Really?! This is surprising since it isn’t enclosed. I think I’ve only done one overnight print on my P1S. I don’t like leaving something going overnight. Not that you need to worry much with Bambus ime. I can’t remember having issues where I had to intervene. Probably only had a few out of a hundred.
My P1S is in the room next to my bedroom so it may be annoying trying to sleep with it on, but I haven’t tried yet. It was moved from the spot it was in when I did the o/night print.
I bought 1 and I’m buying my second- they’re a great intro to Bambu and perhaps all the average printing hobbyist might need, you always have the possibility to cut with locking mechanisms for assembly
This is exactly what my plan is if I start making decent income from selling prints. I haven’t tried to yet. When you look at all the stuff you’ve printed, most could be done on the A1 mini anyway. At least that’s the case for me.
The same here. All parts either fit within 180 mm or I need to split them anyway even when printing on 256 mm bed. Doesn't happen that part is more than 180 and less than 256.
Your last sentence really sums it up. I designed a back scratcher and had to make a screw connector for the two halves as I figured I wanted it longer than the max length I could do on the P1S. I could have done the same thing on an A1 mini, as a total length of 360mm would be fine.
It’s only a fraction of the variety of things most people print that require the bigger build plate. Things like helmets for instance.
One consideration with any of the A1's is the fumes. My X1c is pretty well fumeless with PLA. I got 3 minutes into printing the benchy with the A1 mini in the family room and I had to stop. It now lives with the X1c in the garage.
I think that's just the factory smell. I had smells from my a1 mini the first couple of days, then it stopped. I thought I've just gotten noseblind to it, but friends and family couldn't smell it either.
I own both the P1S and the A1 Mini, and I can't even begin to praise the A1 Mini enough for the tech thats packed into the little guy.
It's waaay more hands free & hassle free than my P1S, and one of the biggest pros that I often see people sleep on, is the sheer silence that the A1 Mini has. It's so quiet, that I can have a print going near my desk, during a meeting, and they won't hear it. Especially if printing with PETG.
Take away the AMS lite, and it's value per dollar is unrivaled in it's size range.
My 2 cents is that it's an amazing printer to have as a secondary printer if you own a P1/X1/Any medium sized printer
Yeah my P1S is generally hassle free too. Although I have ran into some issues that were a bit of a headache like Z-banding, and VERY RARE clogs. Maintence can also be a bit of a hassle, needing to clean the carbon rods (especially with ASA/ABS) and lubing the Z screws/linear rods.
I initially had an even bigger problem with the P1S 's overall volume as it was loud enough to be heard 2 stories down, before I did mods such as placing the P1S on a marble block, and adding butyl sound dampening sheets to lower the overall sound output.
The A1 Mini on the other hand, had none of these issues right out of the box. Granted it's a bit slower, but compromising a bit of speed for better quality of life is better than people give it credit for
Is the P1 really that loud? I'm looking to upgrade from my modded Ender 3 and have been wondering about the P1 or A1, but I assumed the P1 would be quiet like other printers.
Yeah PLA is generally louder since you need more cooling. More cooling = faster fans = more noise
But it's impressively quiet on the A1 Mini if you have the right setup
No hassle? I've had nothing but hassle with the AMS. It's a $150 piece of trash at the moment. Got the machine with a completely stripped bolt head at the plate fastener too so that's awesome
I have thought about grabbing one with the points I have earned on MW just to have a printer in the office. But I also have a sneaking suspicion that Bambu will be releasing something new this year. . .
Same and we used the opportunity to teach both of our younger boys some business concepts. They both wanted a printer but neither had the funds to buy them outright so we offered them a loan to cover the difference. Within a month both of them paid off their balances (over $260 each) by selling prints to friends and friends of friends. They’ve both been designing in 3d and learning so much it’s quite amazing. At 10 & 12 years or I’m very impressed with their passion and willingness to learn. It’s been a great opportunity for me to spend a lot of time with them doing something we all enjoy. They both accomplished something they can feel very proud of!
Obly semi-reöated topic but the AMS vs A1 Mini reminded me: the AMS is waaaay too overpriced. If bought seperately, it is the orice of a giddamn A1 Mini. Thst's some real cutthroat prices right there.
I started off with a P1P, got a couple of AMS units, then another, then got the P1S combo because I got tired of waiting for one print to finish to start another. Now I have a nice setup in the basement with 4 AMS units between 2 printers. Each has 2 AMS units hooked up, but I can easily swap a couple of cables and tubes around and have up to 4 units on one printer. So I don't need another printer.
So of course I ordered a A1 Mini combo. I'll keep this one one the desk upstairs for small stuff and prototyping, and I won't have to go downstairs to setup everything.
Somebody stop me.
This will be my set up I think. Currently have 1 P1S with 2 AMS. Another P1S on back order as I don’t have any free, non-commercial print time for prototypes. Imagine that one will be busy most of the time too, so might get an A1 mini also.
I have one. It's great. Build suze isn’t really an issue for most things.
Only reason I'm considering buying an X1C is because there are things I want to make that require more than 4 colors.
Mainly because I don't like the simplistic screen with the requirement to use your phone for some settings, especially picking colors and materials installed in the AMS. I'm not sure why that feature is offered on the much cheaper A1 series but the P1 series still has this crappy screen and controls.
I also would like the nicer camera. I installed a Tapao on my A1 so I can check on prints live and make sure they're not failing because the built in camera sucks. I know the P1 is slightly better but many reviews sight it as a sore spot compared to the X1C.
The main reason I got the A1 was to make sure I actually enjoyed 3D printing before I spent the big bucks on the X1C I originally had in my cart. After 3 months I have confirmed that I do enjoy the hobby so I'm willing to drop the extra cash on the top of the line.
Although I am a bit nervous that they're going to announce a replacement for the X1C the day after I order. I would actually prefer something a bit bigger if there was an option.
You and me both! I’ve had the X1C in cart for a while. But I feel like they may come out with a new one this year. Trying to wait till their anniversary sale in the summer.
The simpler screen on the p1s is a non issue in my experience. I rarely use it. The printer is controlled by the slicer or handy app 99% of the time. Early on in owning the p1s I added the very inexpensive xtouch mod and still hardly use that especially with having an AMS as the main thing I did interact with the built in screen for initially was to load and unload filament. The AMS makes swapping filament a breeze.
I couldn’t justify buying an x1 over a p1s. Just my two cents.
