Last May, I advised you ways 3D printers nonetheless aren’t straightforward sufficient for the mass market, however Bambu Lab had constructed the simplest but. Now, as an alternative of creating it simpler, Bambu is constructing its largest and most subtle mannequin thus far — a Swiss Army knife of 3D printers that may additionally minimize, draw, and etch.
The new Bambu H2D, which begins at $1,899, has two 3D printing nozzles and a a lot greater mattress, nevertheless it additionally comes with a modular attachment system. Plug in a blade, and it dices by paper and vinyl. Plug in a pen, and it’ll draw logos or schematics in a flash. You may even engrave and burn laser pictures into all types of supplies.
With 10-watt and 40-watt lasers, I carved out a wood Pokémon stencil for my daughter, then turned considered one of her different drawings right into a customized cork drink coaster. (See my embedded video!) First, Bambu’s laser gently etched the floor, then it minimize out a coaster, all with one operation. I even managed to engrave a set of Apple AirTags, although I did burn considered one of their plastic shells attempting to dial in the best settings.
Sure, you’ll be able to already do this stuff with particular person instruments, and there are a handful of machines in the marketplace that mix 3D printing, laser reducing, and CNC routing into one machine. But now, Bambu is about to muscle in on Cricut, GlowForge and iDraw’s turf with one machine to rule the prosumer hobbyist market. Or not less than that’s the thought.
Fundamentally, the H2D works the identical approach as Bambu’s authentic printers: it has a robotic gantry that strikes left, proper, ahead and again at excessive velocity, whereas a mattress slowly lowers to let your print get taller as you go. (Specifically, it’s a CoreXY system.) But now, that robotic gantry homes two alternating nozzles, a quick-release mount and devoted energy connector for different instruments.
It is smart: type of like how a KitchenAid stand mixer additionally enables you to use its rotary energy to optionally spin a pasta maker or vegetable slicer attachment, why not use a 3D printer’s exact 3D motions to maneuver pens, blades and lasers, too?
But these are non-compulsory, so let’s speak 3D printing first. You can print issues absolutely twice as massive as Bambu’s authentic X1 and P1 collection printers (by quantity) inside its 350 x 320 x 325mm construct space, and the dual nozzles imply you’ll be able to print in two completely different supplies with out consistently altering between these filaments and losing some each time you do. One of Bambu’s go-to examples is a complete bicycle helmet together with its padding, you could print without delay, with a robust carbon-fiber laced PETG outer shell mated to a smooth TPU cushion.
Like final 12 months’s Bambu A1 and A1 Mini, the H2D inherits straightforward toolless nozzle swaps, solely now with nozzles designed to go as much as 350 levels Celsius and non-compulsory high-flow ones. Only the best nozzle helps TPU, however every could be related to its personal non-compulsory AMS to mechanically retract and cargo completely different sorts of filament, and Bambu’s desktop app can now even let you know which rolls ought to go together with which nozzles to attenuate waste.
Speaking of AMS, the non-compulsory new four-color AMS 2 Pro, or single-color AMS HT, now have built-in heaters and electromagnetically opening and shutting vents to allow them to dry filament too (essential as a result of many 3D printing supplies take in troublesome moisture). The AMS HT goes as much as 85 levels Celsius, the AMS 2 Pro as much as 65 levels.
The printer has autonomous vents, too, so that you don’t have to open the door or take away the lid to make sure smooth plastics don’t warp. And it has its personal 65-degree chamber heater to maintain issues toasty for filaments. Everywhere I look, there are potential enhancements, from a brand new, seemingly community-inspired twin wiper system for the nozzles, to the best way its tubing is less complicated to attach and feeds barely extra reliably than earlier than.
And that’s earlier than you go for the laser particular components, together with a set of green-tinted laser security home windows, further cameras and flame sensors, and a giant pink button you’ll be able to slam to rapidly flip the entire thing off. I used to be apprehensive about heating flammable supplies inside a 3D printer, particularly as soon as the printer’s touchscreen had me stroll by its “Laser Terms and Conditions,” however I’ve but to see any flame. After seeing how the printer’s personal jet of air, followers, and non-compulsory fume extractor dealt with the warmth throughout my first few laser operations, I really feel moderately assured.
I simply don’t know the way usually I’d need to use a laser inside my 3D printer, and the laser left a burning odor in my storage for days even with the fume extractor at max. Plus, you (understandably) can’t begin a laser or slicing operation remotely: as a precaution, Bambu makes you press a bodily button on the printer and advises you to stay round. Thankfully, laser operations are a lot faster than 3D printing, measured in seconds and minutes as an alternative of hours and days.
Bambu Suite is the brand new desktop app for laser, blade, and pen operations, and it’s a bit of barebones as we speak. While it’s best to be capable of load and print neighborhood designs beginning in April, the model I attempted was restricted to primary preset shapes, textual content, curved strains, QR codes, and pictures. You can regulate velocity, laser power or blade/pen strain, have the printer take a photograph of your supplies on the mattress, then overlay your challenge atop that photograph earlier than urgent print.
Even although I’ve had an H2D for a couple of month, I received’t be reviewing it anytime quickly. That’s partly as a result of there’s simply so very many capabilities to check, but in addition partly as a result of I need to give it some extra time within the oven: like most 3D printers, it appears Bambu despatched this one to reviewers earlier than its capabilities are absolutely dialed in.
While Bambu’s touchscreen and software program does a beautiful job easing newcomers into printing, reducing, and etching, and it’s bought extra cameras and algorithms than ever earlier than (together with LIDAR, timelapse, a brand new nozzle digital camera and a hen’s eye digital camera too), I’m really discovering its primary 3D printing modes aren’t as dependable but as different printers I’ve used.
Bambu really despatched me a complete new printer after the primary one failed checks that cheaper 3D printers simply handed; my second printer is doing much better, however I’m nonetheless getting higher high quality out of my outdated P1P. Plus, the H2D’s dual-nozzle characteristic isn’t working reliably for me. I did end Bambu’s bicycle helmet after an almost three-day print, however I received’t be capable of put on it, given all of the unpleasant bits of carbon-fiber laced PETG protruding and the conspicuous gaps in its TPU padding.
Here’s hoping that’s simply rising pains. At the least, I’d go watch opinions from different, extra skilled 3D printing lovers earlier than shopping for this machine.
The Bambu H2D begins at $1,899 with preorders beginning in June. A $2,799 H2D combo with a 10W laser is on the market for pre-order as we speak and ships on the finish of April. An H2D AMS combo, in the meantime, contains the AMS 2 Pro, construct plate, spool holder and accent field. That’s in inventory and obtainable to order now. Finally, there’s a $3,499 H2D Laser Full Combo package deal with a 40-watt laser, reducing module, laser platform, reducing platform and emergency cease button. Pre-orders for that start as we speak and it ships on the finish of April.
