion temperature settings and the use of materials like PLA and TPU, which is crucial for successful prints, especially for beginners who need reliable adhesion for their projects.

Highlights

The A1 Mini printer is a fast and beginner-friendly device with full auto calibration.

It can print a bench in only 14 minutes with a max speed of 500 mm/second.

The printer has a max acceleration of 10,000 mm per square second.

The A1 Mini is priced at $249 for the printer alone and $399 for a combo with the AMS light.

The build volume is 180 mm in the X, Y, and Z directions.

The max nozzle temperature is 300°C, suitable for recommended materials but not for ABS or ASA.

The bed temperature can reach 80°C, which is enough for PLA but not for ABS or ASA.

The printer comes with a user manual, filament swatches, and a stand for the AMS.

The AMS light is capable of accepting carbon spool filaments.

The printer has a nice thermal isolation feature, which results in low power consumption.

The AMS light can be used for color printing, but the video will analyze when it's worth using.

The printer is suitable for beginner users and can be used as a second printer due to its small size.

The unboxing reveals the printer, AMS, tools, spare parts, and filament samples.

The printer's packaging includes a two-sided texture sheet and a securing element for the heat bed.

The AMS light installation is straightforward, with clear markings for cable connections.

The printer comes with an SD card slot and is ready for automatic calibration after setup.

The printer's noise level is approximately 46 dB at half a meter distance.

The video demonstrates the printer's capability with PLA, PTG, TPU, and color prints.

The AMS light is shown to be effective for color printing, but the video discusses strategies to minimize material waste.

The video concludes that the A1 Mini is a great printer for beginners, especially when considering material usage and printing strategies.

