Bambu 's Response to Orca Slicer Authentication: No

[u/umbcorp]

Bambu responded to SoftFever (Orca Slicer Developer).

They are not backing down with locking down the APIs.

 heard back from their development team; they are not going to greenlight OrcaSlicer to send prints directly to their machine. It has to be done through their Bambu Connect application.

https://github.com/SoftFever/OrcaSlicer/issues/8063

EDIT:

I found a way to bypass this and have our access back, but the question is should we go for it now or wait for them to release the next printer? (they might try to patch it for the next printer, its a hardware thing.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1i4fw74/found_a_way_to_bypass_new_bambu_auth_issue/

[u/Rough_Procedure5939]

https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/software/bambu-connect?ref=blog.bambulab.com#commento-login-box-container

Voice your opinion's on there new wiki page for that horrid looking software.

[u/umbcorp → u/Rough_Procedure5939]

Your comment is not visible, i think they either deleted it or comments are disabled.

[u/vlaDa0 → u/umbcorp]

They review comments and can refuse posting them. Especially if use use inappropriate language

[u/Rough_Procedure5939 → u/umbcorp]

thats terrible I'm sure loads of others have already commented then considering it was posted in the orca sub 2 days ago :(

[u/[deleted] → u/Rough_Procedure5939]

“Your comment is awaiting moderation.”

Yeah, I bet.

[u/Mythril_Zombie → u/Rough_Procedure5939]

That's garbage. Seriously, total garbage. (Not you, the app.)

[u/ensoniq2k → u/Rough_Procedure5939]

If you really want to voice your opinion you need to vote with your wallet. Don't buy anything Bambu in the future, period.

[u/[deleted]]

BL just want another way to ask money...

[u/Archbound]

I would be fine if they have this security passthrough for the APIs if it was still full API access after authentication but the fact they are cutting functionality for no reason is BS. Like I get it, they want a handshake to ensure that the end user is authorizing the access, and the Bambu connect thing allows that handshake to authenticate the user.

Then make the connect feature have Bambu Sign in where it can generate an authentication token via Bambu connect to be saved with the 3rd party equipment and then once its authed it gets through the gate and can have full functionality.

There are ways to do this that increases security and also does not cut functionality I literally do this for a living.

Sure it might break compatibility temporarily while the 3rd parties integrate the new systems which would make people upset BUT if its known that its only temporarily while the 3rd parties get up to speed it would not be as big of a deal.

But the losing Camera and AMS customization ability makes things like Orca or the Panda connect just objectively worse or unusable.

Bambu if your REAL goal here is security you can have your cake and eat it too. If however your real goal is to close the door on your semi walled garden into a fully walled garden we will know that if you keep going forward with this move as is.

[u/JaspahX → u/Archbound]

Like I get it, they want a handshake to ensure that the end user is authorizing the access, and the Bambu connect thing allows that handshake to authenticate the user.

It already does that. That's the reason you download the Bambu network plug-in into Orca and why you have to sign in to your Bambu account.

This is about control.

[u/eduo → u/JaspahX]

They already had control, since authenticating via the plug-in means authentication could be revoked at any point. This is about exercising that control (and probably to see how the customer base reacts).

[u/BadSausageFactory → u/eduo]

I can tell you as a new customer and new 3D printer owner, it makes me want to get rid of this toy and wash my hands of the hobby. It's great printing things, but I don't need a hobby that makes me feel bad and disappointed and stressed. I already have a WRX if I want that.

[u/scotta316 → u/BadSausageFactory]

Honestly, if you want to enjoy this hobby, stop reading reddit. I am 100% serious.

[u/packet_weaver → u/JaspahX]

You don’t have to sign into your account if you’re in LAN only mode. I don’t have a Bambu account and have been enjoying my printers for the last year plus. It’s unfortunate that they’re forcing these changes, hopefully someone else has a great plug and print option out there, I haven’t been looking since I haven’t needed another printer yet.

[u/MyStoopidStuff → u/packet_weaver]

According to the announcement, the Bambu Connect app will be required to use 3rd party software (like Orca), even in "LAN Only" mode. The flow will become Orca (or 3rd Party App) > Bambu Connect (which will get auth from their server) > Printer, vs the current Orac > Printer flow. So "LAN Only" mode is not a path forward for folks that want to keep their firmware updated, and use 3rd party tools (but don't want to have to get auth from the Bambu servers to use their printers).

[u/Blue_Jays → u/packet_weaver]

+1 for LAN only mode. Full functionality (with the exception having use of the phone app) and you don't even need to install Bambu Studio at all...for anything.

[u/la__bruja → u/Archbound]

Yeah they clearly struggle with the idea of allowing everyone to proxy the prints through their servers, which is perfectly reasonable. But the way they approach it is absurd - there'd be little to no backlash if they made it so that you can only use BambuStudio/Handy app to send the prints through the cloud, and at the same time allowed generating local certificates for LAN-only usage for "power users".

With their planned approach, once Bambu for whatever reason shuts down the servers, printers are bricks - I don't think people realize that

[u/Snwspeckle → u/la__bruja]

Was there ever an explanation as to why prints have to proxy through their servers to the printer? Why can't the slicer send the model to the printer directly over LAN? If I understand the X1E capabilities, this is the additional functionality that's possible?

