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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Utilize the direct-drive extruder and all-metal hotend to experiment with a wider 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.

Specifications

The "Closed Loop Control" for fans indicates that the printer actively monitors and adjusts fan speeds to maintain optimal temperatures, rather than relying on fixed settings.

The Bambu Lab P1S's compact physical dimensions (389 x 389 x 458 mm³) make it suitable for smaller workspaces, but remember to account for door swings and cable management when positioning it.

Design & Build

The Bambu Lab P1S presents a clean, functional aesthetic. Its cuboid shape, defined by the dimensions 389 x 389 x 458 mm³, is modern and enclosed, fitting neatly into a workshop or studio environment. The enclosure features clear glass on the front and top, allowing for easy monitoring of prints, while other panels are a durable-looking plastic. The underlying structure is a welded frame, which provides the rigidity necessary to handle the high-speed movements and accelerations without excessive vibration. At a net weight of 12.95 kg (about 28.5 lbs), it feels substantial and well-built, suggesting that cost savings weren't achieved by using flimsy components.

While the enclosure offers good visibility, ensure adequate clearance around the printer, especially for the rear, where cables and potential ventilation might be.

The P1S includes an activated carbon filter to help manage odors and particles from printing, but good room ventilation is still recommended, especially when using materials like ABS or ASA.

Though the P1S is designed for "out-of-the-box" use, some users may find the proprietary nature of certain parts or software limiting for extensive customization or open-source tinkering.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Bambu Lab P1S is designed for quick setup, with the company claiming a setup time of just 15 minutes from unboxing to initiating the first print, assuming basic familiarity with 3D printer operation.

Yes, the P1S features a fully enclosed chassis and an all-metal hotend that allows it to maintain a stable, heated environment, making it capable of printing with challenging engineering-grade materials like ABS, ASA, and Polycarbonate (PC) without significant warping.

The P1S boasts a maximum tool head speed of 500 mm/s and an acceleration of 20 m/s², enabling significantly faster print times compared to many other desktop 3D printers.

Yes, the P1S supports multi-color and multi-material printing with the addition of the optional Automatic Material System (AMS). A single AMS unit allows for four colors/materials, and up to four units can be daisy-chained for 16-color prints.

The Bambu Lab P1S includes an Activated Carbon Filter to help scrub potentially harmful and unpleasant odors emitted by certain filaments (like ABS) from the air within the enclosed chamber.

Who It's For

Based on its specifications, the P1S is designed for a broad spectrum of users. For beginners, the promise of a 15-minute setup and fully automated calibrations removes the intimidation factor and steep learning curve often

Related Reads

• K1 Max AI Fast 3D Printer review
• A1 Mini review
• Bambu Lab brand page

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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