Transcripts

hello welcome to my tech fun bam sent me

A1 Mini to present on my channel this is

very fast best Leal C the printer great

for the begin it is Plug and Play

printer with full auto calibration and

it is able to print bench in only 14

minutes the max speed is 500 mm/ second

and 10,000 mm per sare second is the max

acceleration it has a permanent price

drop I think for the printer now

currently it is

$249 and $399 is the combo together with

the AMS

light the build volume 180 mm in X Y and

Z Direction and the max nozle

temperature is 300° celi which is good

enough for these materials which they

recommend to use uh but the bad

temperature is 80° Celsius this is far

enough even for the PG but not enough

for the ABS or ASA so even if you place

this inside the enclosure properly you

are not able to print these materials

because they required 100 105° celius on

the B side interface now my marketing

contact told me that there are many

videos with the technical analyzis and

they asked me just to present the

printing possibilities so this is what I

will do in this video I will just print

with these materials pla ptg TPU and

also I will do some Color Prints and

I'll try to explain you to understand

when I think it is worth to use this AMS

color printing and when I think it is a

little bit waste of the materials I'm

not talking about how to reduce the

purge material something like that but

more like how to spread the Parts in X

and Y Direction try to print more

objects at once and similar I also got

this kit number three this is some kind

of marble run component and then send me

some filaments so let's un box and start

with the printing uh one more thing

smaller printers has the advantage this

size is big enough for beginner users

who wants to enter into CD printing

world but having it as a second printer

uh me personally I always choose to

print something on smaller printer if

possible and actually 95% of my

printings can fit on this size because

smaller bed surface requires less energy

and somehow the energy became quite a

bit luxury at least here in Europe not

sure what is the situation in

us okay let's see what's

inside the packaging is good in this

black foam but I couldn't place it back

to be same as the original form I'm not

sure how they do it but when I remove

the printer and AMS this black foam

packaging requires more space and it

cannot fit into this box anymore so this

printer must have some negative volume

or something like that but we have to

keep this box in case of the return or

warranty problems this is content of the

Box this is the main you the printer and

we have this two-sided texture Pi

sheet this is the AMS and parts this is

a stand for the EMS we have some tools

and spare parts user

manual and then we have this uh filament

swatches these are color sample cards

and we have different types of the pla

but also I can see some PG ABS samples

to

nice the only thing I don't like in this

kit is this sample filament without

spool I mean if this is printed for

beginner user in that case they should

place the sample filament on some small

spool or similar because the beginner

users don't really know that what kind

of problems he may have with this kind

of sample

filaments this black part looks like it

is part of the printer but actually this

is just a securing element

maybe they should do it this in red

color or something like

that I have to tie these three screws to

lock the position of the heat bed here

but I will do this in horizontal

position I also noticed that this bed

has a nice thermal isolation from the

bottom so the power consumption will be

very

low The Purge wiper or nzo

cleaner the spool holder installation

now let's prepare the AMS

light this B will cut the thread into

this

plastic these are marked and each of

them goes to its own place green and

yellow and now connecting the ton tubes

we have two long two middle and one very

short press down inside the tube

and it will lock the position for nicer

Cable

Management plug in the AMS

cable and there is the SD card slot oh

it's already inserted and the hardware

installation is finished maybe I needed

approximately half hours together with

the recording now it's time to turn it

on connect to the network and then to do

some calibration and start with the

printing and with this I socket I can

also measure the power consumption my

wife wanted to move the printer and she

grabbed the first obvious thing and

that's the x-axis so I think definitely

some kind of handle should be added here

on the top or at least some threads and

then the user can print some handle and

attach to it or maybe even a spool

holder if I don't want to use the AMS I

want to have the direct path oh I almost

forgot

[Music]

