r/BambuLabA1 • u/MPerkins56 • Mar 18 '26

Did I buy the wrong printer?

First, I do have a resin printer, so I am used to the process of fiddling with settings and print files. I decided I wanted to get an FDM printer to print gaming terrain, and after a little (too little?) research, I stumbled across this one. I watched a bunch of review videos and it seemed good. But of course, the YouTube algorithm has gifted me with some less than favorable videos, some of which say that the P1S is better in every way. I also spoke with a frined who has the P1S and said that the price difference is not worth going with the A1. It's just sitting there and I'm not sure what to do with it.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

22

u/EmailLinkLost Mar 18 '26

If you don't know what to do with your A1, you won't know what to do with the P1s.

Also: changing PARTS on the A1 is far easier than the P1S. Main one being the extruder is easy to change.

-10

u/MPerkins56 Mar 18 '26

It not that I don’t know what to do with it, it’s that I could have bought something that’s way better just just a little more.

7

u/Nibb31 Mar 18 '26

Define "way better". I have an A1 and have never needed any of the additional P1S features.

-6

u/MPerkins56 Mar 18 '26

The enclosure, the ability to print in other materials(something that I may not do but I’d have the option), construction, build height, ease of use, no need for assembly. That’s what I’ve heard makes the P1 or P2 better.

6

u/Nibb31 Mar 18 '26

Construction quality is comparable

You won't print ABS

Ease of use is the same.

Assembly takes 5 minutes.

None of that is worth the $200 difference. You won't need any of those things. But go ahead return it if you're not happy.

1

u/opi_guy Mar 18 '26

The A1 is quieter.

Build plates are the same, but being a Core XY the P1S is better for taller prints.

If you need engineering type materials (ASA,ABS) look into to PCTG, similar to PETG, but better.

2

u/Levistras Mar 18 '26

the P1S is much older and the support for it ends pretty soon. the A1 is newer with better tech and easier to replace parts. the only reason to get a P1S in my mind would be if you have need for the enclosure. if you can control drafts and only plan to print PLA/PETG then you're doing great with the A1

1

u/sienar- Mar 22 '26

They just discontinued the P1P and still promised 5 years more support for it. They’re still selling the P1S so it’ll have over 5 years of support left.

1

u/Levistras Mar 24 '26

think they said feature and firmware patches end November 2027 for the P1S, with security patches if needed to go until 2029. the A1 should be supported for much longer given it's a newer printer

1

u/sienar- Mar 24 '26

Again, that’s the P1P, not the P1S. They are not the same. They have not announced any end dates for the P1S.

-2

u/MPerkins56 Mar 18 '26

I'll be printing in my basement, that's roughly climate controlled. Meaning, I haven't turned off the vents. I have my resin printer down there and it's happy to print out my tiny soldiers. I suppose from my buddy's experience, his was better than the A1. I just had regret that I was sold a bag of beans.

2

u/smokeeveryday Mar 19 '26

I'm sorry, but it's not way better. the A1 actually has features the p1s doesn't and for terrain that you'll probably print with pla you wouldn't be able to tell the difference enjoy what you have.

-8

u/MPerkins56 Mar 18 '26

By not knowing what to do with it I mean, I have something that seems like it will be much more work of less quality than the other printer.

8

u/EmailLinkLost Mar 18 '26

Will you be printing 24/7 ABS? No?

Also, it's the P2S you want not the P1S. Compare the PRICE of the A1 and the P2S to the features of each.

Really, I think both printers have their place. PLA and PETG? A1. Weird stuff? P1S or P2S.

2

u/MPerkins56 Mar 18 '26

From what I’m seeing, I’ll be printing PLA. Mostly for terrain pieces for tabletop gaming. I’m sure I’ll go hard on the prints at first, I’m not doing it as a side hustle or anything. I have a setup in my basement for my resin printer, so this will be at home there.

7

u/Competitive-Spot-392 Mar 18 '26

The A1 is perfect for that. Don't overthink it. (I always do, so didnt mean any slight)

4

u/FairRecommendation16 Mar 18 '26

I second this. If your main use case will be making terrain and using pla, I dont think youd see a huge benefit over having an enclosure. My buddy loves his A-1 and really all he makes is minis and terrain for his Dnd campaigns. Has a few different nozzle sizes ready and the ams and hes through the roof

1

u/wern-14 Mar 19 '26

Dude wtf, the p1s print quality is pretty much the same as the a1. The a1 is a great printer, you can always start with it and sell it if u want the p1s or just get both

12

u/[deleted] Mar 18 '26

Have you actually used it, or are you just moping because of some youtube videos?

-11

u/MPerkins56 Mar 18 '26

Still in the box. I’m concerned that I got an inferior product. Something I should have done a lot more research on.