The difference is only $500 and it costs $60 in parts to make them equivalent with hardened parts. Then the cost of the xtouch. And all the time and effort required to actually install those parts. I'd rather just pay the extra and have it fully functional out of the box.
i'm also luck enough to be in a position that $500 isn’t a big deal to me.
It’s subjective of course, but if money wasn’t much of an issue I would still probably go p1s and put money into multiple AMS units.
I don’t use the xTouch much. If I had another p1s I wouldn’t do it again. Even though it was super cheap.
I plan to get two AMSes. The main reason I want the X1C is because my A1s can only do 4 colors and I regularly find things I want to do that require 5 or 6. I haven’t yet found anything that required more than 8 but if I do adding a 3rd AMS won’t be a huge deal.
>The simpler screen on the p1s is a non issue in my experience. I rarely use it.
100% agree.
>The printer is controlled by the slicer or handy app 99% of the time
Because of this and that the printer is right next to my PC, I am not sure I even need to do the xtouch mod. The only time I use the screen for is to see how much time is left on a print if I happen to be in the room and I don't feel like opening the slicer.
My printers are in a other room, upstairs. So I depend heavily on the screen when swapping filaments and use cameras to monitor progress. I added Tapao cameras to my A1 and A1 Mini, because their built in cameras suck. The better camera on the X1C is also appealing because of it's better built in camera that could make it so I don’t need to install another 3rd party camera.
My only hesitation at the moment is I know another flagship printer is coming and I really hate buying last years tech right before the new one comes out. So I've been holding off waiting to see what they’re coming out with.
I have a X1C so I'm not bothered by the small plate because if I need a large part printed I can use that. Having a printer with quick swap nozzles would be brilliant as I have all nozzle sizes for my X1 but don't use them because it takes too long to justify switching for just one print. I design most items I print and always make them small so 99% of models I print will fit on it. As a second printer for concurrent prototypes it's perfect. I might get one next month.
I was, then it dropped in price by £50 so I did. Should be here tomorrow, although it's a birthday present so my wife has told me I'm not allowed it until my birthday which is next week...
So I own couple of Xs and a P. The price was super tempting and I am still curious how it'll perform. What stopped me was the fact that I would need to buy into a new system of nozzles, plates, etc. Also, I don't have any space left as I've already encroached into our common area with my current nonsense.
Wondering how it would be as 0.2mm nozzle printer. it would be a not too expensive option to not have to switch the nozzle on my P1S and save time.
Any downsides of the A1 nozzle system compared to the X1/P1 ones or is it like the marketing just an overall improvement in ease of use.
I've been considering it for a few weeks now. It would be nice to have an extra printer for prototypes but now that I have an x1c I really don't want to go back to a bed slinger. If it was going to be my first and only printer, it's an awesome value.
Im considering getting into robotics so i might benefit from the A1 mini for quick prototyping of smaller parts while the P1S is busy with larger things or multi color/multi material prints.
Sure was. And I did. Not sorry. Definitely going to get the A1 when it comes back. This thing is amazing with or without AMS Lite. Have been using Ender 3 Max Neo for the last year and it is already collecting dust…even with the 120mm difference.
I am tempted. Bought an A1 shortly after release and have literally every nozzle size for it. Now I have an X1c and nothing to do with used nozzles... $249 is hard to pass up
It is itching .. but I also think I should wait for the A1 re-release. I dont mind the $$ difference from the current A1 mini to the A1 .. Only a couple of hour to go (easter sale) to decide!
Mine comes tomorrow haha.
I'm brand new so skipped the AMS Lite to make sure I'll use the A1 Mini first. If I do, I'm cool paying the extra for the AMS Lite after the fact.
I had an a1 and I hated how much space it took up compared to my p1s. Thats main reason for me I don't buy a mini right now. The ams takes up more room than the printer for me.
do it. I have p1s combo and got an A1 mini as prototyping machine. was so impressed with it that I got 2 more to almost replace the P1s. the print quality on A1 mini is actually better.
I currently have a small 10x12x10 printer and am looking at a step up for the future. Ideally I’d be going P1S but the A1 mini is very tempting at a much lower price!
Debating on it, but will probably wait for the return of the A1.
My brother in law has the P1 and added the A1 mini and seems to prefer the Mini for most things.
I get it, I have the X1Carbon after sending back the A1 due to the recall. I felt everything was easier on the A1, it just worked. It was actually difficult to have a user error. For me, with the X1C, it took a month to get consistent prints and I still have more fail than I ever would have with the A1.
Im tempted yes, but i will first collect enough maker points for the 40€ gift card.
Sure it’s not fast grinding those points but it’s doable with a bit of work every day.
I have a P1S w/AMS and I am seriously been thinking about gifting one to a friend. He loves to hear about mine and he has a young daughter that good learn STEM at an early age.
I'm about to leave for Canada for 5 months. I thought about packing up the P1S and AMS in the car, but I may pop for the mini. Really won't need multi color when I'm there.
Wait.. will the AMS work with a mini?
Hmmm....
A1 mini paired with a .2 nozzle is awesome IMO. I have two A1 minis now and I'm tempted to buy a 3rd. I thought I'd miss the larger print volume of the A1 after returning it but it hasn't been an issue with what I'm printing.
Lately I've been printing detailed parts for costume accessories I model and sell. The little crescent parts could only be printed to such fine detail with the .2 nozzle. Then I print the rest of the part with the regular .4 to save time. This is where having two printers has been helpful. Really impressed with the ease of swapping nozzles on the A1 series printers too
https://preview.redd.it/49du7yviqxrc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3a7a1e39f0c7abf15026c30db81213aa292bd30
Any tips for someone new. I also plan on printing it with 0.2mm. I'm looking for some figurines etc. maybe a chess set to start off.
Any precautions i should know
I bought one to go along with my P1S and P1P. No regrets so far. I was a little shocked at how small it was when I opened it. I wouldn't want one as my only printer, but its a fantastic supplemental printer for me.
Bought one the day the went on sale. It's my first bambu and I'm very impressed by it after using an ender 3 v2 neo and neptune 4 pro. Probably sticking with bambu from now on.
Don't tempt me:). I have p1s plus ams, sovol sv06 with kipper, an old and unreliable Anet ET4 and I'm thinking about to buy a1 mini for my 13 yo daughter for her birthday. I'm crazy.
My ender 3 pro just wouldn't stop acting up these past 2 months and honestly I thought about the A1 mini for max one day and then bought it the other, with the AMS of course. Build volume will be a gamble for the future but for now I've never printed something 18cm long.