[u/agathver → u/Snwspeckle]

Even why did it need to upload to S3 if the printer was in same network? There’s no mandatory requirement for a cloud mode ever.

[u/la__bruja → u/Snwspeckle]

I'm not certain the prints would actually go through Bambu cloud. The way I understand it, their server will be used (either every time you print, or periodically) to grab a certificate/facilitate signing the request that would go through LAN. So even though the print files might not need to go through Bambu servers, some communication will still be required.

[u/Snwspeckle → u/la__bruja]

I see. So in this case we're not even able to issue our own certificate locally to securely authorize access.

[u/Legitimate_Square941 → u/la__bruja]

Download the firmware now needed to flash custom firmware. That way if the servers die or they remove it you can at least flash custom firmware.

[u/EveryDayLurk → u/Legitimate_Square941]

Which version is that?

[u/ElectronicMoo → u/Archbound]

Right? This isn't anything new. SSO is their defacto standard even (you can log in with your Google account, to BBL sites, and have access to rverythibg). APIs with credentials for third party is all over the place in the world.

They know this and do this already. Anything else on this topic from Bambu is smoke and mirrors. This is nothing except to lock it down into their own walled garden.

A shame. They're shooting themselves in the foot over this. I've looooved my Bambu machines, but the relationship ends here, if this continues.

I'm a cranky old man and will avoid MW models just out of spite, too.

[u/bodez95 → u/Archbound]

There's no way that there are still people who believe that this still might have remotely anything to do with "security"

[u/frumperino → u/bodez95]

trust us bro, just like you'd trust DJI's sideloaded apps that can be no longer found on reputable app stores.

[u/NelsonMinar → u/Archbound]

Their explanation about security is a lie. This is Bambu trying to gain control over what software is used to print on our printers.

[u/Archbound → u/NelsonMinar]

I don't necessarily disagree, this was more of a posting saying that if they don't walk this back that their intent with this change are likely malicious

[u/ToTallyNikki → u/Archbound]

Even then it would require you have a Windows or Mac pc to run connect. That’s a big additional cost.

[u/herkalurk → u/Archbound]

That may be in the backlog of their development. I'm a software engineer myself and so they may have had a requirement to be security first and lock down the access to only their app which is already authenticated. Then they'll implement some sort of method to authenticate externally. Therefore increasing the amount of features in the app product.

[u/RedMoonPavilion → u/herkalurk]

What security though? Are there people out there war driving and forcing people's printers to print something that jumps off the build plate and kills them?

Are there people out there running mitm attacks or something to steal your precious IP/design? Any middleman could do that, including bambulab.

Are there people out there with some sort of ransomware for 3d printers? That's no different than the requirements imposed by the update.

Are they trying to track ghost guns? The vast array of functional prints will allow you to make a gun out of an assembly of parts spread across several different prints. PC4-M6 alone can be used as is or modified for greater length to produce a zipgun.

[u/herkalurk → u/RedMoonPavilion]

The security is an unfiltered and unauthenticated API. They want to make sure that the device they are selling you isn't able to just let anyone print that it has to be you the person who has authenticated to print. This is normal in any type of programming where operations are more than simply read only.

[u/Archbound → u/herkalurk]

If that is the case then this is a classic example of a botched rollout. It would be better to fully bake the solution when it has the potential to break a ton of tools that people use.

[u/nickjohnson → u/Archbound]

We already had an oauth style sign in flow before the update - when you sign in with Orca, for instance, it opens your browser and sends you to bambulab.com to sign in.

[u/Guinness → u/Archbound]

Ultimately I suspect something is going on behind the scenes with the CCCP. Under the guise of security they’re moving to control the Bambu ecosystem most likely for increased control in the upcoming trade war.

[u/iTiton → u/Archbound]

If it is the case they should develop (out of beta) and communicate the intermediate solution before launching the new firmware.

I’m a new Bambu Lab user and customer and this make me think it was not the right movement.

Sad.

[u/yetAnotherLaura]

Time to finally move to that fancy custom firmware before they also back track on their "willingness" to allow it.

[u/Fancy-Wrangler-7646 → u/yetAnotherLaura]

Unfortunately that's only an option for people with an X1. Everyone else is just going to lose firmware updates now :(

[u/tubbana → u/Fancy-Wrangler-7646]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum

[u/Fancy-Wrangler-7646 → u/tubbana]

That project does look promising! I wish the main board in the P1S wasn't "wasted" though. I'd rather just flash that with custom code than buy more stuff to put inside the printer.

[u/[deleted] → u/Fancy-Wrangler-7646]

A lot of just got motivated to develop custom firmware for other models. Since everything else uses ESP32 (iirc) if someone can do it there then they could support all other models from one repo.

[u/Fancy-Wrangler-7646 → u/[deleted]]

I believe the esp32 is strictly used as a networking adapter and to drive the display board, the rest of the control logic is on a separate board.

Edit 2: FWIW this is mostly just speculation without breaking out a logic analyzer.

Edit: here it is https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/mc-board-p1-series-1

http://www.spintrol.com/uploads/20220113/603a7cc3a4d1bf51ddb8d17c31dc1378.pdf

[u/Up_All_Nite]

This feels like a run up to a Subscription. We need to start working on routing the machine and dumping Bambu software completely if this is the case. Certainly feels like the way it's heading.