connected to network and now I will add

it to my

app okay success the app reminds me that

I have to remove few things I already

did this confirm now it will start with

automatic calibration which takes about

12

minutes noise cancellation in X

Direction in y

direction vibration

compensation ready for

printing I not open new filaments I we

use this ones and big advantage of this

AMS light is that it can accept carbon

spos

too AMS loaded it's ready for

printing cleaning the bed with isoy

alcohol speed Bo raise bambo P

mm it starts with the leveling at

cleaning the nuzzle maybe it could level

only the bed on that surface where the

printing will be

placed oh it's even recording the

Timeless but I forget to remove the foil

from the

camera

okay and the last element is the chimney

oh it's

finished Quick Check of the bed adasion

which I know it is rate on this text P

until it's hot the surface cool

down but even now it SS good the quality

is amazing from this small printer this

is really perfect Beni look at this

overhang first layer maybe this bridging

is only uglier on the back

side otherwise perfect Beni one string I

can see on the

front yes when I take a closer look

actually I can see that it is a little

bit more optimized for the speed this

window on the back side should be Circle

well for the Beni it needed a 0.04 KW

hours but I will do now this printing 2

and 1/2 hours the honeycom organizer and

this will give us more accurate

measuring this printing will be 2 and 1

half hours and it uses Approximately 80%

of the build surface not sure is it

visible on camera too but absolutely

perfect for

layer oh it's speed it up

now nice progress the printing is at 45

%

perfect except the

brim interesting there's a three color

Beni but the printing time is only half

hour so maybe that color change is by

layers but we'll

see I can choose the spools now but I'm

not sure which will be where print

it already had the first color

change and this was the second color

change and it looks like this will be

the last color change because it doesn't

use the Prime Tower

anymore and chimney the last element on

the

Beni this is a half hour Beni this means

a good quality because it had only two

color changes this is additional maybe 2

minutes and this is the Vas material

which is not

much interesting bench in it has good

quality too but again I don't really

like that back window it should be more

rounded this is 1 Hour

Printing let's play some

basketball even my daughter wanted to

try this one failed but she will get a

lot of opportunities

later for this kind of printing you

really need a better which you can trust

to

a screw gauge and it looks like it will

be in two

color Okay started with the white color

and this is what I wanted so properly

the numbers will be in Black printed in

45 minutes and this is much more

readable compared to this one which I

printed earlier and this is all the

waste material It

produced so this is M5 screw and the

length is 10 mm a scrapper is the next

one this is a second layer much faster

than the first one this is the view from

the camera we have the picture maybe

every 2 seconds so it is good for the

preview but not good enough for the

YouTube video a great example where it's

printing one object at a

time it finished two objects and now

printing the third one but you have to

be careful with

this one color change and no WI toer

and this is the only waste

material these two color D6 dice will be

my next object after importing into

bamboo Studio I can change the colors or

the filament for some objects and with

this I can get two colors and we will

analyze this material usage later this

is speed up timelaps video and as you

can see the tool head spends more time

to a side than with the printing for for

every flame and change it needs 2

minutes approximately it's finished but

let's take a closer

look the quality is great no question

about that even the first layer but if

you compare this is the waste material

compared to the used material but uh

let's analyze the numbers a little bit

so this is our example from the video I

have two color one object and uh the

weight of the object is approximately 5

G and the VTE material is almost 18 G of

of course if it would be one color then

we don't have the waste but if I would

spread 30 pieces on the bir surface in

that case the waste material will be the

same but the weight of the object is

bigger let's check this on this graph so

if I print only one piece at the time

this is the weight of the object and

this is the waste material but if I

would place a 30 pieces on the Bas

surface this is the weight of the

objects and this is the waste of the

material and look at these times this is

the time per one piece for one color one

piece two colors one piece and two

colors 30 pieces time for one object in

my next example I have this gear bearing

first I will split it to objects and

then I will select some elements to be

in a different color and with this we

have these gears in different material

we will analyze the numbers later this

is only the first layer and this will be

overnight printing good morning

but this is the amount of the Bas

material again we have the same gear

wear ring and this time I'm using the

field tool and I will color only the

bottom and top layers of the gears and

if I slice the object you can see only

first few bottom and top layers are in

different color and here I measured the

color changing time this is the

start and this is the end as you can see

approximately 2 minutes

it's almost

finished more or less the color effect

is similar but now I analyze the amount

of the waste material this is the first

example where those gears were

completely different color and this is

the second example where I use that

field tool and only few top and bottom

layers are in different color and big

differen also in the printing time

another example let's say we want again

that this six Dice and I will use this

gear barar ring to flash material into

it because this is just a fidget toy and

it is not important what color is it and

just to show you why we have less waste

these are Purge materials from the

previous Printing and these are from

this printing we can see the transmiss

of the colors on these

gears the noise from half M distance

approximately 46 DB even for the feeling

it is very quiet machine I'm less than

half m distance from the hot end and

properly you can clearly hear my voice

and the noise is not

disturbing it will be finished in 40

minutes it's finished let's check the

quality no surpris this quality of this

cube is great and as you can see the

colors are clean so definitely this big

object is big enough for the purge

material

waste material when I printed only this

Dice and the Prime

Tower the waste material when I printed

this second cube with the bear ring and

approximately half of the weight I

thought the difference will be bigger

but even then this is good progress this

is a data from the slicer and this is

the first time I experienced bigger

difference between the measured values

and the data from the slicer but even

then the difference in the VTE material

is quite

obvious two more quick examples when I

think it was worth using the EMS these

are my business cards and the background

is two layer thick and even the letters

are two layer thick it was printed in

this position and actually this can be

printed with the one color printer too I

designed and printed this for my wife

she needed a holder for two cards and it

was printed in this position so this is

the first layer and actually for this we

really needed the

AMS and now let's print something from

PG this is the thr sent version and I'm

very about the bed cion on 80°

C it should be enough def setting is 70°

CI usually I raise it a little bit but I

will leave it as it is now this object

is for my regular Bion test maybe you

saw it in earlier videos I will measure

the pulling force in kilogram and

anything between half and 1 kogam is

good value uh I will not go above 1

kilog until the bed surface is hot

because I don't want to damage it the

contact surface is 20 x 10 mm and the

height of the hole for the pulling arm

is 30

mm printing is finished I will set the B

temperature to stay on 70°

CI

0.85 this is good but it could be even

better if I would go up to 80° CI which

is the maximum for this bit

surface let's try to do something simil

similar but with TPU filament I never

tried this B test with the TPU filament

and for the TPU I cannot use the AMS so

I have to place it there to external

spool holder and size it is very hard to

unplug this tubes so in the tool head I

will just use this ton

tube and connect it

here external spool TPU

load I check the different settings and

for the TPU is 30° celius well I change

it to 35 usually I'm going up to 40 the

start is good and I can even see some

retraction okay we're 1 kg so I will

stop

here and TP goes back to the reable bag

don't forget the TP is very hydroscopic

filament and when the bed cool down is

still six good only I forget to enable

the camera but on text tool Pi we don't

need more than 30° celi and it prints

great TPU look absolutely no stringing

in this

hole and as a conclusions for the end I

still think that this is great printer

for beginner users that's why I try to

explain a little bit better when I think

it is worth using the

AMS even if a family members ask me to

print something for them in color even

then I will print it only if the weight

of the object itself is heavier than the

waste material for me that 50/50% is

somehow the limit I hope in near future

the bambol will come out with some tool

changer or idex printer in that case we

don't have that waste material ah yes

another idea for the bigger object uh

you can use the infield to flashh the

filament now small printers have the

advantage less energy is used and also

they have a smaller footprint well here

it's a little bit tricky actually

because the printer itself is quite

small but don't forget we need some

footprint for the AMS and we need some

kind of box or something on the other

side to catch the

poops I think the A1 is a little bit

better from this aspect because there we

have a solution that we can mount the

AMS on the top of that printer and with

that we can uce that footprint actually

I have a one in the Box waiting for the

review and I'm asking you what kind of

review you would like to see there I'm

thinking to compare it with the p1p

which is my number one printer for the

pla material but I'm also waiting your

suggestions down in the comment section

until that thank you for watching and

happy printing