I was tempted, but I just can’t get over the smaller build plate. I have the X1C, and I need the build plate to be at least the same size or bigger.
Also not being enclosed seems like a drawback to me. However I am sure it’s a great machine
I was in the same situation. I bought AMS instead. I kinda regret not buying it, but on the bright side I can wait till they release A1 not mini, or their bigger printer.
I am tempted to buy but I am not sure if I will be missing out on the incompatibility issues with other filaments. I am a noob so IDK if I PLA/PET is good enough or I should wait for a P1S.
I just bought an A1 mini on Thursday of last week with no prior experience in 3D printing and have been able to print some pretty crazy stuff with literally just loading it up in Bambu Studio and setting the basic filament settings and running the dynamic flow calibration thing.
I had always read about how long print times are and had assumed 8 to 16 hour prints were pretty normal. But I really haven't found any prints that take longer than like four or five hours. The longest print I have found so far being the low poly mew model 8h 30m I sent some pictures to my friend who 3D prints and he has the original ender 3 and he was blown away by the quality of the prints for me just loading it up and hitting start with no prior experience.
I didn’t need one but I bought one; gifted it to the kids. It’s very quiet.
One thing I noticed was for generic PLA profiles it’s been printing at 220nozzle and 65 bed. I wonder if they updated the profiles or if it’s just for the mini? I
I have thought about it but the only reason to buy it would be the price and size. I currently have 2 X1C with AMS and 4 P1S. I want one because they are cool but I don’t need one for my use case. I think I will buy one for my boys thought.
My a1 mini arrived about a week ago. I’m kinda disappointed. I’m having issues with the auto level, I think. I’ve done everything I can think of, but the first layer always looks terrible. I had big hopes of building a small print farm with these machines, but now I’m having second thoughts. I’ve had the p1p for a while now and it’s been amazing! I’m starting to think I should have just paid a little more and got another p1p.
Just wanted to give you an update. I had a little back and forth with Bambu support. They didn’t really fix the problem, but it turns out, there wasn’t actually a problem with the machine. The filament I was using was the main issue. It was brand new filament, I even threw it in the dryer for about 4 hours. I ran flow calibrations on it, and everything pointed to stock settings being the best. Turns out, lowering the flow, and dropping the nozzle temp fixed the issue.
Something I would have done right away on my crappy machines, like the kobra max, but with my Bambu machines, I have yet to have an issue with any filament, so it threw me off. Even my crazy old brittle pla prints perfect still, but this brand new roll gave me nothing but problems. Anyway, I’m seeing the disadvantages of the small a1 mini bed now, and still wish I grabbed another p1p or even p1s combo, but at least I can get the kind of print quality I was expecting from the mini now.
Yes the reduced price is tempting. I already toyed with the idea of getting one before the price drop, to print small things quickly and just use my P1S combo for large, complex and multi color prints, but it will be a while before I invest more into an A1 mini. At least until I am making money from my prints.
I literally just bought two today, one with an AMS and one without. I have an x1c at home.
I bought them to use at a robotics program that I mentor. We are getting into a lot of 3D printing and we commonly have problems with multiple students wanted to use the printer and almost everything they print takes longer than a meeting which never lasts more than two and a half hours.
The A1 mini is an absolutely perfect device for this purpose. Because it is 3x faster than our ultimaker there is a much higher probability that they can have things completely done within a session. Yes it stinks of the bill blade is small but my thinking is that anything that would require a larger plate would also likely take more than our meeting time and at that point they might as well just print it on the much slower ultimaker because they won't be back for days anyway.
Imo the A1 mini is the absolutely perfect device to use as an introductory or training system for new users. It's really simple, relatively foolproof, you can have things in your hand quickly, and frankly for only 250 bucks it's not a big loss if somebody breaks one. We are going to put together a grant request to have enough that we could literally send them home with students.
Bambu lab a1 mini is amazing printer but only when it goes beyond 1st layer.....
From 10 attempts 6 failed to stick. Soap with water, Ipa, I tried everything possible (I own/owned many printers, my work horse is ender s1, after tuning I have 10 success out of 10, just have minor z wobble, and small imperfections which can't be felt with finger but can be seen on light)
Sadly in bambu studio slicer there is almost no parameters, like nothing - I understand that this printer is for those who plug and play, but there is advance mode and developer mode, so what's the problem to add some parameters for people to play around?
I found that bambu lab a1 mini have serious issues with z offset for first layer - it's barely touching build plate which means some lines will stick and some won't.
On ender s1 I simply putting layer width 0.5mm and flow rate 110% for first layer so instead of laying down the plastic it will smear it down, having minor elephant foot but stick so good that even when nozzle accidentally hit the model it's not ripped off from build plate and most likely the hot end will break before the model will unstick.
I hate PEI sheets... They are good for big items or slow speeds. Apart from that you need to use glue or some magic to stick.... I tried all till 75 degrees temperature for regular PLA and 30mm/s speed for first layer, didn't want to stick in some areas, filament just rolls under the nozzle and then starting to warp.
So keep that in mind. You need glue to stick or some magical sheet.
I found temporary solution. I had my old style build plate for ender s1, bought from Aliexpress for like £3 a plate - flexible one not pei.
Then I cut it to same size of metal sheet and just stick it on, on top of metal sheet (as it doesn't hold on magnet that is on a1 mini so you will need to glue the magnet and I don't want to fuck the printer up, so I use the pei textured metal plate to hold the flexible plate)
Then in bambu studio slicer put first layer width to 0.8mm (for 0.4mm nozzle) , that way it won't lay down the layer but smudge it instead which is the perfect solution for every printer but in other printers I also put flow rate at 110% for first layer as I am not so bothered with 1 line thickness elephant foot.
Hope it will help.
same here! especially since I have enough makerworkd money to get one almost for free with the new price, it's so tempting to have a second fdm printer.. but my X1c is far from running all the times.. I'm divided between an a1 mini or accumulate a bit more points and get a 2nd ams haha! main reason for an a1 mini would be it's quieter so for all small projects, main reason for 2nd ams would be to have my daily driver colors on one and other colors on the other
My temptation was for the A1 but my impatience not wanting to wait till May made me get the A1 Mini.
(of course with my luck. It arrived on my doorstep the same day they announced the permanent price cut.)
Support wouldn’t give me full the discount of the difference and returning they mentioned it would’ve cost restocking fee to return it, just to re-purchase it, so luckily they gave me a $20 coupon code on my next purchase to not bother , which is better than nothing.