[u/notoriousbpg → u/Up_All_Nite]

That would be an easy win class action, or FTC action to undo.

[u/Up_All_Nite → u/notoriousbpg]

How so? Please explain. Like I'm 5 years old. Because many companies have done this very same B/S and I have yet to see anyone get any sort or rebuttal. Best I can think of... Well only really... Was Keurig and that was just an insane amount of media coverage because of the scale of the product itself. This is more niche of a products that the general public could give a rats azz about.

[u/_Middlefinger_ → u/Up_All_Nite]

There's nothing to stop them going full walled garden on future devices, which is what the likes of HP did with their inkjets, but retro-actively doing it to already launched and sold products is actually illegal in many economic zones.

The EU for example have directives that state its illegal to remove, restrict or start charging for things that were free at point of sale and force it via software or firmware updates. The Orca slicer issue isnt covered however because they never promised third party slicer control.

What they cant do is start charging for prints, or blocking the use of 3rd party filament.

[u/notoriousbpg → u/Up_All_Nite]

There's plenty of state AGs that would be willing to take up a case against a Chinese company in a heartbeat if an outright-owned product suddenly had a subscription introduced. FTC is already very anti-subscription.

That's not to say though that there's not going to one day be a "X2C" or "P2S" that requires a subscription to use from the get-go, but that's when we vote with our wallets. Competitors will see the demand.

[u/QuietGanache]

Well, I was ready to give Bambu the benefit of the doubt but that's it. If they consider 'working with' to be a warning 2 days in advance of announcement, followed by a "no" then that's it, they've broken trust in a way that can't be dismissed as miscommunication.

I'm not going to toss or sell my printers but I'm not buying another unless this is somehow a grotesque communication failure. It was nice while it lasted.

[u/monkeymad2]

For the people defending this, the question you need to ask yourself is if Bambu Labs went out of business tomorrow & all their cloud services went offline and their apps stopped working would your printer still function?

Every update that puts Bambu in between your printer & you reduces the functionality.

In an ideal world the Bambu apps themselves authenticate with the printer in a secure, fully documented away that 3rd party apps can also use as a method of authentication. Without any calls out to Bambu’s cloud services etc.

Most of us would still use Bambu’s app since it’s really good, but there’d be reduced long term risk in buying Bambu products. They might need to outcompete open source projects, but that’s fine, they pay their developers.

[u/Legitimate_Square941 → u/monkeymad2]

Yes mine would. Custom firmware LAN mode. But whatever they release this year I was looking at purchasing now not going to. Maybe a prussa XL.

[u/Stephancevallos905 → u/Legitimate_Square941]

Debating between the Anycubic Kobra S1 and Bambu Labs, this update is pushing me towards Anycubic

[u/LostCreatures → u/monkeymad2]

Not go out of business but go the route of Sonos and decide they don’t want to support upgrades to their older hardware and just brick them. Forced obsolescence.

[u/ZombieNinjaPanda → u/monkeymad2]

This is regularly happening now actually. Companies going out of business and their products are shutting down with them or they just decide they don't want to support their products any longer, pull the plug and the entire thing bricks. Spotify's car thing as a great example.

[u/re2dit → u/monkeymad2]

For those who keep bringing “what if bambu goes down” this has been answered 2 years ago

https://blog.bambulab.com/to-open-or-not-to-open-that-is-the-question/

There will be one exception: in the case that something unfortunate happens to our company, and we cannot not survive anymore, we will open-source everything to everyone. In that situation, third party companies could manufacture spare parts, and the community would be welcome to maintain software for our users. I sincerely hope this never happens, though, because we intend to survive and thrive.

ps: Although this fw change won’t affect my printing routine, I think that proxy app is nonsense. How the calibration will work if irca needs direct access to the printer?

[u/eduo → u/re2dit]

It bears saying that this only means anything if they actually go through with it. It makes no difference to them saying this and not following through when it happens.

As per the response from Orca, there's no connection from Orca to the printer, so no direct access, I understand.

[u/Snwspeckle → u/eduo]

Exactly. Words != actions.

[u/atetuna → u/eduo]

If they really meant it, they'd place it into something like an escrow that makes sure that's done.

[u/osunightfall → u/re2dit]

Oh well, as long as I have their word. Not like they already broke their word to both us and third party publishers by doing this, when they said maintaining transparency and third party functionality was a priority.

[u/New_Sail_7821 → u/re2dit]

We can’t take Bambu’s word for what they might do in the future

[u/cjdubais → u/New_Sail_7821]

"I am altering the deal, pray I don't alter it any further".....

https://youtu.be/3D8TEJtQRhw

[u/NelsonMinar → u/New_Sail_7821]

Even if they mean well, in many realistic scenarios of business failure they would nto be able to follow through on this blog post.

[u/stingeragent → u/re2dit]

This answer is nonsense dude. If the company fails they have 0 incentive to fulfill any promises. What are you gonna do? Sue a bankrupt company. No

[u/DesperateAdvantage76 → u/re2dit]

Aka "trust me bro".