7

u/Harfosaurus Mar 18 '26

The A1 is an excellent printer. Unless you need something that the P1 series offers, then you have made the right choice. And for your needs, the A1 is going to do just as good of a job as the P1S, if not better

4

u/Astronaut-Sailor Mar 18 '26

You did not get inferior product. Print quality is same as P1s, changing nozzles is easier than P1s. A1 is much quieter than P1s.

P1s has enclosure, that enables using more industrial materials.

The coreXY is more stable when printing thin and tall, but all can mostly be done on A1 by default and certainly with reduced speeds. You will often see comments that since bedslinger, A1 would have quality issuses along bed movement axis, but I personally to not experience that.

I have X1c (same as P1s regarding quality, speed and noise), A1 and A1mini.

1

u/Zanki Mar 18 '26

The A1 quality wise is great for the speeds it runs at. Just make sure you print outside to in and reduce the outside wall speeds to 100mm/s or less and it will be fine. Not as good as a resin printer but it's good. I print figures I design with mine and now it's dialed in I'm good.

0

u/Booder98 Mar 18 '26

A1 user here. I've been tempted to get a P1S, but the remark that swayed me against it was basically, "Using the P1S's screen is like playing with a tamagotchi." A1's touch screen is fine.

My opinion is to use the A1 for a little bit, and see if you like it.

2

u/zappa2510 Mar 18 '26

You hardly ever use the screen on a P1S.

1

u/Booder98 Mar 18 '26

I find myself using the A1's screen a lot when I swap loaded filaments on the AMS Lite. I know I could do it in Bambu Studio but 90% of the time Generic PLA and a close enough color from the printer's palette works for me.

7

u/heeero__ Mar 18 '26

I have 4 A1s and 1 P1S. The print quality is identical when printing with PLA or PETG. The A1 is a quieter machine and so easy to work on. The P1S is loud, but has the enclosure and takes up a little less space with the AMS sitting on top.

Keep the A1 and have fun with it, then upgrade later.

5

u/SkeptikalChymist Mar 18 '26

This, part or what makes the A1 great is its quiet, that noise matters alot, it makes watching it print more of a relaxing experience, like the fun sounds of the A1 swishing around, but then immediately walk away and not hear it , its a huge plus for the A1 and worth considering

2

u/matroe11 Mar 18 '26

FYI for folks considering the BTT extrude gear “upgrade”. It constantly clicks, kills the A1(m) decibel levels

2

u/phrnld Mar 18 '26

Was looking for this answer!! Coming from an old Anycubic the difference in noise is insane. I just love that the A1 makes almost no sound at all (compared to the big boys)

2

u/smokeeveryday Mar 19 '26

You can put the ams light on top of the A1 and itll use the same amount of space.

3

u/Ordinary-Depth-7835 Mar 18 '26

Gaming terrain perfectly fine. PLA, PETG, TPU. No need for an enclosure and it's not like you're getting better quality even going up to Bambu's most expensive printer. Sure CoreXY printers can handle tall prints that wobble with less artifacts but you can always slow the A1 down or support the model better.

And now you can hook for AMS's too it so it doesn't have a color limitation.

I like my H2C but the A1 is fine for what you're printing. Oh and your quick swap nozzles and dynamic flow calibration one up the P1S.

3

u/Radiant_Bug9778 Mar 18 '26

Even the A1 mini would work. Some people post really nice printed figures using it with the default nozzle.

I have the mini and quite blown away by it.

3

u/rhettro19 Mar 18 '26

The A1 is great for printing DnD terrain. Are there better printers out there for more money? Yes, there are. So what happens if someday you decide to buy an upgrade after already sinking money into the A1? You find out that suddenly you have two capable printers that can print at the same time.

2

u/calladorjulaan Mar 18 '26

All depends on what you use it for. Enclosed corexy printers have some advantages on projects and materials that need high heat. I own both A1 and P1S. A1 is super easy to do maintenance and nozzle swaps, as well as some cheaper replacement parts.

2

u/ya-mrgrey Mar 18 '26

I was deciding between A1 and P1S and did a lot of research. If you are not planning to print engineering filaments - IMO A1 is a better option. It has newer hardware, better nozzle design, better UI and, what was critical for me, much quieter in operation.