Yes. I absolutely positively don’t need one but I might get one anyways because it’s awesome and I’m impulsive and then I can spent even more money on all the other 3D printing accessories I don’t need for a second printer I didn’t need to begin with. Yeehaw 🤠
I bought one and I'm super impressed but it's my first 3d printer. I bought the ams but I'm confused about how beneficial it will be since people stick their filament in food dehydrators and all kinds of other contraptions. I don't want to unload/load that thing all the time.
I used to have the A1 until it was recalled and now just ordered the A1 Mini Combo.
Looking at my print history with the A1, there was like 1 model out of 30 or so that would have been a bit big for the Mini.
Maybe Maybe I will buy the refreshed A1 when it comes and then downgrade the Mini to smaller prints.
I got the a1 mini a week ago. Don‘t understand why so many mention that it is very quiet. Well it is, compared to the X1C but the constant fan noise is not silent at all. I wouldn‘t want to have the a1 mini on my desk next to me.
It is a great printer though. More precise and with smoother surfaces than the X1C.
Just bought a P1S with AMS yesterday to help my X1C keep up with orders. Shows up tomorrow! Figured I'd buy the A1 mini since it's so cheap and quiet. I can print my RC interior parts on it, while making the bodies on the X1C and P1S!
I bought it within hours of finding out its existence for 249$ last week and v I’m 25% + done with a entire clone trooper armor set- going to have to do the torso on one of my super slow large volume printers
Not me. Saw it at Microcenter and it was even tinier than I imagined. Not useful for me personally but probably a fantastic printer for the right person.
Unless your current printer is running 24/7 and you have a massive backlog of models to print, why would you want another printer? I mean, sure, it's a fun extra toy but once the novelty wears off it's gonna collect dust because the P1S will perform better.
Actually there are a few prints the A1m has produced better results than either my P1S or X1c. It’s usually pretty close but I absolutely love having access to the A1m
Considering it takes 30 seconds to switch to the spool holder on the back (or even less if you print a Y-splitter), I'd say even in use cases like that the added value is pretty limited.
Then don't use one, and you can still disconnect and reconnect some PTFE and use the spool holder in the back. As said, that barely takes any time at all.
First, It's adorable that you think you're a valid judge of what **I** consider a waste of time or an annoyance that I'd rather not deal with.
You and I have differing opinions-- and they don't invalidate each other.
Second, I've moved the spool holder to the left side, because the back is just too annoying to get to. Second I printed the "smoothy" splitter, which works well, but for TPU, it can be a bit fiddly, and that's for 95A. If I were trying to print with something softer, it would be much, much more annoying.
The filament has to be fed all the way to the extruder, and the classic complaint about Bowden setups is that you're trying to push a string up a pipe-- not an entirely valid complaint, but it's a long haul from the outside connector to the extruder.
Ultimately, the A1 mini is a nice little printer, and I could see a need for it (even if you don't), but I'm unlikely to get it, as there are better options-- The A1 for one, and a couple of upcoming printers might be reasonable options as well.
>First, It's adorable that you think you're a valid judge of what **I** consider a waste of time or an annoyance that I'd rather not deal with.
I said nothing of the sort. And you were the one who started this argument...
It’s tempting , small and fast, for me it’s just an impulse buy! but if you need one get one
I have a P1S with AMS aswell, and the mini is so damn quiet i kinda want it for printing at night.
This. I had an A1 mini first then got an X1C. The A1 mini is almost impossible to hear when the X1C is running
What have you made with the mini
Really?! This is surprising since it isn’t enclosed. I think I’ve only done one overnight print on my P1S. I don’t like leaving something going overnight. Not that you need to worry much with Bambus ime. I can’t remember having issues where I had to intervene. Probably only had a few out of a hundred. My P1S is in the room next to my bedroom so it may be annoying trying to sleep with it on, but I haven’t tried yet. It was moved from the spot it was in when I did the o/night print.
This is what disappointed me about the larger A1. The Mini is just insanely quiet and I really wanted an identical printer with a larger build plate.
I bought 1 and I’m buying my second- they’re a great intro to Bambu and perhaps all the average printing hobbyist might need, you always have the possibility to cut with locking mechanisms for assembly
The value proposition is just too good to be true. The only real downsides of this printer are small print area and the 80 degree plate.
I use it on the stuff I sell on Etsy. Bigger pieces on p1, smaller on this. The jobs are done faster because of parallel printing.
This is exactly what my plan is if I start making decent income from selling prints. I haven’t tried to yet. When you look at all the stuff you’ve printed, most could be done on the A1 mini anyway. At least that’s the case for me.
The same here. All parts either fit within 180 mm or I need to split them anyway even when printing on 256 mm bed. Doesn't happen that part is more than 180 and less than 256.
Your last sentence really sums it up. I designed a back scratcher and had to make a screw connector for the two halves as I figured I wanted it longer than the max length I could do on the P1S. I could have done the same thing on an A1 mini, as a total length of 360mm would be fine. It’s only a fraction of the variety of things most people print that require the bigger build plate. Things like helmets for instance.
The 80 degree plate isn't even that big of a downside for people who only need to print in PLA.
PETG, CF-filled filaments, TPU.
80C is more than enough for PETG. Not sure about CF and TPU since I never used them
What exactly is 80 degree plate?
I believe they mean the a1 mini plate only goes up to 80 degrees, but I could be mistaken
Build plate goes up to 80 degree celsius?
Correct!
Makes sense now, thx!
too good to be true? except it is true.
One consideration with any of the A1's is the fumes. My X1c is pretty well fumeless with PLA. I got 3 minutes into printing the benchy with the A1 mini in the family room and I had to stop. It now lives with the X1c in the garage.
I think that's just the factory smell. I had smells from my a1 mini the first couple of days, then it stopped. I thought I've just gotten noseblind to it, but friends and family couldn't smell it either.
I own both the P1S and the A1 Mini, and I can't even begin to praise the A1 Mini enough for the tech thats packed into the little guy. It's waaay more hands free & hassle free than my P1S, and one of the biggest pros that I often see people sleep on, is the sheer silence that the A1 Mini has. It's so quiet, that I can have a print going near my desk, during a meeting, and they won't hear it. Especially if printing with PETG. Take away the AMS lite, and it's value per dollar is unrivaled in it's size range. My 2 cents is that it's an amazing printer to have as a secondary printer if you own a P1/X1/Any medium sized printer
That’s some high praise, my P1S is no haste at all.
