Bambu Lab P1S 3D Printer Review

Who should buy

• Offers an extremely fast 15-minute setup time from unboxing to first print due to being mostly assembled.
• The fully enclosed design with a plastic and glass shell is critical for successfully printing temperature-sensitive materials like ABS, ASA, and PC.
• Features CoreXY kinematics, an all-metal hotend, and a direct-drive extruder that enable impressive top speeds of 500 mm/s and acceleration of 20 m/s².

Who should skip

• Multi-color or multi-material printing requires purchasing the separate, optional Automatic Material System (AMS) unit.
• The included chamber monitoring camera operates at a very low frame rate of 0.5fps, which may not be ideal for detailed real-time monitoring.
• The build volume is limited to 256 x 256 x 256 mm³, which might be restrictive for larger models.

Overview

The Bambu Lab P1S emerges as a significant evolution in the desktop 3D printer market, positioning itself as a machine that delivers high-end performance and features without the premium price tag. Building on the foundation of its predecessors, the P1S is a fully-enclosed printer that promises a seamless "out-of-the-box" experience, targeting everyone from absolute beginners to professional print farms. By bundling features like CoreXY motion, automatic calibrations, and compatibility with advanced materials, the P1S is not just an iterative update; it's a statement piece that challenges the conventional trade-offs between cost, speed, and quality.

Context: The P1S serves as the mid-range bridge between the budget-friendly P1P and the flagship X1-Carbon, offering the enclosure of the latter with the streamlined electronics of the former.

Where many printers in its price category require extensive tuning, assembly, and manual adjustments, the P1S is engineered for immediate productivity. The company claims a setup time of just 15 minutes from unboxing to initiating the first print. This focus on user experience, combined with its raw performance specifications and the option for multi-color printing, makes it a compelling option for users who want to focus on creating rather than tinkering.

Buyer Advice: If you plan on printing mainly PLA, you might want to keep the glass top or front door slightly ajar during long prints to prevent heat creep and nozzle clogging.

**Note:** While the P1S is compatible with the AMS (Automatic Material System), the printer can also be purchased as a standalone unit if you do not require multi-color capabilities immediately.

For beginners, the Bambu Lab P1S is an excellent entry point into 3D printing due to its quick setup and automated calibration, allowing you to focus on design and printing rather than troubleshooting.

To maximize the "out-of-the-box" experience, ensure you follow the initial setup instructions carefully, as the quick setup relies on proper initial component installation.

If you're upgrading from an open-frame printer, the P1S's enclosed design and advanced material compatibility will significantly expand your material options, including engineering-grade filaments like ABS and PC.

The "out-of-the-box" setup time of 15 minutes primarily refers to unboxing and initial connection, assuming the user is familiar with basic 3D printer operation and has prepared filament.

For users new to 3D printing, the P1S's fully enclosed design and activated carbon filter make it a more appealing option for home use, as it helps manage fumes and provides a safer printing environment compared to open-frame printers.

Key Features

The Bambu Lab P1S is packed with features that were, until recently, reserved for much more expensive machines. Let’s dive into the core functionalities that set it apart.

Effortless Setup and Automated Workflow

One of the most significant barriers for newcomers to 3D printing is the often-frustrating setup and calibration process. The P1S tackles this head-on, promising a 15-minute setup. The printer arrives mostly assembled and is designed to manage its own calibrations. It features an Automatic Bed Leveling (ABL) sensor that probes the print surface to create a perfect first layer, which is crucial for print success. Furthermore, the P1S incorporates vibration compensation, a cutting-edge feature that actively cancels out the shaking caused by rapid movements. This allows the printer to achieve its high speeds without introducing "ringing" or "ghosting" artifacts, ensuring that fast prints are also clean prints. This level of automation means users can simply send a file and trust the machine to deliver consistent, high-quality results with minimal intervention.

"Ringing" or "ghosting" artifacts are visible surface imperfections on 3D prints, appearing as faint echoes near sharp features. These are typically caused by vibrations during high-speed printing.

Leverage the automated calibration features, such as ABL and vibration compensation, to ensure optimal print quality and save time on manual adjustments, especially when starting a new print job.

**Buyer Advice:** Periodically clean your PEI build plate with warm water and dish soap; oils from your fingers can accumulate over time and lead to first-layer adhesion issues despite the auto-leveling.

Enclosed Design for High-Performance Materials

Perhaps the most notable upgrade from its open-frame sibling (the P1P) is the P1S's fully enclosed chassis, constructed from plastic and glass. This enclosure is critical for maintaining a stable, heated environment inside the build chamber. Why does this matter? Filaments like ABS, ASA, and Polycarbonate (PC) are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations and can warp or crack if printed in an open-air environment. The enclosure on the P1S traps heat, providing the consistency needed to successfully print with these engineering-grade materials. To further enhance this capability, the printer includes an Activated Carbon Filter. This filter helps to scrub potentially harmful and unpleasant odors emitted by filaments like ABS from the air, making it a much more pleasant and safer machine to operate in a home or office.

For optimal results with engineering-grade materials like ABS or PC, ensure the printer is operating in a well-ventilated area, even with the activated carbon filter, for added safety and air quality.

The P1S's fully enclosed design is crucial for printing with advanced materials like ABS, ASA, and PC, as it maintains a stable internal temperature to prevent warping and cracking often seen with these filaments.

While the activated carbon filter significantly reduces odors and some VOCs, it's generally good practice to print engineering filaments like ABS in a well-ventilated space or with additional air purification, especially during long prints.