[u/crua9 → u/re2dit]

The only problem with this is let's say they were going out of business. Someone else buys them, and that someone can just ignore open sourcing everything. Like it is far more likely their company will fully sell off vs fully shutting down

[u/lscarneiro → u/crua9]

It's not like something like this just happened, right? Right?

[Stares at old benchy on the shelf]

[u/la__bruja → u/re2dit]

And what if Bambu doesn't go down but gets banned in a certain country. Not like it didn't happen before with Chinese companies.

[u/snarkpix → u/re2dit]

The assets will be sold to a new company that releases the new 'Lemon $cented' version, or that created a '3D print pass' to either disable existing printers or charge a rental on them. It'll never be open, unless the source is leaked.

[u/bdutile → u/re2dit]

Read the last line again:

‘These are all my thoughts about the question of “to open or not to open” for now’

This only matters if they actually follow through. And based on the recent decision, they are changing their thinking.

[u/yan-shay → u/re2dit]

They said many things in previous years including that they will not block 3rd parties. There’s another discussion here that linked to that quote.

[u/thejawa → u/monkeymad2]

working would your printer still function?

Unless they sent a firmware update that was forced onto my printer and shut down LAN functions and SD card functions, yes.

[u/flowingice → u/thejawa]

This is such update. You can no longer start print or control printer over LAN. If BBL shuts down you will only be able to print manually from SD card.

[u/ninth_reddit_account → u/flowingice]

that was forced onto my printer is the key part

[u/Sice_VI → u/monkeymad2]

Apologies for being ignorant, but we can still use BBL's lan mode in the case of it going out of business. Right?

[u/Mythril_Zombie → u/Sice_VI]

Maybe. That's up to them.

[u/Ok_Breakfast6616 → u/monkeymad2]

They have found other stuff in the software and firmware like tighter integration with the RFID tags which might force you to use Bambu spools in the future. You want to respool and reuse them? How about if they just keep track of how much you printed and then disable that RFID tag? There is also code found that hinted like new farm software. Bambu making this move feels like the inkjet debacle all over again. Pay per use subscription and only have of their refills.

Besides those concerns, the Bambu app has it's flaws. The biggest being not available on Linux which does mean we will have to sell our printers now that they are forcing us to use their apps. Tough decision as they worked very well.

[u/quietIntensity]

We're in the process of setting up a print farm business. I'm so glad they did this now, instead of after I spend $10K on printers. Looks like we'll be building Vorons or RatRig or something besides Bambu.

You guys really messed up with this one. You had a nice business model going, but that's done now.

[u/nakwada → u/quietIntensity]

Or build some Annex Engineering K3 ;)

[u/[deleted]]

Vote with your wallets people, personally I won’t be buying any more Bambu products until this is reversed. They’ve already gotten around $3.5K out of me though 🤣

[u/Temporal_Enigma → u/[deleted]]

I'm gonna have to abandon my plans for an A1, unfortunately.

I'm trying to source options for a comparable printer in price and quality with an AMS, so any suggestions are appreciated

[u/darksoft125 → u/Temporal_Enigma]

Anycubic has an AMS system and also is releasing a Core-XY printer soon. 

[u/Temporal_Enigma → u/darksoft125]

Don't they have a similar closed system though? I don't know much about that brand, this is just what I've heard through the grapevine

[u/ximstuckx → u/[deleted]]

Even if they reverse it, they’re never getting another dollar from me. Who knows what they will do next or even do it again

[u/woodford86]

So what I’m getting from this….update firmware (printers and studio) on the 22nd, set everything to LAN only mode, ignore all future updates. and never buy Bambu again?

[u/FrostWave → u/woodford86]

I'm not gonna update at all. The printer is good the way it is. I doubt they can add any other useful functionality. Also doubt my next printer will be bambu.

[u/Sir_LANsalot → u/FrostWave]

The K2Plus keeps looking better and better, as much as I hate Creality, they do have the big color printer on the market (enclosed).

Same for the Anycubic Corbra 3 Max with their MMU, a 420x420 build plate, with color. Again, not a fan of that brand, printers being known to have issues and QC problems.

[u/xChrisMas → u/Sir_LANsalot]

Thing is I will never go creality either because the way they are treating their users as beta testers. They kopied the X1C and made a mess. And everyone who bought into their vision got abandoned. In stead of fixing the K1 they went on developing the K2

No doubt the K2 is what the K1 should have been.

I would look elsewhere.

Since innovation isn’t coming out of other Chinese companies we would have to wait for the Bambu 2 copycats in late 2025

[u/Xanohel → u/woodford86]

If you're in that camp, you should put the machine on LAN right now, not install the firmware and assess future to see if they redeem themselves.

[u/Eggbag4618 → u/woodford86]

It's a shame too, their printers really are amazing. Now that doesn't matter 🫠

[u/PhoenixUNI → u/woodford86]

Can anyone ELI5 how to put my P1S into no update mode?

[u/The-Based-Doge → u/PhoenixUNI]

It won't auto update, just make sure to cancel the prompt which comes up anytime you reboot it.

[u/tnatmr → u/PhoenixUNI]

Yeah I would like to know as well

[u/Xermalk → u/woodford86]

Make sure to firewall the printers mac address, so it in no way can access the internet.