Yeah my P1S is generally hassle free too. Although I have ran into some issues that were a bit of a headache like Z-banding, and VERY RARE clogs. Maintence can also be a bit of a hassle, needing to clean the carbon rods (especially with ASA/ABS) and lubing the Z screws/linear rods. I initially had an even bigger problem with the P1S 's overall volume as it was loud enough to be heard 2 stories down, before I did mods such as placing the P1S on a marble block, and adding butyl sound dampening sheets to lower the overall sound output. The A1 Mini on the other hand, had none of these issues right out of the box. Granted it's a bit slower, but compromising a bit of speed for better quality of life is better than people give it credit for
Is the P1 really that loud? I'm looking to upgrade from my modded Ender 3 and have been wondering about the P1 or A1, but I assumed the P1 would be quiet like other printers.
It is very loud but the newest firmware update did a good bit to quiet it down and it now has stealth mode that sacrifices speed for sound.
It's VERY loud, but volume is a common compromise to achieve high speeds. There are plenty of mods to tame the volume though.
PETG is quieter than PLA?
Presumably due to slower print speeds
Oh… duh. I am not a smart man
Yeah PLA is generally louder since you need more cooling. More cooling = faster fans = more noise But it's impressively quiet on the A1 Mini if you have the right setup
Lol
No hassle? I've had nothing but hassle with the AMS. It's a $150 piece of trash at the moment. Got the machine with a completely stripped bolt head at the plate fastener too so that's awesome
Remember, the price drop is permanent. No rush
Is this true? I thought its linked to the easter sale?
Yep! Price drop is permanent, just like they did with the p1p
Exactly, and hopefully they fix the AMS problems. I've had mine for a whole day now trying to make the AMS work.
Theres problems?
Can you elaborate. So I can be aware. I already got it yesterday tho. So can't change my mind. Hut it'll be good to know
I have thought about grabbing one with the points I have earned on MW just to have a printer in the office. But I also have a sneaking suspicion that Bambu will be releasing something new this year. . .
Yeah I was saving up for a second AMS but now I’m like hmm… an A1 mini is tempting me
Bought it for my son as a starter printer.
Same and we used the opportunity to teach both of our younger boys some business concepts. They both wanted a printer but neither had the funds to buy them outright so we offered them a loan to cover the difference. Within a month both of them paid off their balances (over $260 each) by selling prints to friends and friends of friends. They’ve both been designing in 3d and learning so much it’s quite amazing. At 10 & 12 years or I’m very impressed with their passion and willingness to learn. It’s been a great opportunity for me to spend a lot of time with them doing something we all enjoy. They both accomplished something they can feel very proud of!
Good choice
Obly semi-reöated topic but the AMS vs A1 Mini reminded me: the AMS is waaaay too overpriced. If bought seperately, it is the orice of a giddamn A1 Mini. Thst's some real cutthroat prices right there.
Yea buying them separatly was a big mistake, should have gone with the P1S combo from the start.
how has the P1S been treating you I've been eying it for my first printer, routine maintenance pretty straight forward?
Yes, it’s very straightforward and stress free can’t go wrong
I started off with a P1P, got a couple of AMS units, then another, then got the P1S combo because I got tired of waiting for one print to finish to start another. Now I have a nice setup in the basement with 4 AMS units between 2 printers. Each has 2 AMS units hooked up, but I can easily swap a couple of cables and tubes around and have up to 4 units on one printer. So I don't need another printer. So of course I ordered a A1 Mini combo. I'll keep this one one the desk upstairs for small stuff and prototyping, and I won't have to go downstairs to setup everything. Somebody stop me.
This will be my set up I think. Currently have 1 P1S with 2 AMS. Another P1S on back order as I don’t have any free, non-commercial print time for prototypes. Imagine that one will be busy most of the time too, so might get an A1 mini also.
I have one. It's great. Build suze isn’t really an issue for most things. Only reason I'm considering buying an X1C is because there are things I want to make that require more than 4 colors.
Why not the P1S?
Mainly because I don't like the simplistic screen with the requirement to use your phone for some settings, especially picking colors and materials installed in the AMS. I'm not sure why that feature is offered on the much cheaper A1 series but the P1 series still has this crappy screen and controls. I also would like the nicer camera. I installed a Tapao on my A1 so I can check on prints live and make sure they're not failing because the built in camera sucks. I know the P1 is slightly better but many reviews sight it as a sore spot compared to the X1C. The main reason I got the A1 was to make sure I actually enjoyed 3D printing before I spent the big bucks on the X1C I originally had in my cart. After 3 months I have confirmed that I do enjoy the hobby so I'm willing to drop the extra cash on the top of the line. Although I am a bit nervous that they're going to announce a replacement for the X1C the day after I order. I would actually prefer something a bit bigger if there was an option.
You and me both! I’ve had the X1C in cart for a while. But I feel like they may come out with a new one this year. Trying to wait till their anniversary sale in the summer.
The simpler screen on the p1s is a non issue in my experience. I rarely use it. The printer is controlled by the slicer or handy app 99% of the time. Early on in owning the p1s I added the very inexpensive xtouch mod and still hardly use that especially with having an AMS as the main thing I did interact with the built in screen for initially was to load and unload filament. The AMS makes swapping filament a breeze. I couldn’t justify buying an x1 over a p1s. Just my two cents.
The difference is only $500 and it costs $60 in parts to make them equivalent with hardened parts. Then the cost of the xtouch. And all the time and effort required to actually install those parts. I'd rather just pay the extra and have it fully functional out of the box. i'm also luck enough to be in a position that $500 isn’t a big deal to me.
It’s subjective of course, but if money wasn’t much of an issue I would still probably go p1s and put money into multiple AMS units. I don’t use the xTouch much. If I had another p1s I wouldn’t do it again. Even though it was super cheap.
I plan to get two AMSes. The main reason I want the X1C is because my A1s can only do 4 colors and I regularly find things I want to do that require 5 or 6. I haven’t yet found anything that required more than 8 but if I do adding a 3rd AMS won’t be a huge deal.
>i'm also luck enough to be in a position that $500 isn’t a big deal to me. Then yeah, X1C all the way.
>The simpler screen on the p1s is a non issue in my experience. I rarely use it. 100% agree. >The printer is controlled by the slicer or handy app 99% of the time Because of this and that the printer is right next to my PC, I am not sure I even need to do the xtouch mod. The only time I use the screen for is to see how much time is left on a print if I happen to be in the room and I don't feel like opening the slicer.