High-Speed Kinematics and Multi-Material Potential

At its core, the P1S is built for speed. It boasts a maximum tool head speed of 500 mm/s and a staggering acceleration of 20 m/s². This is powered by a CoreXY motion system and a lightweight, all-metal hotend paired with a direct-drive extruder. This combination ensures precise filament control even at high velocities. For the user, this translates to dramatically shorter print times compared to older printer designs. What might take eight hours on a traditional bed-slinger could be completed in a fraction of that time on the P1S. Beyond its speed, the printer is designed for versatility. With the addition of the optional Automatic Material System (AMS), the P1S transforms into a multi-color or multi-material powerhouse. A single AMS unit allows for printing in up to four different colors or materials, and for the truly ambitious, up to four AMS units can be daisy-chained to enable 16-color printing on a single model.

Consider purchasing the optional Automatic Material System (AMS) if multi-color or multi-material printing is a priority, as it significantly expands the printer's capabilities.

Pro Tip: When using the AMS, opt for plastic-sided spools. Cardboard spools can shed dust that clogs the AMS internal gears or may not rotate smoothly without plastic rim adapters.

**Pitfall:** Do not attempt to use TPU or other extremely soft flexible filaments within the AMS. These materials can tangle or jam in the internal feeder tubes; always load flexibles via the rear manual spool holder.

While the P1S excels at high speeds, for the absolute best print quality on intricate details, consider slightly reducing print speeds, as higher speeds can sometimes introduce subtle artifacts.

To maximize print quality, especially for highly detailed models, consider using Bambu Lab's proprietary slicer software, Bambu Studio, which is optimized for the P1S and its unique motion system and features.

Be aware that the included chamber monitoring camera has a very low frame rate (0.5fps), which might not be sufficient for real-time monitoring of intricate print details.

Pitfall: Avoid using the cloud printing feature if you have a slow or unstable internet connection; use the MicroSD card "Print from SD" option instead to prevent print pauses or failures.

While the P1S supports a wide range of filaments, printing with abrasive materials (e.g., carbon fiber infused) without a hardened steel nozzle can lead to premature wear of the included stainless steel nozzle.

The P1S includes a stainless steel nozzle as standard; for printing with abrasive filaments (like carbon fiber or glass fiber reinforced materials), upgrading to a hardened steel nozzle is essential to prevent rapid wear and maintain print quality.

The P1S's internal components, especially the tool head, operate at high speeds and temperatures. Always ensure the printer is powered off and cooled down before attempting any maintenance or nozzle changes to prevent injury.

Utilize the direct-drive extruder and all-metal hotend to experiment with a variety of filaments, including flexible materials like TPU, which can be challenging on bowden-style extruders.

While the P1S offers impressive speeds, pushing it to its absolute limits with complex geometries or specific engineering filaments might still require fine-tuning slicer settings to prevent issues like stringing or layer adhesion problems, despite its automated calibrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The P1S is a fully enclosed version of the P1P. It includes side panels, a glass front door, a glass top cover, an activated carbon filter, and additional cooling fans to support high-temperature filaments like ABS and ASA.

Yes, the P1S is compatible with the Bambu Lab AMS (Automatic Material System). One AMS allows for 4-color printing, and you can connect up to four AMS units for a total of 16 colors.

No, the P1S features an Automatic Bed Leveling (ABL) system that probes the bed before prints to ensure a perfect first layer without manual adjustment.

Yes, thanks to its fully enclosed design and all-metal hotend, the P1S can maintain the stable temperatures necessary to print ABS, ASA, and PC without warping.

Frequently Asked Questions

The P1S is a fully enclosed version of the P1P. It includes side panels, a glass front door, a glass top cover, an activated carbon filter, and additional cooling fans to support high-temperature filaments.

Yes, the P1S is compatible with the Bambu Lab AMS (Automatic Material System). One AMS allows for 4-color printing, and you can connect up to four AMS units for a total of 16 colors.

Pros

• Offers an extremely fast 15-minute setup time from unboxing to first print due to being mostly assembled.
• The fully enclosed design with a plastic and glass shell is critical for successfully printing temperature-sensitive materials like ABS, ASA, and PC.
• Features CoreXY kinematics, an all-metal hotend, and a direct-drive extruder that enable impressive top speeds of 500 mm/s and acceleration of 20 m/s².
• The activated carbon filter helps remove potentially harmful odors from filaments like ABS, improving the printing environment.
• Can be expanded to print in up to 16 colors by daisy-chaining four optional AMS units.
• Includes advanced features like Automatic Bed Leveling (ABL) and vibration compensation for consistent, high-quality prints with minimal intervention.
• Aggressively priced for its high-end feature set and performance, making it a compelling option for beginners and professionals.

Cons

• Multi-color or multi-material printing requires purchasing the separate, optional Automatic Material System (AMS) unit.
• The included chamber monitoring camera operates at a very low frame rate of 0.5fps, which may not be ideal for detailed real-time monitoring.
• The build volume is limited to 256 x 256 x 256 mm³, which might be restrictive for larger models.
• Achieving the maximum vertical build volume of 256 mm requires manual setting changes, as indicated in the specifications.

Verdict

Based on its specifications, the Bambu Lab P1S appears to be a formidable contender in the mid-range 3D printer market. It aims to deliver a potent combination of speed, an enclosure for high-temperature filament, and advanced automation features at an aggressive price point. While the full multi-color experience requires an additional purchase, the core machine's feature set positions it as an excellent value for both newcomers who want a hassle-free experience and veterans looking for a reliable, high-performance workhorse.

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