Bambu A1 3D Printer
Bambu Labs A1 with AMS spool holder
When I first got my hands on the Bamboo Labs A1, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d heard the buzz—fast printing, solid quality, decent price—but I’ve also learned to take hype with a grain of salt. After spending some serious time putting it through its paces, I’ve come away pretty impressed. In this post, I’ll break down what it’s like using the A1 day-to-day, what it does well, where it stumbles, and whether it’s actually worth your money.
The original idea behind it was for printing bag-making templates for my wife. I personally had little interest in 3D printing myself, as it seemed too cumbersome with bed-levelling and changing spools for different colours. But, I started researching what was out there, and wanted to see if anything was currently viable. Then in my RSS feed was an article about a new 3D printer that was like the iPhone of the 3D printing world. I was instantly interested.
Setup was very easy, as it comes about 95% set up already out of the box, with clear instructions on what’s required from the user. Printing can be done directly from the front panel, your mobile device, or using PC software. Each implementation getting more complicated and feature-rich (panel -> mobile -> PC).
When you see what’s available out there from various website, or Bambu Labs’ own Makerworld, a whole world of possibilities opens up. From trinkets and fidget spinners to tools and cosplay accessories.
As I’d recently purchased a Star Wars Scout Trooper helmet, I wondered how hard it would be to print that armour pieces. Turns out it’s super easy, barely an inconvenience.
Scout Armour, 3D printed
This turned out to be a huge rabbit hole that I may go into in another post, but certainly shows the viability of making complicated pieces for cosplay. I have a Mandalorian helmet too…somebody please save me from myself.
This being a bed slinger style of printer means that you need to be careful of the prints you make and ensure the plate is clean with plenty of support structure. This is because the y-axis movement of the plate can cause issues with the print. But the results speak for themselves of what is possible.
So, is the Bamboo Labs A1 worth it? If you’re after a plug-and-play experience with room to grow into more complex projects, it’s hard to beat—especially at this price point. What started as a simple tool for helping my wife’s hobby has quickly spiralled into a full-blown creative outlet I never saw coming. Whether you’re printing functional tools, wild cosplay builds, or just geeking out over the possibilities, the A1 makes it all surprisingly accessible. Just be warned: once you start, you might find it hard to stop.
