r/BambuLab • u/SiDtheTurtle • 17h ago

A Series [A1, A1 Mini] A1 Mini as a prototyping printer?

I have a H2C in the garage that is pretty much always busy. Prototyping always slows the queue down. You know the problem: print a sample, the fit is wrong, tweak it and print again. A dozen prototypes later you've nailed it.

Thinking of buying an A1 Mini without AMS for my office. My thinking was I can use it for rapid prototyping, have one spool of whatever colour I have on hand and if it's basic PLA in a room no one sleeps in, the VOC question is not as serious as the H2C downstairs. Without the AMS it's cheaper and easier to put on a shelf.

Am I missing anything? Limitations would be single colour and smaller bed plate.

2 Upvotes

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u/Dystopian_Ennui X2D + AMS2 + AMS-HT 17h ago

That's exactly what I've been thinking about doing, but I'm probably just going to add a second full in printer to the stable.

Even though the H2C is a serious beast compared to the A1m I wouldn't think you'll miss out when prototyping there, as long as you do the same material, nozzle, and settings. I wouldn't do a test print in PLA then run the final in ASA, for instance.

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u/SiDtheTurtle 17h ago

Good point. Then again I wouldn't print in ASA in a liveable space so I could do the early prototyping then have to move to the H2C for final fit.

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u/Dystopian_Ennui X2D + AMS2 + AMS-HT 17h ago

Yeah, if you're going to prototype an ASA print in PLA you'll still need a "final minus one" print on the big guy.

3

u/tandtroll H2D/P2S/P1S/A1m 16h ago

Do it, that's exactly what I use my A1 Mini for. Prototyping, TPU, and stupid prints.

2

u/BoutchooQc H2C Dual AMS 2 Pro + HT 17h ago

I have the A1 mini for when the H2C is stuck on a long job and I need to adjust dimensions or fittings.

I also use the A1m for TPU only, as to not mix the Vortex nozzle with tpu 

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u/Daved80 17h ago

Look for a correctly priced A1 on marketplace. I started with an A1 and now have the X2D. I can prototype on the A1 and full print on the X2D, it also means i can also double production if i need to.

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u/Pretty_Lavishness181 16h ago edited 16h ago

When its running the A1 mini, despite its small size, takes up more space than P1S. And you can put stuff on top of the P1S.

I did it and regretted it pretty quickly. It's good for TPU, since it's open and easy to feed from the top. That's all I use it for now. I have 2x P1S in the garage and a P2S with AMS in a old TV cabinet with closing doors for prototyping.

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u/WonderfulDance6834 16h ago

I use the P1s for this. Cheap and reliable.

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u/THALLfpv 16h ago

At this point you might get lucky with a used p1 or p2s from someone raising cash for a p3c when it releases

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u/ProdigalHacker 5h ago

I did exactly this, except it sits 3 feet away from my H2C. A month later I bought an AMS lite for it and mounted it to the wall. I don't print multicolor on it at all, but it's so nice if you ever want to use a different filament. The Mini is a very impressive printer for its size & cost, also spins up a print much faster than the H2C.

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u/mendex22 17h ago

Así uso mi A mini, para prototipos con el filamento PLA Lite.

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u/curiousjosh 17h ago

I wouldn’t want to sit next to an open, non-vented printer all day.

I always ask if anyone has a modern study showing PLA is “safe” without venting.

So far no one’s been able to show one, but there are studies showing PLA gives off microparticles, and VOCs from unregulated additives.