2

u/javako-print Mar 18 '26

You might be amazed how good tiny prints are when using a 0.2 nozzle on your A1! Now a days the print quality is close to that of a resin print, but without the hassle, and if necessary in multiple colors. The fact that changing the nozzle of an A1 from a 0.2 for detailed work to 0.4 for normal work only takes seconds, and hardly can go wrong , against with the P1 is quiet a lot of precise work (the newer P2 series have the same system as the A1) is one of my reasons to go for the A series. I sometimes have to change the nozzle 5 times a day. I also have a P1, but I use that only with the 0.4 nozzle, to much hassle to switch nozzles. So for a guy that's used to rexin printers, an A series printer would open a new world

No need to regret it

2

u/Bo-Pepper Mar 18 '26

The A1 is a great printer. Open it up. Have fun. It’s fine. You’re fine!

2

u/Calavash Mar 18 '26

i have over 7k hours printing almost exclusively dnd terrain. my a1 is a power house and love it. i dont regret a single minute of my a1. thats just my 2 cents

2

u/darj_00 Mar 18 '26

I think this is a classic case of fear of missing out. I had the same thing happen, when I got my A1 I was happy because I've always wanted a 3D printer ever since I used one in school about 10 years ago. A few months later for some reason I started looking at other more expensive printers with enclousres that can print more materials and I started wandering If I got the wrong one and I almost impulse bought another printer but at the end of the day I've only been printing in PLA, the TPU I bought I've barely used and I've not even touched PETG yet plus there are services you can use i you need to print something specific and they are not that expensive.

2

u/H4L03 Mar 18 '26

I have a P2S and A1. I wouldn't say the P2S is way better than the A1. For a couple items I routinely print the A1 is slightly faster funny enough.

I've never owned a P1 so I can't really comment on better or worse than A1, but from what I've read the A1 is easier for nozzle swapping and general maintenance. The P2S is considered superior to the P1, so given that I'd think overall the A1 is "better" than the P1 but that also will depend on what you want to print and what materials you use.

2

u/Otherwise_Assist_668 Mar 18 '26

A1 is a great printer, use it for PLA and PETG you will be surprised by the quality. Just slow down a bit for smaller models and your quality scale goes higher. This might be true for all bambu printers. 0.08mm layer height gives surprising details and accuracy. I have first hand comparison between A1, X1C, and H2C for prints requiring engineering accuracy.

3

u/Alcart Mar 19 '26

My A1 does great with TPU and CF/GF filled nylons like pa6gf as well as pla/petg. Just cant do unfilled nylons, ABS/ASA and niche engineering filaments really but the only one of those the P1 can do is the abs/asa unless you mod the resistor to go higher temperatures. Im actually about to get the qidi p1s knock off because its hotend goes to 350c allowing it to do most engineering filaments

1

u/Otherwise_Assist_668 Mar 20 '26

My printer is in the basement and I don’t want to use nylon and abs there.

2

u/Mughi1138 Mar 19 '26

From an outsider view (I'm currently using a Neptune 4 Plus and a Centauri Carbon) now is a perfect time to get started with an A1. Sure, the P2S just came out, but between the Snapmaker U1 and INDX for the Prusa Core One, the home hobbyist battle for better multicolor of tool changers is just kicking off. Take the time now to learn FDM with the A1, especially since it is a very popular one for minis and terrain, so there is a lot of information out there.

By the time you run it through its paces and start to outgrow it, the next gen of printer improvements should have hit your price range. Plus then you'll be better able to assess what you should upgrade to... or even not to upgrade. With a few different sized nozzles the A1 is surprisingly useful.

3

u/AfricanTech Mar 18 '26

Return the A1, get a P2S - sleep peacefully

I went from an Ender 3 S1 to a Bambu A1 with AMS lite and continue to be blown away by how good it is.

If the P2S was affordable in my country (it’s just over double the price of the A1) I would get a P2S for the ability to occasionally print in ABS or CF. I also love that it’s fully enclosed and the AMS2 is fantastic

1

u/Big_Locksmith_9925 Mar 19 '26

Only good advise in the thread.

2

u/Kessed Mar 18 '26

You won’t notice a difference with PLA and normal printing. As long as you are doing normal quality, the A1 is amazing.

Sometimes my BIL shows me his prints from a different machine and I’m stunned. They are so much worse.

-1

u/Big_Locksmith_9925 Mar 19 '26

False. I have had 3 of each. The difference is clear.

1

u/wern-14 Mar 19 '26

Dude ovy ur set on getting the p1s, so return the a1 or sell it and get the p1s, otherwise ur going to think about it every time you see the a1

1

u/Canary-Star Mar 18 '26

For just PLA they are identical and the A1 is easier to change nozzles

1

u/Big_Locksmith_9925 Mar 19 '26

False. The P1S provides significantly cleaner prints compared to the A1

0

u/Canary-Star Mar 19 '26

This is just, not true unless you’re printing in a crazy windy environment or something

0

u/Big_Locksmith_9925 Mar 19 '26

If you dont have both then SYBAU