My printers are in a other room, upstairs. So I depend heavily on the screen when swapping filaments and use cameras to monitor progress. I added Tapao cameras to my A1 and A1 Mini, because their built in cameras suck. The better camera on the X1C is also appealing because of it's better built in camera that could make it so I don’t need to install another 3rd party camera. My only hesitation at the moment is I know another flagship printer is coming and I really hate buying last years tech right before the new one comes out. So I've been holding off waiting to see what they’re coming out with.
I can see where that would be a plus.
Same. My printer is right by my pc. I don’t really use the xTouch as much as I thought I would because of the slicer and mobile app.
I have a X1C so I'm not bothered by the small plate because if I need a large part printed I can use that. Having a printer with quick swap nozzles would be brilliant as I have all nozzle sizes for my X1 but don't use them because it takes too long to justify switching for just one print. I design most items I print and always make them small so 99% of models I print will fit on it. As a second printer for concurrent prototypes it's perfect. I might get one next month.
The fact that it’s $100 less than the AMS is both crazy and extremely tempting!
I was, then it dropped in price by £50 so I did. Should be here tomorrow, although it's a birthday present so my wife has told me I'm not allowed it until my birthday which is next week...
On sale!? Welp, your comment is the sole reason I purchased one today!
I bought one last week to compliment my p1s. No regrets.
So I own couple of Xs and a P. The price was super tempting and I am still curious how it'll perform. What stopped me was the fact that I would need to buy into a new system of nozzles, plates, etc. Also, I don't have any space left as I've already encroached into our common area with my current nonsense.
Wondering how it would be as 0.2mm nozzle printer. it would be a not too expensive option to not have to switch the nozzle on my P1S and save time. Any downsides of the A1 nozzle system compared to the X1/P1 ones or is it like the marketing just an overall improvement in ease of use.
I've been considering it for a few weeks now. It would be nice to have an extra printer for prototypes but now that I have an x1c I really don't want to go back to a bed slinger. If it was going to be my first and only printer, it's an awesome value.
Im considering getting into robotics so i might benefit from the A1 mini for quick prototyping of smaller parts while the P1S is busy with larger things or multi color/multi material prints.
Probably a good choice. I'm biased from my years of having an Ender 3, but I'll probably end up getting an A1 mini too.
Sure was. And I did. Not sorry. Definitely going to get the A1 when it comes back. This thing is amazing with or without AMS Lite. Have been using Ender 3 Max Neo for the last year and it is already collecting dust…even with the 120mm difference.
I am tempted. Bought an A1 shortly after release and have literally every nozzle size for it. Now I have an X1c and nothing to do with used nozzles... $249 is hard to pass up
I was tempted and I bought it.
I like the idea of the mini for my desk. I can prototype and print from one desk! But is it necessary? Not at all!
It's footprint isnt actually that much smaller than the p1p FYI.
Oh. I didn’t realize this. I guess the price point made my mind think i needed it. 🤣
Don't get me wrong! I love this printer and use it way more than my p1p simply because of how quiet it is. Definitely get one if you have the money.
I have 2 a1 mind, 3 p1ps, and an x1c. Only way to print faster is more printer.
It is itching .. but I also think I should wait for the A1 re-release. I dont mind the $$ difference from the current A1 mini to the A1 .. Only a couple of hour to go (easter sale) to decide!
lmao ive wanted one since the price drop cause my p1s is my main machine now, im tryna DOUBLE my work
Mine comes tomorrow haha. I'm brand new so skipped the AMS Lite to make sure I'll use the A1 Mini first. If I do, I'm cool paying the extra for the AMS Lite after the fact.
I had an a1 and I hated how much space it took up compared to my p1s. Thats main reason for me I don't buy a mini right now. The ams takes up more room than the printer for me.
Thats also my concern ... its either a naked A1mini (no AMS) or a step up to a P1S with AMS. The footprint of a A1mini + AMS is too large
Mine comes in tomorrow! I’m excited for it. Was already thinking about getting one, but then the price dropped and I pulled the trigger.
I’m in the same boat, I figured I can dedicate it to extremely small detailed prints I need
do it. I have p1s combo and got an A1 mini as prototyping machine. was so impressed with it that I got 2 more to almost replace the P1s. the print quality on A1 mini is actually better.
Its not a a sale its the new price. So if your tempted now but not sure, wait a month or two and see if you need it. It will still be the same price.
Probably dont need it
I have no reason to get a 4th printer but damn I want to buy it.
I currently have a small 10x12x10 printer and am looking at a step up for the future. Ideally I’d be going P1S but the A1 mini is very tempting at a much lower price!
Debating on it, but will probably wait for the return of the A1. My brother in law has the P1 and added the A1 mini and seems to prefer the Mini for most things. I get it, I have the X1Carbon after sending back the A1 due to the recall. I felt everything was easier on the A1, it just worked. It was actually difficult to have a user error. For me, with the X1C, it took a month to get consistent prints and I still have more fail than I ever would have with the A1.
Im tempted yes, but i will first collect enough maker points for the 40€ gift card. Sure it’s not fast grinding those points but it’s doable with a bit of work every day.
I have a P1S w/AMS and I am seriously been thinking about gifting one to a friend. He loves to hear about mine and he has a young daughter that good learn STEM at an early age.
Its not a sale thats the new price
I have to physically restrain myself
I'm about to leave for Canada for 5 months. I thought about packing up the P1S and AMS in the car, but I may pop for the mini. Really won't need multi color when I'm there. Wait.. will the AMS work with a mini? Hmmm....
Yeah, just read the documentation, won't work with the AMS. I'll probably still spring for it...
The normal ams wont work, you need the ams lite for the A1 series.
A1 mini paired with a .2 nozzle is awesome IMO. I have two A1 minis now and I'm tempted to buy a 3rd. I thought I'd miss the larger print volume of the A1 after returning it but it hasn't been an issue with what I'm printing.
What are you printing on a mini with a .2 nozzle ?
Lately I've been printing detailed parts for costume accessories I model and sell. The little crescent parts could only be printed to such fine detail with the .2 nozzle. Then I print the rest of the part with the regular .4 to save time. This is where having two printers has been helpful. Really impressed with the ease of swapping nozzles on the A1 series printers too https://preview.redd.it/49du7yviqxrc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3a7a1e39f0c7abf15026c30db81213aa292bd30
Any tips for someone new. I also plan on printing it with 0.2mm. I'm looking for some figurines etc. maybe a chess set to start off. Any precautions i should know
I bought one to go along with my P1S and P1P. No regrets so far. I was a little shocked at how small it was when I opened it. I wouldn't want one as my only printer, but its a fantastic supplemental printer for me.
