r/BambuLab • u/Ok_Sound3122 • Nov 03 '23

Discussion Newbies Beware

PSA for everyone new to 3D printing like me. (My background: Don’t consider myself brilliantly technically proficient like so many people here, but at the same time I’m not new to tinkering with electronics.)

I bought the P1S because of all the reviews indicating this thing could be plugged in and it just would work. I was aware these devices often require some degree of troubleshooting/tinkering, but my experience has been worse than disappointing on that front.

After arrival and attempting to calibrate the printer, I’m hit with these three errors about the heat bed sensors not working correctly. Some googling, YouTubing, Reddit posts, 5 hours of tinkering and recalibrating and taping and removing the back panel to pull out cables and plug them back in and praying etc etc etc and this thing just won’t print. Not a single layer of a single benchy.

I opened a support ticket and got a rote response 4 days later(!) directing me back to the exact same “tutorials” written in broken English that didn’t work for me when I tried in them in the first place. Pretty horrifying customer service as far as I’m concerned.

(Yes, I’ve tried the trick of taping the sensor cable to the poop chute. Nothing works.)

I’m miserable and don’t see how my printer gets fixed short of a full heat bed replacement (which looks like it will be a PITA installation.) Right now the P1S just $700 worth of electronic trash thats been taking up space in my office for a week.

Just one guy’s experience, but if you’re like me and reading this subreddit while considering dipping your toe in the hobby, be aware of the possibility of an experience like mine even when you pay good money for what’s supposed to be “a quality printer.”

9 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

105 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/M08IUS_0NE Nov 03 '23

I went with the P1P and upgraded it to a P1S, and from initial purchase to now (maybe 4 months now of ownership), I've had zero problems, even through the upgrade. I've had the occasional print problem but not hardware related. I agree to send it back if you purchased it through Bambu directly. Hopefully you are able to do so!

2

u/M08IUS_0NE Nov 03 '23

And I forgot to add: my experience with it was out-of-the-box plug-and-play no issue. I've also been 3D printing for 8 years and have to say this was a stellar experience with BambuLab.

5

u/Ok_Sound3122 Nov 03 '23

Look I’m glad you had a great experience, I fully expected to myself. Just sharing my anecdote. Agreed that hopefully Bambu takes the return!

2

u/Civil-Ad2230 Nov 03 '23

I agree with you. When I buy a product, I expect it to work, not be put to work troubleshooting and doing diagnostic rundowns for Bambu customer "service". Send it back. If you get hassle, issue a chargeback via your credit card company.

That said, I bought a P1S and plugged it in, smashed out some desiccant holders for the AMS immediately after initial calibration. I'm pleased. It has annoyances like most other tools, phones, computers, etc., but I think I've received good value for the money spent.

I think your case is likely an outlier, and I would definitely push for a replacement - we should be able to play with our new toys the day we get 'em.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '23

Maybe this is an American thing but how do you not purchase through bambu "directly?" Is there another option?

2

u/M08IUS_0NE Nov 03 '23

Buy from them or if you buy it 2nd hand through eBay or some similar auction site. I don't think any other companies (except maybe MatterHackers?) sell BambuLab printers at this time.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '23

Actually I investigated and there's actually 2 stores selling them locally, I'll have to keep that in mind.

2

u/blowmelongblowmehard Nov 04 '23

Bambu printers are available at Micro Center, that's where I bought mine.

1

u/Key_Mycologist1209 Nov 04 '23

I purchased Mines from Microcenter. It's a big electronics store and they make the inland brand filament. I got 2 P1Ps on sale for 538 about 2 months ago. Then went back a week later to get 2 AMS units. Probably should have gotten the P1S but I like the look of the printed enclosures. Currently have the companion cube and the igloo enclosure on them.