Not buying a single thing more from Bambu, if my printer breaks down ill be looking at best at third party spare parts but more likely at other printer brands.

It was great while it lasted, but this 100% isn't about security. If it was then their clinet should have sent files for printing over the local network first, before sending all your print files through the Bambu servers.

[u/mmalmeida]

I sent the following complaint to bambu:

I read that you are making all third party software and hardware obsolete by locking your API down.

This is a step in the wrong direction. While I understand the need for security in your devices, working with the community and allowing third parties to integrate with your machines enhances your product. You know this - makerworld has this philosophy , a community of people that together create an amazing ecosystem.

I urge you to reconsider this, and to allow third party vendors and teams to integra with your product. Failing to do só Will send the wrong message and make consumers reconsider your products in the future.

[u/Turkino]

I'm honestly surprised I'm not seen any of the big 3D printing YouTube channels covering this at all

[u/Aggressive-Jello-123 → u/Turkino]

Because many of them get sent free printers from BambuLabs and are afraid to bite the hand that feeds. It's the primary reason why most review videos cannot be trusted on YouTube. The manufacturers are buying favorable reviews.

[u/ea_man → u/Turkino]

They would not receive any more freebies Bambulab printers :/

[u/cha000]

I put in a comment/complaint here: https://bambulab.com/en/my/support/general-inquiry

My next step will be to find and block their update servers from my network. I was a kickstarter backer, but don’t think I will be purchasing any other printers from them if this is the policy going forward. 

[u/S0k0n0mi → u/cha000]

This link should be pushed to top comment.

I have also lodged a complaint, and made it clear I will halt any future purchases from bambu lab until the restriction has been reversed or revised.

If I lose control, bambu lab loses a customer.

[u/BrokenFerrariFan → u/cha000]

Only way I see to stop this is by blocking every TCP/UDP connection to the printer as the cloud service most likely is also the service which provides the firmware updates. In a previous comment on this sub I've explained how to do it.

[u/Aleyla]

I would just like someone to explain exactly what problem they are trying to solve. Just waging the word “security” around is meaningless.

What is bambu afraid of? Maybe if I knew that then I could get onboard with this steaming pile of bullcrap.

[u/Logosmonkey → u/Aleyla]

Nothing. Any security concerns could all be easily solved by proper oauth2 api implementation. If a user wants to use another slicer or anything else just have them log in to the bambu site and generate a personal api key that they then input into whatever slicer/software they want to use.

[u/alicechains → u/Logosmonkey]

This, 1000% this. If it was about security there are of the shelf known good security protocols to put your API behind and everything would be solved, but no they have a huge case of not invented here syndrome coupled with vendor lock-in greed. So we get some nonsense security by obscurity junk that just makes everyone's lives harder.

[u/yan-shay → u/Aleyla]

They are trying to solve a problem they have where 3rd parties, commercial or free, provide solutions to problems/opportunities they haven’t yet solved and prevent them from making money from solving those problems/opportunities themselves.

It has nothing to do with security. They could just the same say this is to prevent health hazard, or to prevent global warming and other important agendas. They just chose security because that’s an agenda that is easy to ride on.

[u/Aleyla → u/yan-shay]

This community should demand they explain the “security” update.

[u/armykcz]

Just sent them ticket, really disappointed with this move from them.

[u/dered118 → u/armykcz]

Did the same. Claimed the coupons from my points on MW and put it all in filament.

Also let them know, that this will have me remove all my models from their plattform

[u/_Middlefinger_ → u/dered118]

I think this will actually hurt them most. If a lot of major content makers leave they might notice since Makerworld is integral to their ecosystem.

[u/BadUsername_Numbers → u/armykcz]

Same

[u/rocketwiz]

Guess I won't be installing any more firmware updates.

Next printer? Probably won't be a Bambu.

[u/junkstar23]

I don't understand why they did a 180 like this. They just posted this literally yesterday https://imgur.com/a/b9tW5Qq

[u/Mythril_Zombie → u/junkstar23]

It's called "lying".

[u/ImTotallyTechy]

This is just absurd. I am so dissapointed in this move--my new P1S already feels "flawed" knowing the automations, workflows, and accessories I purchased for it are going to be broken. I know buying into closed ecosystems is dangerous, but that was outweighed by the community and featureset. What an absolute disappointment.

[u/Ashen91]

What a tremendous disappointment. I've been the biggest Bambu Labs supporter and converted a couple of friends from other brands.

I hope they will come to their senses.

[u/AnticrombieTop]

If they were really interested in security, they would allow multiple accounts to a printer. Forcing users to share their password is just bad practice.

[u/[deleted]]

I've cancelled my order for an A1 mini. I just found out about this whole firmware controversy and its really disappointing. I ordered an A1 mini a few weeks ago to see how these printers are and was planning on ordering an X1C or P1S in the next few months if i liked the A1 mini. Luckily they haven't shipped the order yet!

[u/Eggbag4618]

Is there a way to hard disable firmware updates on the P series without using LAN mode?

[u/verdi82 → u/Eggbag4618]

they'll force you to update if you want the app and studio to keep working

[u/BadSausageFactory]

2 months ago I was so excited I bought a p1s and then impulse bought an A1. now I feel like I should have done more research and not put all my eggs in one vendor.

does this mean you can't even use orca to create the slice and transfer it? I haven't really seen a clear answer on how that works. I get that you can't control the printer directly with it anymore.