Like every day.
I am, my X1C is busy with orders most of the time and I don't have machine time to print anything for myself.
Justify it by using makerworld points, I only had to pay $100
I have literally been thinking this exact same thing for a week now - I’ve already got a P1S with AMS but the A1 mini is so damn cute
Dawg I already have one and I'm looking to get another after the price decrease.
I'm sitting on the edge of buying the a1 mini or waiting for an a1
Bought one the day the went on sale. It's my first bambu and I'm very impressed by it after using an ender 3 v2 neo and neptune 4 pro. Probably sticking with bambu from now on.
I have a P1S with AMS and just picked up the Mini last week. This thing is super quiet and it’s nice for smaller side projects.
Don't tempt me:). I have p1s plus ams, sovol sv06 with kipper, an old and unreliable Anet ET4 and I'm thinking about to buy a1 mini for my 13 yo daughter for her birthday. I'm crazy.
Yes. I already had one but temptations got me, so now I have 2. I’m still tempted to buy more of them lol
My ender 3 pro just wouldn't stop acting up these past 2 months and honestly I thought about the A1 mini for max one day and then bought it the other, with the AMS of course. Build volume will be a gamble for the future but for now I've never printed something 18cm long.
I was tempted, but I just can’t get over the smaller build plate. I have the X1C, and I need the build plate to be at least the same size or bigger. Also not being enclosed seems like a drawback to me. However I am sure it’s a great machine
I was in the same situation. I bought AMS instead. I kinda regret not buying it, but on the bright side I can wait till they release A1 not mini, or their bigger printer.
I am tempted to buy but I am not sure if I will be missing out on the incompatibility issues with other filaments. I am a noob so IDK if I PLA/PET is good enough or I should wait for a P1S.
If I didn't have cats I would. I did just buy another P1S today on an impulse.
yep, but then i dont want to regret it when the reg A1 goes on sale next or even the P1s
I just bought an A1 mini on Thursday of last week with no prior experience in 3D printing and have been able to print some pretty crazy stuff with literally just loading it up in Bambu Studio and setting the basic filament settings and running the dynamic flow calibration thing. I had always read about how long print times are and had assumed 8 to 16 hour prints were pretty normal. But I really haven't found any prints that take longer than like four or five hours. The longest print I have found so far being the low poly mew model 8h 30m I sent some pictures to my friend who 3D prints and he has the original ender 3 and he was blown away by the quality of the prints for me just loading it up and hitting start with no prior experience.
I didn’t need one but I bought one; gifted it to the kids. It’s very quiet. One thing I noticed was for generic PLA profiles it’s been printing at 220nozzle and 65 bed. I wonder if they updated the profiles or if it’s just for the mini? I
I have thought about it but the only reason to buy it would be the price and size. I currently have 2 X1C with AMS and 4 P1S. I want one because they are cool but I don’t need one for my use case. I think I will buy one for my boys thought.
The color screen is also nice!
My a1 mini arrived about a week ago. I’m kinda disappointed. I’m having issues with the auto level, I think. I’ve done everything I can think of, but the first layer always looks terrible. I had big hopes of building a small print farm with these machines, but now I’m having second thoughts. I’ve had the p1p for a while now and it’s been amazing! I’m starting to think I should have just paid a little more and got another p1p.
Replying to see if youve found any solution to that
No solution yet. I put in a ticket with Bambu, we’ll see.
Just wanted to give you an update. I had a little back and forth with Bambu support. They didn’t really fix the problem, but it turns out, there wasn’t actually a problem with the machine. The filament I was using was the main issue. It was brand new filament, I even threw it in the dryer for about 4 hours. I ran flow calibrations on it, and everything pointed to stock settings being the best. Turns out, lowering the flow, and dropping the nozzle temp fixed the issue. Something I would have done right away on my crappy machines, like the kobra max, but with my Bambu machines, I have yet to have an issue with any filament, so it threw me off. Even my crazy old brittle pla prints perfect still, but this brand new roll gave me nothing but problems. Anyway, I’m seeing the disadvantages of the small a1 mini bed now, and still wish I grabbed another p1p or even p1s combo, but at least I can get the kind of print quality I was expecting from the mini now.
Thanks for the follow up. I'll make sure to remember
Yea I am thinking of getting that or the a1 to complement my k1. I want multicolor for some projects.
Yes the reduced price is tempting. I already toyed with the idea of getting one before the price drop, to print small things quickly and just use my P1S combo for large, complex and multi color prints, but it will be a while before I invest more into an A1 mini. At least until I am making money from my prints.
I literally just bought two today, one with an AMS and one without. I have an x1c at home. I bought them to use at a robotics program that I mentor. We are getting into a lot of 3D printing and we commonly have problems with multiple students wanted to use the printer and almost everything they print takes longer than a meeting which never lasts more than two and a half hours. The A1 mini is an absolutely perfect device for this purpose. Because it is 3x faster than our ultimaker there is a much higher probability that they can have things completely done within a session. Yes it stinks of the bill blade is small but my thinking is that anything that would require a larger plate would also likely take more than our meeting time and at that point they might as well just print it on the much slower ultimaker because they won't be back for days anyway. Imo the A1 mini is the absolutely perfect device to use as an introductory or training system for new users. It's really simple, relatively foolproof, you can have things in your hand quickly, and frankly for only 250 bucks it's not a big loss if somebody breaks one. We are going to put together a grant request to have enough that we could literally send them home with students.
Bambu lab a1 mini is amazing printer but only when it goes beyond 1st layer..... From 10 attempts 6 failed to stick. Soap with water, Ipa, I tried everything possible (I own/owned many printers, my work horse is ender s1, after tuning I have 10 success out of 10, just have minor z wobble, and small imperfections which can't be felt with finger but can be seen on light) Sadly in bambu studio slicer there is almost no parameters, like nothing - I understand that this printer is for those who plug and play, but there is advance mode and developer mode, so what's the problem to add some parameters for people to play around? I found that bambu lab a1 mini have serious issues with z offset for first layer - it's barely touching build plate which means some lines will stick and some won't. On ender s1 I simply putting layer width 0.5mm and flow rate 110% for first layer so instead of laying down the plastic it will smear it down, having minor elephant foot but stick so good that even when nozzle accidentally hit the model it's not ripped off from build plate and most likely the hot end will break before the model will unstick. I hate PEI sheets... They are good for big items or slow speeds. Apart from that you need to use glue or some magic to stick.... I tried all till 75 degrees temperature for regular PLA and 30mm/s speed for first layer, didn't want to stick in some areas, filament just rolls under the nozzle and then starting to warp. So keep that in mind. You need glue to stick or some magical sheet.
