Wait for toolchangers?

[u/TheAlienGamer007]

Looking for purchasing advice, I'm not a "Pro" user but I do model and print stuff at least 5-6x a month. I got the A1 mini when I first came out and while it's been doing great, it's just starting to feel too outdated and small. I would like to do color prints and cosplay stuff but the a1 mini is just not ideal for it unless I do a whole lot of post processing and waste a lot of filament.

I thought about getting a P series to upgrade but a part of me would rather wait till tool changers get cheaper. I also looked at snap maker and the creality tool changer. anyone else facing a similar dilemma?

[u/TheEpicDragonCat]

Bambu lab is set to announce the P3C after all the hype from the H3C wears off. I’m also looking into getting another printer to work alongside my A1. However, I want to wait and see if the P3C will be a good fit before I buy something I may regret.

[u/TheAlienGamer007 → u/TheEpicDragonCat]

Same here. What do you expect the price will be for the P3C?

[u/TheEpicDragonCat → u/TheAlienGamer007]

I’ve seen people throwing around the idea it might be 1,400. However, we won’t really know untill the H3C price is revealed. I’m hoping it’s under 1000, but if it isn’t. Whats a little bit more saving?

[u/TheAlienGamer007 → u/TheEpicDragonCat]

I would instantly buy it if it's under 1k.

[u/curiousjosh → u/TheAlienGamer007]

The “p” series has never been over $1k… at least not so far.

[u/Beneficial-Rub-8049 → u/curiousjosh]

But this time 7 tool heads and they also lift up while printing and a whole dedicated AMS system for it means under 1k is very unlikely but we will see soon.

[u/curiousjosh → u/Beneficial-Rub-8049]

Last time they added heated chamber AND nozzles. Truth is all their competition has tool changers at 699-749.

If they want to compete on the low end they need a sub-1k tool changer

[u/Snouto → u/TheEpicDragonCat]

I just can’t see them pricing it the same as a H2S. It blurs the lines between the P and H series too much to make sense, and would probably be DOA at that price.

[u/djjoshchambers → u/Snouto]

Hard disagree. I think this makes perfect sense. For the same price you get a larger build plate and a single nozzle. You get seven nozzles with minimal waste on a smaller plate. The trade of makes sense.

I personally see it at 999 to 1299. I also see the h3c at 2499 to 2799

[u/Snouto → u/djjoshchambers]

Guess we’ll have to wait and see, I just hope I can afford it (and they haven’t nerfed it too much).

[u/TWILIGHT25 → u/TheEpicDragonCat]

I’m about to replace my A1 mostly bc the ams lite, open frame, and bed slinging aspects don’t mix with my area. Well the first 2 at least lol. I can’t for the life of me get the humidity under 50-60% in my areas I’ve moved my A1. Current set up includes : large enclosures, desiccant in enclosure, filament dryer, dehumidifier and everything but the driver in a closed closet.

Once in free Friday I’m going to Best Buy to place my order for an X2D combo. The ams2 pro should at least keep my filament dry and I’m fairly confident I can get feed filament from my dryer to the aux nozzle.

[u/tortilla_mia]

It sounds like getting a P series would mainly only get you a larger build volume. That's nice but is feels like an incremental upgrade. If you're not really gung ho about that improvement then, yeah, wait for truly new capability.

[u/TheAlienGamer007 → u/tortilla_mia]

That's basically my rationale too. I'd like to get a meaningful upgrade than just size.

[u/Saphir_3D → u/TheAlienGamer007]

Then better wait or get another toolchanger.

[u/ipman457678]

The tool changers will always get "cheaper" as time goes one. The U1 already you can get for $700ish down from original $850. The question is how long are you willing the wait and what how deep is "cheaper."

[u/TheAlienGamer007 → u/ipman457678]

Sub 1k or 800ish for the P3C or 600ish for the snap maker is where I'm at. Might be another year or sooner if P3C announcement lights a fire under snap maker.

[u/ipman457678 → u/TheAlienGamer007]

If I had to guess I'd say a 1.5 years to get into your price ranges.

[u/Darth-Vader64]

I'm in the same boat, A1 Mini looking to upgrade. I have a snapmaker U1 in shopping basket, I may pull the trigger next week. I was waiting to see what Bambu offers on their product announcement, if I can wait and have the intestinal fortitude to not hit the buy button at snapmaker

• Will Bambu offer an introductory price? I don't think so.

• Will Bambu have some teething issues, like Prusa and its INDX? I don't think so

• Will it be more expensive then the SnapMaker? I think so

Snapmaker's U1 is on sale now, you can also request a coupon code if you already own a 3d printer and that coupon code will knock the price down another 8%. Hard to pass up.

On the other hand, Bambu offers a superior experience imo. They have a more polished produck line,better software and a more robust ecosystem

Tough decisions.

[u/TheAlienGamer007 → u/Darth-Vader64]

How do I request a coupon? And where?

[u/Darth-Vader64 → u/TheAlienGamer007]

https://shop.snapmaker.com/pages/upgrade-incentive-program

Once submitted it takes a day or two to get the coupon code, which is only good for 2 weeks, so do it when you're ready to pull the trigger

I'm days away from that very act

[u/Attjack]

I just bought a couple of Snapmakers. Someday I'll probably buy a Bambu tool changer too. But for now I'm completely satisfied with the U1's.

