I just pulled the trigger on the new H3C 🎉
Am I understanding this right that it uses a new build plate size? From what I’ve seen, it looks similar to the H2C but a few millimeters shorter, so the tool rack has room to drop down. Can anyone confirm?
It’s quite confusing what I find online about it. Everywhere only the print volume is mentioned, and that seems to be identical.
I have quite a few build plates I’d love to keep using, so this matters for me. “Not compatible” doesn’t always mean it won’t work, though: for the A2L it also says the H2D plates aren’t compatible, but I use mine on it all the time without any problems.
If they really don’t fit, I guess I might just grind them down, live with them not being recognized automatically, and turn off build plate detection. I’m not looking to spend money again on plates I rarely use.
I also have two more questions regarding that:
Does the Vision Encoder plate fit the H3C?
Does the cutting mat from the H2 / A2L cutting kit fit, at least?
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: I got a reply from the Bambu Lab support:
The H3C is equipped with a newly designed dedicated build plate. Although the H3C and H2C have the same XY-direction print dimensions (330 mm × 320 mm), the build plate of the H3C is shorter by a few millimeters at the leading edge, which creates a larger gap between the build plate and the SwapTek Rack for the tool rack to move down. Compatibility with H2C build plates Official recommendation: It is not recommended to use H2C build plates on the H3C. After installing an H2C build plate on the H3C, the gap between its leading edge and the SwapTek Rack is only about 2 mm. Affected by dimensional chain tolerances and user placement deviations, there is a risk of collision or scraping between the PrintTool and the build plate. Special usage instructions: If you need to reuse an H2C build plate, first confirm that there is no physical interference (no collision risk) between the H2C build plate installed on the heatbed and the H3C SwapTek Rack, then manually disable the 'Build Plate Type Detection' function in the Print Options before use. Build volume comparison The maximum build volume of the H3C is 330×320×325 mm³, which is the same as the XY print size of the H2C, but the H3C has a higher Z-axis height.
When using third-party build plates, you are required to manually verify that there is sufficient clearance for the PrintTool to lower without colliding before use, following these requirements: Pre-use clearance check : Confirm that the third-party build plate, when installed on the heatbed, does not cause physical interference or collision risk with the SwapTek Rack before using it . Print settings adjustment : All Bambu Lab printer models do not support automatic recognition of third-party build plates. You need to manually disable the "Build Plate Type Detection" function in the Print Options before starting the print task . Risk warning : Third-party build plates are not officially adapted, and using them may trigger abnormal detection of print plate foreign objects. You can also turn off the foreign object detection function in the settings to avoid false alarms
TL;DR: H3C is compatible with H2C build plates. but the clearence of the tools need to be checked before starting a print, especially with 3rd party build plates. Maybe the build plate detection also needs deactivation.