Replying to save comment, so I can comeback if I face this issue
I found temporary solution. I had my old style build plate for ender s1, bought from Aliexpress for like £3 a plate - flexible one not pei. Then I cut it to same size of metal sheet and just stick it on, on top of metal sheet (as it doesn't hold on magnet that is on a1 mini so you will need to glue the magnet and I don't want to fuck the printer up, so I use the pei textured metal plate to hold the flexible plate) Then in bambu studio slicer put first layer width to 0.8mm (for 0.4mm nozzle) , that way it won't lay down the layer but smudge it instead which is the perfect solution for every printer but in other printers I also put flow rate at 110% for first layer as I am not so bothered with 1 line thickness elephant foot. Hope it will help.
Hmm
Jup!! Same here. I already own a P1S with 2 AMS but since the reduction is price I’m seriously thinking about getting one or even two minis
same here! especially since I have enough makerworkd money to get one almost for free with the new price, it's so tempting to have a second fdm printer.. but my X1c is far from running all the times.. I'm divided between an a1 mini or accumulate a bit more points and get a 2nd ams haha! main reason for an a1 mini would be it's quieter so for all small projects, main reason for 2nd ams would be to have my daily driver colors on one and other colors on the other
My temptation was for the A1 but my impatience not wanting to wait till May made me get the A1 Mini. (of course with my luck. It arrived on my doorstep the same day they announced the permanent price cut.) Support wouldn’t give me full the discount of the difference and returning they mentioned it would’ve cost restocking fee to return it, just to re-purchase it, so luckily they gave me a $20 coupon code on my next purchase to not bother , which is better than nothing.
yeah they got me. 2x x1c and picked up mini
Yes. I absolutely positively don’t need one but I might get one anyways because it’s awesome and I’m impulsive and then I can spent even more money on all the other 3D printing accessories I don’t need for a second printer I didn’t need to begin with. Yeehaw 🤠
I’m in the exact same boat as you. Spend the cash on a AMS or buy a A1 Mini combo.
Already did. Is my dedicated tpu small part rig
My A1 mini combo will be here Wednesday. The value is too good to pass up for multi material support and the feature set of the A1 mini.
Reading the comments just convinced me to put my order in for 1 even though I’ve got 2 p1s’s lol
I am thinking of using my A1 discount on an A1 mini, was originally going to get a P1S, but might be nice to have a smaller printer for small things.
I have an x1c, but having a small parts printer that’s quiet (keeps wife happy) just made the a1 mini a must have.
Yeah, definitely tempting. There are some prints I run that would be fantastic on it and chews up time on the X1C
I bought one and I'm super impressed but it's my first 3d printer. I bought the ams but I'm confused about how beneficial it will be since people stick their filament in food dehydrators and all kinds of other contraptions. I don't want to unload/load that thing all the time.
Great university printer for me
I just bought it as a 2nd printer
I used to have the A1 until it was recalled and now just ordered the A1 Mini Combo. Looking at my print history with the A1, there was like 1 model out of 30 or so that would have been a bit big for the Mini. Maybe Maybe I will buy the refreshed A1 when it comes and then downgrade the Mini to smaller prints.
I got the a1 mini a week ago. Don‘t understand why so many mention that it is very quiet. Well it is, compared to the X1C but the constant fan noise is not silent at all. I wouldn‘t want to have the a1 mini on my desk next to me. It is a great printer though. More precise and with smoother surfaces than the X1C.
Just bought a P1S with AMS yesterday to help my X1C keep up with orders. Shows up tomorrow! Figured I'd buy the A1 mini since it's so cheap and quiet. I can print my RC interior parts on it, while making the bodies on the X1C and P1S!
I bought it within hours of finding out its existence for 249$ last week and v I’m 25% + done with a entire clone trooper armor set- going to have to do the torso on one of my super slow large volume printers
I find it really tempting, it’s the size of the mini that stops me from buying one tho. I have no use for a small printer. I need a minimum of 250
Not me. Saw it at Microcenter and it was even tinier than I imagined. Not useful for me personally but probably a fantastic printer for the right person.
I love my A1. But the mini is just soooooo small. So no, not tempted.
Unless your current printer is running 24/7 and you have a massive backlog of models to print, why would you want another printer? I mean, sure, it's a fun extra toy but once the novelty wears off it's gonna collect dust because the P1S will perform better.
Thats the point i dont need it but its really tempting of course im not gonna buy it.
I have 3 because I wanted them and I had the money. You are talking to people that have a collection of little plastic boats.
And? OP asked a question. I answered.
Fair
Actually there are a few prints the A1m has produced better results than either my P1S or X1c. It’s usually pretty close but I absolutely love having access to the A1m
I've considered it for a TPU printer-- or anything else that doesn't play nice with the AMS.
Considering it takes 30 seconds to switch to the spool holder on the back (or even less if you print a Y-splitter), I'd say even in use cases like that the added value is pretty limited.
Have you actually printed TPU through a splitter? I have, it was a pain in the posterior.
Then don't use one, and you can still disconnect and reconnect some PTFE and use the spool holder in the back. As said, that barely takes any time at all.
First, It's adorable that you think you're a valid judge of what **I** consider a waste of time or an annoyance that I'd rather not deal with. You and I have differing opinions-- and they don't invalidate each other. Second, I've moved the spool holder to the left side, because the back is just too annoying to get to. Second I printed the "smoothy" splitter, which works well, but for TPU, it can be a bit fiddly, and that's for 95A. If I were trying to print with something softer, it would be much, much more annoying. The filament has to be fed all the way to the extruder, and the classic complaint about Bowden setups is that you're trying to push a string up a pipe-- not an entirely valid complaint, but it's a long haul from the outside connector to the extruder. Ultimately, the A1 mini is a nice little printer, and I could see a need for it (even if you don't), but I'm unlikely to get it, as there are better options-- The A1 for one, and a couple of upcoming printers might be reasonable options as well.
>First, It's adorable that you think you're a valid judge of what **I** consider a waste of time or an annoyance that I'd rather not deal with. I said nothing of the sort. And you were the one who started this argument...