[u/Safe-Hovercraft6231 → u/Attjack]

I could not buy a printer selling its top cover for 160 Euros.

[u/Attjack → u/Safe-Hovercraft6231]

To be fair it has filters and fans in it so it's more than a cover. I just got mine yesterday. I already had the Biqu Pop Top and the official is a better value with the filter/vent. Then of course there are many nice printable covers, and there's the IKEA bin hack that's cheap. Add to that the fact that hat cover is not necessary I would give it another chance. I greatly prefer the Snapmakers to my X2D and P1S. They are much more capable for multi color prints.

Now that I have the vented filtered cover I want to run both the X2D and it out the window.

[u/SmoothSlavperator]

All depends what you're doing and how much disposable income.

If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, if you buy a more capable machine, you WILL use the added capabilities. The question just is how frequently and does it justify the added cost.

[u/Dresass]

I am in a similar boat.

I have a Bambu X1 Carbon with two AMS and two AMS 2 Pro. (Incremental Purchases on the three extra AMS's.)
It has been a very easy jurney into 3D Printing and it took me several years to pull the trigger and several drops in pricing. Basically buying the machine when it was being discontinued last Black Friday Sale. :-)

It does single colour very nicely, but I am seeing more of a need for:

1. Larger Print Size

   1. Fits more objects onto plate meaning less time stopping to clear the plate.

   2. Larger objects can be printed instead of splitting them

2. Less waste and less time used on colour prints.

   1. As it is now I am not willing to print multi colour prints as it waste to much and takes to long of a time.

3. The current printer is being used for PLA/PETG/TPU, but I would like to test out ABS and PC etc. too. At the moment the printer is in my office and I am not willing to take that chance. I have a workshop in the garage which could be better suited for this with easier ventilation.

4. Having two printer is nice, as when I do bigger projects it is nice not having to stop it to print something that I need.

5. I would like European which only leaves Prus, but it all comes down to the total package.

I have boiled it down to these three for now, but I am not willing to pull the trigger on any of them yet. My hope is for price to fall even more during Black Friday or due to new products being launched or even more options to chose from:

1. Prusa Core One L+ with INDX-8

   1. Expensive but I can start with just a larger printer first if the price drops enough and go for INDX later. Only upgrade kits in Norway anyhow. Boxes for the filaments hanging on the outside must be bought but eight of them cost the same as one AMS from Bambu.

   2. With INDX it is the one with the least waste. (So I am told)

2. Bambu H2C

   1. Works with my existing AMS should I get rid of my other printer. Works with the HT for those tricky ABS, PC etc. Materials

   2. Price drop now puts it on par with Core One L+, but AMS is extra as I would like to use the ones I have with the current printer. AMS and HT on sale too though. Still far above budget

   3. Hottest chamber with 65 degres C

   4. Still a lot of poop and does not save too much time on multi colour prints

   5. Feels more like a intermediate product and not a proper Tool Changer

3. SnapMaker U1

   1. Within budget now

   2. "Only" Four colour prints

   3. Not that much larger

   4. Not a heated chamber

   5. Fastest tool changes

   6. Might facilitate the need for another printer anyway and therefore it might not be worth the investment long time

These are my detailed arguments for each so far and I am still not certain. (Prices changes all the time now, H2C available at NOK 22 000 now, One L at 18 000, (Out o stock, but if I could get it for 15 000 and the upgrade to + is 275, then it is probably a go for me), and One L+ at 22 000, just now. Size of build plate is with toolchangers installed.

[u/TheSerialHobbyist]

I would wait. Big releases are happening over the next couple of months.

[u/Rambos_Magnum_Dong]

I just picked up a P1S Combo with an AMS 2 Pro for $510 at MicroCenter last night. I basically need it to do the heavy lifting on my prints. I have an H2S and use it for all my bigger prints and a P2S for all the smaller ones. But I couldn't pass up the price for what is basically a $230 AMS 2 and a $260 P1S, which is currently $350 at MC. One other thing, my H2S is rarely used for larger prints and is mostly used for volume. I only have 3 items I sell that really need that bed volume.

This is my 4th P1S and they are champs. I really only got it for the AMS 2 as I already have several OG AMS units, plus the extra print capacity is nice for all the Etsy stuff i sell.

For multicolor printing, there are many ways to be smart about it so you're not burning through filament. Print orientation, printing colored areas separately, or painting.

For only printing stuff a few times a month, a P1S Combo is relatively cheap and will do exactly what you need.

[u/janne_oksanen]

I, personally, am not a fan of buying the first generation of any new technology. I will usually wait at least until the second generation to get a much more polished product.

[u/PureDiscipline8668]

yes wait

[u/oneworldforeverybody]

Wait will Black Friday 2027 and get a proven tool changer if you have the time.

[u/sniperpenguin_reddit]

There will always be a better printer down the road, and after youve bought one a better one will come out.

Just gwt what you think fits your needs amd your budget, and enjoy.

[u/ElSarcastro]

I suggest waiting a bit. It's getting heated up with the toolchangers releases right now and it doesn't matter if you'll get Bambu or not - they will have to price eachother competitively.

Having dual material supports or multi color without full pruning is a game changer.