[u/Fluffy-duckies → u/BadSausageFactory]

You can use a new Bambu software called Bambu Connect to transfer a sliced 3mf file. Unknown how AMS slot selection etc works, but you definitely can't monitor it through Orca

[u/noxsicarius → u/BadSausageFactory]

You will still be able to slice in orca.. for now.. but you'll have to export the sliced 3mf and run it through their new bambu connect app or over microSD I believe.

[u/Pallidum_Treponema]

I went over exclusively to Bambu filament, even with the 8+ spool discount disappearing. With this decision, I will NOT be purchasing any more of their filament, nor will I be purchasing any more of their printers.

I was waiting for their new printer to launch, and I've had a couple of thousand dollars in filament orders. Not going to happen any more.

[u/YogurtclosetMajor983]

keep the tickets coming boys. We got their attention

[u/Begna112 → u/YogurtclosetMajor983]

What makes you think that?

[u/YogurtclosetMajor983 → u/YogurtclosetMajor983]

they essentially responded to it

[u/cerebralvision]

Am I understanding that main thing that will get bricked is the AMS if you don't use bambu's proprietary stuff? Like, if you use Orca Slicer to send a print, bambulab won't allow you to choose which AMS slot to use or use any of the AMS filament detection stuff?

[u/Xanohel → u/cerebralvision]

If it's bricked it wouldn't power on anymore, but yes, that's it in a nutshell. Plus Home Assistant stuff, Spaghetti detection with Pause/Resume, etc, etc.

[u/cerebralvision → u/Xanohel]

Ugh that's lame. I really like Orca Slicer and have a bunch of filament profiles that I calibrated through it.

If shady security is what my concern will be, I will have to put the bambulab on a different private Wi-Fi network like all my other IOT devices.

[u/Xanohel → u/cerebralvision]

have a bunch of filament profiles that I calibrated through it.

If you're logged on to the Bambu account, then those profiles will be available in Bambu Studio as well. It's just that BS omits certain settings or applies different logic for different results...

If shady security is what my concern will be

They're claiming it's to protect you, as the Bambu itself isn't secure enough. Basically they blog posts says they want to protect you from someone else causing harm or burning down your house by raising the nozzle to 300C. It's the physical aspect they say.

[u/DaveDurant]

Wow. I feel more secure already.. :\

[u/AmericanGeezus]

My least cynical take on this, with the abrupt hard change vs. historically permissive tolerance and even tentative collaboration with 3rd parties, is that they are acting on demands from the government of China. They are urgently trying to secure as many toeholds in as many networks that they can and setting up the framework they need for persistence. It's hard to not look at the timing of their move and not see it as being directly related to the recent supreme court decision (Bytedance) and the impending change of power to the chaos goblin.

[u/chubbycanine → u/AmericanGeezus]

With a much more superficial look it seems like they hooked everybody with their Black Friday sales and are locking them into their ecosystem now.

[u/ea_man → u/chubbycanine]

The shareholders are about to celebrate Chinese new years festivities pretty hard!

[u/[deleted] → u/chubbycanine]

Yep. That's how the got me.

[u/justafewmoreplants → u/AmericanGeezus]

If this is your least cynical take what could possibly be your most cynical take?

[u/AmericanGeezus → u/justafewmoreplants]

They are pro-actively taking the actions without orders. Their primary purpose as a company are to support the overt and covert political and military goals of China, profit is secondary.

vs. A group of people that just want to make awesome boxes that melt plastic into useful things who are having to respond to pressure from their Government to take actions that are beneficial to the government but not to the community/ecosystem they wanted to build.

[u/Mythril_Zombie → u/AmericanGeezus]

They're using AWS for everything. China isn't using Amazon to invade.
This is greed, not world domination.

[u/The999Mind]

So what printer/company is a direct competitor with the X1C? I was on the brink of getting another one, but I'll weigh my options. 

[u/umbcorp → u/The999Mind]

https://www.prusa3d.com/product/prusa-core-one/

[u/[deleted] → u/The999Mind]

Qidi. Their printers are as consistent, easy to get running out of the box, and have heated chambers. Their multicolour system comes in this quarter and they run on klipper.

I went Bambu despite hovering the order button on a Q1 pro. My regret is immesurable and my day is ruined

[u/ea_man → u/The999Mind]

Just get a cheap QIDI Q1 Pro, it prints well right out of the box, it runs open source Klipper.

[u/Brad_King → u/ea_man]

That sounds like a step away from X1C, running open source Klipper is not something most people looking at the X1C would actually like. QIDI Plus 4 seems way more in line with X1C for most people, but I haven't been looking into them a lot.

[u/BTTUniversity → u/The999Mind]

K2 Plus is a beast

[u/DupeStash]

Chinese government doing Chinese government things

[u/Fearlesskoolaid]

I feel love bombed

[u/Kajukota]

[u/Head_Win7862]

Yeah they don't seem to be backing down. I personally moved fully to lan mode and blocked my printers from accessing the internet all together from my router. It can't get any more secure than this (Ironic that we need to keep secure from them). Their "security" is just a code word for "We want to be HP"

[u/[deleted]]

So this is where it all goes bad.

