Bambu Lab launches A1 mini and AMS lite for accessible multi-color 3D printing: technical specs and pricing

Nominate now for the 3D Printing Trade Awards 2023. 

Desktop 3D printer producer Bambu Lab Has launched the A1 mini and AMS lite, their latest FDM multi-color 3D printer providing.  

This new desktop 3D printer gives 4-color functionality, automated calibration, energetic move fee compensation, energetic motor noise cancellation, and a 180x180x180 mm³ construct quantity. 

An entry-level product, Bambu Lab claims that its latest 3D printer will carry high-end, state-of-the-art options to novices, making multi-color 3D printing extra accessible to extra individuals.   

The A1 mini and AMS lite combo could be pre ordered now via the Bambu Lab on-line retailer. The preliminary product batch is about to be dispatched from native warehouses in mid-October.  

A set of Bambu filament colours is included in every A1 mini and AMS lite combo retail package deal, together with a random thriller field. Bambu Lab recommends that prospects use the Bambu Useful App to scan the QR code on the thriller field for extra directions.   

Key options of the brand new A1 mini 

The A1 mini arrives pre-assembled, pre-squared, and pre-tuned. Thus, Bambu Lab claims that the brand new 3D printer works proper out of the field, with no meeting or adjustment necessities. 

All calibrations are dealt with by the A1 mini. The Z-offset, mattress degree, and X & Y axis vibration resonance are all robotically calibrated earlier than every 3D print job. The A1 Mini additionally comes outfitted with a brand new nozzle stress sensor, which robotically calibrates the move dynamics.

Bambu’s latest 3D printer additionally incorporates an all-new touchscreen UI that’s billed as being easy and intuitive. The UI’s IPS touchscreen is alleged to make operation as clean as a smartphone, with the system guiding customers via all 3D printing steps and helping with any points concerning the HMS system. What’s extra, because of the brand new MakerWorld platform, the A1 mini can load preset recordsdata within the 3mf format, with customers capable of begin 3D printing with only one click on.

The A1 mini can also be simple to keep up, that includes a Fast Swap Hotend. This consists of solely a single clip, permitting for fast and straightforward hotend removing. Certainly, your complete hotend swap course of could be accomplished in beneath 30 seconds, with no digital connector concerned within the course of.    

Bambu Lab’s latest 3D printer has additionally been designed with aesthetics in thoughts, sporting a delicate coloration scheme and clear CMF design. In step with its title, the A1 mini possesses a comparatively small footprint, measuring 347x315x365 mm³. Taking over barely extra floor area than an A4 piece of paper, the A1 mini can match into numerous workspace environments.  

Energetic Motor Noise Cancellation expertise can also be added to the brand new A1 mini. Bambu Lab claims that this successfully reduces motor motion noise, leading to a quieter 3D printing expertise. As soon as turned on for the primary time, the A1 mini will conduct a motor calibration course of to calibrate the vibration traits of the 3D printer’s particular motors. 

Reliability can also be highlighted as being a key draw of the A1 mini, with the 3D printer that includes all-metal rails and linear bearings. All steel rails present additional rigidity and accuracy than conventional plastic V-wheels. Furthermore, the A1 mini’s construction requires minimal tuning and upkeep, making it extra accessible to novices. 

The A1 mini’s drive system is protected by a canopy, serving to to stop accidents and interference from exterior particles. The coated Z-axis additionally retains the consumer’s fingers clear from the soiled screw rod. 

Bambu Lab claims that its latest providing additionally possesses the “most superior” filament monitoring methods in the marketplace. Not like most 3D printers which possess filament runout sensors to detect filament presence, the A1 mini measures the existence of filament, its pace and odometry, the strain above the extruder, and the stress beneath the extruder. This enables customers to watch filament runout, tangles on the spool, and slips on the extruder. 3D prints are additionally robotically paused every time an issue is detected, with the HMS system capable of precisely pinpoint what the problem is.

The Bambu HMS code system has been designed to be particularly user-friendly, permitting particular issues to be shortly and simply identified by trying up the particular code. Moreover, all consumable components are modular and straightforward to swap, making half substitute handy and reasonably priced.

Quick 3D print speeds are additionally highlighted as being key to the brand new 3D printer. Certainly, the A1 mini can 3D print at as much as 500mm/s, with a prime acceleration of 10000 mm/s². Vibration calibration for each the X and Y axes is carried out at the start of every 3D print job, making certain high-speed 3D printing accuracy. 

Most 3D printers in the marketplace use preset values which stay unchanged all through the 3D printing course of. Nonetheless, the A1 mini calibrates the values earlier than every 3D print, accommodating for 3D printer pressure and setting temperature. Moreover, an Eddy Present sensor is situated on the hotend, measuring extrusion stress earlier than 3D printing. This compensates the extrusion move fee, making certain secure extrusion all through the 3D printing course of. 

Multi-color 3D printing with AMS lite 

The AMS lite is a brand new and up to date model of the unique AMS, enabling easy and straightforward multi-material 3D printing. This new AMS possesses fewer components than its predecessor and exposes the entire maintenance-intensive components, enhancing reliability and making it extra maintenance-friendly. As an illustration, Bambu Lab claims that it’s “tremendous simple” to take away a snapped filament from the PTFE tube.  

Bambu RFID readers are additionally added to AMS lite, enabling automated filament synchronization. As such, AMS lite can robotically detect and sync Bambu filament varieties with Bambu Studio, optimizing the 3D printer profile accordingly.      

Bambu Lab has knowledgeable 3D Printing Trade that AMS lite is suitable with the A1 3D printer collection, while the unique AMS is suitable with Bambu Lab X1 and P1 3D printers. 

By way of materials compatibility, Bambu Lab claims that the AMS lite is suitable with the identical supplies as the unique AMS. As such, the AMS lite can use a number of filament supplies and colours. Nonetheless, versatile filaments similar to TPU, TPE and absorbent filaments like PVA “needs to be averted with the AMS lit,” in line with Bambu Lab.  

Technical Specs and pricing 

The A1 mini is priced at $299 USD and the AMS lite is available in at $249 USD. Each merchandise can be bought collectively because the A1 mini and AMS lite combo for $459 USD. 

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Featured picture reveals the brand new Bambu Lab A1 mini and AMS lite. Picture by way of Bambu Lab.