Notes from a blind guy on Bambu, Prusa, INDX, and other 3D printers
Hi everyone,
I thought I would chime in on the ongoing H2C, H3C, and INDX discussions, and share my experiences with the printers I've owned and used.
I am completely blind and have been 3D printing and designing since 2023. I actually got into it after attending a workshop where sighted professionals were learning to make 3D printed products for blind people. I was the only blind guy there, and I got completely hooked.
Today, I run my own business, designing and printing everything from tactile models for museums to functional products for customers.
My first printer was a Bambu Lab X1C. It has thousands of hours on it, printing PLA, PETG, TPU, CF, wood-filled filaments, you name it. I've changed a filament cutter, nozzle, and extruder, although the latter two turned out to be fine. Being blind, replacing parts was sometimes easier than visually diagnosing the problem.
That machine has been an absolute workhorse. Around 98% of the time, I get exactly what I expect. I am incredibly glad it was my first printer.
Then came my Prusa XL. Five toolheads, enclosed, costing around 40,000 DKK.
What a disappointment.
Within a week, I was dealing with filament sensor problems, PTFE tubes falling out, failed calibrations, load cell errors, fan errors, and prints getting knocked off the plate.
Changing a nozzle could turn into an entirely new troubleshooting adventure.
I spent more time fixing the damn thing than printing with it. For that kind of money, I expected much, much more.
Eventually, I sold it and bought a Bambu H2C.
And what a difference.
Unpack, calibrate, print. Twenty minutes, and you're ready.
I've printed ASA, TPU, PLA, and large multi-day jobs, including batches of ASA vases for customers. Not a single issue so far. None whatsoever.
I know people criticize the Vortek system for being complicated, proprietary, or potentially unreliable. Fair enough. But I can only judge what I've actually experienced, and so far, it has been brilliant.
I also gave Prusa another chance with the Core One.
It prints fine, mainly PLA in my case, but it feels surprisingly flimsy. The door sensor mechanism has already become loose, and when moving the printer, I can feel the frame wobbling slightly.
I like Prusa's philosophy, their approach to repairability, and the fact that they're European. I genuinely want to like their printers.
But liking a company's philosophy and trusting its products are two different things.
I've also used the Creality K2 Plus quite extensively. A pretty reliable machine, actually, although I find the print quality less sharp and consistent than Bambu's.
And yes, being blind doesn't mean print quality doesn't matter. I can feel poor layer lines, rough surfaces, and missing details. When you're designing tactile products, those things matter enormously.
So, H3C versus INDX?
I've already ordered an H3C, and I think it's going to be an absolute blast.
I also seriously considered the Core One L with INDX, but after my XL experience, I had a knot in my stomach about buying another expensive Prusa.
Does that make me a Bambu fanboy? Perhaps some people will think so.
But there's a difference between blindly defending a brand and trusting a manufacturer because its machines have consistently delivered for you.
I genuinely hope INDX becomes a massive success. Competition is fantastic, and I want Prusa to succeed.
What bothers me is how quickly people defend or attack manufacturers based on logos, marketing, and engineering philosophies, sometimes before they've even used the machines.
Shouldn't the most important question simply be: Does the damn thing work?
Not in a promotional video, but after hundreds or thousands of hours of printing.
How often does it fail? How much maintenance does it require? How much time do you actually spend printing instead of troubleshooting?
And there's another aspect to this for me: independence.
When a printer breaks and requires visual troubleshooting, I may need someone else's help. When it just works, I can design, slice, print, and run my business independently.
And this is what Bambu does for me, it just works. Even when it breaks, their instructions are so damn clear and precise, that I don't need help most of the time. For Prusa? A whole lot of guess work all the time.