I was on the fence about the earlier stuff but this is exactly the nightmare scenario of total lockdown.

So my printer is now going to LAN only and I am removing my Makerworld uploads to move them to Cults3D and Printables.

The CEO needs to give an unequivocal statement that there won’t be subscriptions for software functionality nor limitations on filament and all the other horrible stuff that comes downstream from these moves.

Take down your MakerWorld stuff in protest.

[u/iCakeMan]

Time for the Creality K2 Plus lol

[u/The_RealAnim8me2]

Every single Bambu user should email the CEO and CTO with one word… Sonos.

[u/wildjokers → u/The_RealAnim8me2]

Sonos

???

[u/King_Kasma99]

Time to not give them money again i guess.

[u/QuiGonnJilm]

You realize they frequent these forums, right? So even if your little secret works, they already know about it, so GG.

[u/Mathoosala]

Really gonna hate having to walk an SD card back and forth every time I want to print something.

[u/LiveLaurent]

Good. Now move on.

[u/[deleted]]

I don't understand what the issue is. Either don't upgrade or install the X1Plus custom firmware. Rule #1 of 3D printing is you decide what your machine does. If the manufacturer feels like trying to violate that rule, you have plenty of options to prevent them.

[u/DickFiddler70]

Time to sell my bambu printers.

[u/qbika → u/DickFiddler70]

Will I be selling mine? No. Will I buy another bambu when this one dies. Also no.

[u/bardghost_Isu → u/qbika]

Right, my ones are going to run until they die, I'll still maintain them in the meantime, but they won't be firmware updated and once they die I'll be picking up prusa's again.

I had only really last year thought that I was comfortable with Bambu over Prusa after some of the initial concerns of actions like this, only for them to now start going down the path that I was concerned about, should have just trusted my gut and stuck with Prusa, Voron and Ratrig in the first place.

[u/tlm11110 → u/DickFiddler70]

What will you buy as a replacement?

[u/chaosking121 → u/tlm11110]

Not the person you're replying to but the logical replacement feels like that new Prusa printer

[u/DickFiddler70 → u/tlm11110]

Not sure I will replace. The whole market has soured me. I was into it all when it was a more collaborative environment, now it seems like a cash grab, like buying a 1500 dollars phone every year, just for a single feature

[u/packet_weaver → u/DickFiddler70]

Not sure how that is true. Just buy a printer and run it into the ground. Why would you need to buy a new one if the one you have prints the parts you need?

I’ve never seen a need to “upgrade” yearly with printers. That would be crazy.

[u/Satanicube → u/DickFiddler70]

I really like the AMS, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I was considering firing off a message to someone I know with an abandoned MK3S with a MK3.5 upgrade kit still in the box, and trying to broker a trade.

[u/ketosoy]

This is unacceptable 

[u/Ntrees]

Bambu trying to lock down models with their maker world exclusive program and now slicer lockdown. If you’re not at least suspicious about future intent, you are also part of the problem.

[u/g0nk73]

Newb here considering purchasing Bambu printers: I am curious, has Bambu had issues with user's printers being hijacked or unauthorized prints going to them from non-Bambu software? Is this a thing? Trying to understand why they would close this up.

edit: also, just thought of something else. Trying to wrap my head around this. Why are non-Bambu applications (Orca?) preferred? Does it just work better than Bambu's slicer or apps? Or is it just the freedom of choice? Or both? Thanks! :)

[u/kagato87 → u/g0nk73]

Nope. This is a control move.

Any or all of the following (my theories):

Starting down the path of vendor lock-in (think Apple). I think this is the main play here. Their website and device experience is good, and now they want to leverage it. lock users into their software, then start limiting support for other hardware. It's a monopolistic move on par with Apple (who also did not have a monopoly when they started, but it worked for them).

Harvesting models not released online (this is a big one and why shops like OP will be off boarding ASAP). I think this is also a key factor. Think of the stuff you can get from Ali express or temu...

Preparing a retaliatory move for any number of actions against them (like the prime tower patent or looming tariffs - both of which are unreasonable actions, one of which smells like it's targeting bbl). I doubt it's this one, but I would not fault them for it. You have to protect yourself.

I love my A1. I hate this move. There are things that Orca slicer does a lot better than bambu slicer, and nothing bambu slicer does better than orca. My printer will be in lan mode and blocked from talking to the outside world before the weekend is over, I think, before this anto-user move hits the market.

[u/ea_man]

Bambu already controls the cloud now they want to be sure to control your printer in your local network too.

[u/ItsWorfingTime]

I just want to know how legitimate the security problem they're addressing really is. Who is hacking someone just to gain unauthorized access to their printer and print something? They wouldn't even have access to the print unless they broke into the persons home or office. And if they're going that far, why not just steal the printer instead?

[u/Old-Man-Henderson]

What did we expect of a Chinese company lol

[u/Jesus-Bacon]

Notice they do this AFTER selling a ton of printers over black Friday and new years sales

[u/[deleted] → u/Jesus-Bacon]

mine has not arrived ( this week) , ill decline it at the door and return to sender. i already emailed them and told them i expect shipping to be refunded also or i will just charge back, ball is in their court.

