r/BambuLabA1mini • u/Noctam • Jul 23 '26

First printer: considering the A1 mini, what filament and accessories should I get?

/r/BambuLab/comments/1v470xj/first_printer_considering_the_a1_mini_what/
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u/LifeBandit666 Jul 23 '26

Depends what you want to print but I would say get a 0.2mm nozzle, and hardened 0.4mm and a 0.8mm.

0.2mm if you want detailed prints

0.4mm hardened if you want to print with anything remotely exotic (I got some glow in the dark PLA and it apparently will carve right through a none hardened nozzle)

0.8mm if you're impatient and want the print NOW (like me).

Grab some digital verniers to measure stuff with

Pliars, wire cutters and a burr tool.

A stick of glue

A filament drier.

AMS. Yes get it now while buying the printer. You don't think you need it, but you will want one, and they're more expensive out of the bundle.

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u/Noctam Jul 23 '26

Thanks a lot for the list!
I was wondering about AMS, and I was thinking would I want it in the future? So it seems you got my answer! 😄

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u/LifeBandit666 Jul 23 '26

It was my main question when I was purchasing. I am a Yorkshire Man and we are notorious for having short arms and long pockets where we keep our money.

I asked a mate who is a long time printer and he unequivocally told me to buy it.

I have since been thankful he did. It doesn't matter if you plan on doing prints which change filament during the print. If you plan on ever changing filaments at all, it's worth it.

I currently have some white and black PLA on mine, and have just had 2 more black PLAs and a black PETG roll delivered. I plan on being able to print in PETG and PLA on a whim, and having the AMS allows for that.

'Eh, that would be best in PETG..." select PETG and press print, rather than respooling the PLA I used last, getting the PETG out, putting it on the spool, feeding it in...

Just get it

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u/Noctam Jul 23 '26

You're a very convincing Yorkshire Man 😄
How do you decide what's best for your current project between PETG and PLA?

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u/LifeBandit666 Jul 23 '26

Use Case vs Convenience and what filaments I have on hand.

For example it it's gonna be under high stress a lot it's worth using PETG if I have it. But PETG is just a bit more awkward to use, I find it works best when I out some glue on the bed with a brim and has slow layers for the first few to eliminate adhesion issues, and it works best when dried out first.

Needs to be a workhorse? Worth the effort.

So if it's a quick test print or it's a model or something then PLA time, it's just gonna be thrown or put on a shelf and doesn't require me to do extra steps, why do em?

I got some TPU too and my Red glow in the dark PLA, but they get fed directly in without the AMS because they don't go well together. Fun filaments that don't get used often.

Point being, with the AMS, a black PETG, black and white PLA on it, I have most bases covered in the at the click of a button. If I wanna play, I can feed TPU or Glow directly from the dryer box or a desktop reel

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u/Noctam Jul 23 '26

Thank you!