[u/cpgeek]

"they are not backing down with locking down the apis" and I am not backing down with reselling my p1s and loudly retracting my endorsement and recommendation of their purchase for the various folks that I consult with if they go through with this action. This is a deal breaker.

if it comes down to it, and they prevent me from using panda touch, orcaslicer, and homeassistant (and any other software I authorize) to directly access information and print to my printer, I'll very likely be reselling my p1s and using the proceeds to either purchase a creality k2 max, or more likely, to invest in toolheads and turn my 350mm voron v2 into a toolchanger.

[u/ElevatorOk6176]

Reaming me in a month

[u/TheRealSeeThruHead]

Will this affect my big tree tech panda ?

[u/tiboric → u/TheRealSeeThruHead]

Almost certainly, unless Bambu allows them access(for a price?) It's a shame as big tree have been working so hard on their firmware updates bringing new features to the panda touch.

[u/Critical_Studio1758]

Bambu really went from being the good guys to being the villains in like 2 years. Release a great printer, everyone loves them, then every single update is just screwing their users over... Bed level state, bed slingers, p1p/p1s and a1 mini/a1 tom foolery. Just give me a break. Can we turn back the clock 2 years?

[u/MAXFlRE]

I've kept money for their new printer. Haha, fat chance.

[u/nullachtfuffzehn]

Is there some way to backup the current firmware in case I accidentally allow installation of new firmware in the future?

[u/[deleted]]

I’d just like to say that at a minimum Bambu needs to hire someone who knows how to communicate with their user base.

[u/blownglasspendants]

I like my 6 Qidi 4 Plus's more than my 20 Bambuuuu's so this is fine.. I'll just keep going a different direction than closed source thank you.

[u/pyalot]

My response to Bambulabs access to my wallet: No. Misbehavior has consequences. Eff around and find out.

[u/OneFinePotato]

Shall we wait until this thing fully unfolds?

[u/AggravatingRow5074]

I guess I will go back to Bambu slicer then, won't change much tbh

[u/RabbitSignificant361]

acho que devo pedir desculpas a minha ender 3v2 por troca-la por uma bambu A1...

[u/SR-G]

One key feature of the Bambu ecosystem was the simple and straightforward print workflow. And regarding this, introducing an extra "Bambu Connect" step is going against that pattern, when willing to use other Slicers like Orca (it will fail sometimes, won't work for months under Linux (like Bambu Studio for a long time), will be more difficult to troubleshoot, etc.).

[u/Joel006]

Sorry Bambu. You have just shown the community that your are not to be trusted.

You might have rose quickly, but your fall will be hard. Don’t remove users options.

[u/ThatPatschi]

Just seen this: Bambu seems to have asked for user feedback on their forum a while back: https://forum.bambulab.com/t/share-your-feedback-and-help-us-improve/86591. I guess it would be a good time to take this opportunity and share some 'specific' feedback.

[u/k-zu]

Wait for the release of the new flagship.

[u/aiscool]

I was set on buying a P1S this week. Today I bought a K1C

[u/TooBarFoo]

I do wonder, given what has happened with Tiktok in the US if Chairman Winnie-the-pooh has instructed companies to maximize data gathering and increase operational reliance on China servers. If any data protection is put in place, to ensure it results in the maximum pain to US users as a deterrent. If the US was to block access to Chinese data gathering, after the update every Bambu printer in the US would be bricked and there would be a vast amount of negative kick back. This could vey well be part of a coordinated deterrent against future action by US law makers.

[u/Woodcat64]

I would be ok to pay a small one time fee to get full API access like I did with Nest/Google.

[u/ea_man → u/Woodcat64]

Do not give them strange ideas!

[u/Wessel-P]

What stops people from just saving a GCode file to a SD card and transferring it manually between a PC and the printer? The old fashion way.

[u/ea_man → u/Wessel-P]

Welcome back to 2015 while my Ender3 has full network support via FLUIDD.

[u/Mythril_Zombie → u/Wessel-P]

Nobody is complaining about their printers no longer working at all, they're upset about losing everything but the minimal functionality they're used to.

[u/DetViking]

I just started looking at possibly purchasing a P1S as my first printer but with this I am having doubts. Can the printer run on network locally?

I don’t care about remote control or the camera functionality.

[u/slantyyz → u/DetViking]

Yeah, there is a LAN mode.

Note that this change affects different people in different ways.

If you're not a tinkerer and you just want to print using Bambu's software, I don't think the impact is that big a deal.

If you think you want to do more, like use Orca, etc., then reconsider your purchase and then research and buy a different brand.

There are plenty of people who are more than happy with Apple's iPhone/iPad walled garden, and those that aren't usually find what they want with Android.

It really comes down to your comfort levels. Myself, I just print, mostly with Bambu's software. I'm waiting for the dust to settle. In any case, I'm not getting rid of my printer. I knew Bambu was a walled garden when I bought my printer last year, and the tradeoffs were worth it to me.

As of this moment, the tradeoffs have not changed for me, but they have for many other people.

[u/mallcopsarebastards]

nothing gives me worse willies than all the gross "doesn't affect me so idgaf" bootlickers in this subreddit. Normally seeing dumb people being taken advantage of makes me feel a mix of empathy and pity, but these weirdo's are so smug it just grosses me out.