Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 3D Printer Review: If it fits your budget, buy it!
The Bambu Lab X1-Carbon delivers fast, high-temperature multicolor printing with a streamlined workflow designed for both novice and prosumer audiences.
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Key Features
- Automatic Material System (AMS)
- Effortless and clean support removal
- Multicolor printing capabilities
- Worry-free overnight prints
- High-strength, durable PA-CF materials use
Technical Features
- All-Metal Hotend – 300℃
- Hardened Steel Nozzle – 50 HRC
- Hotbed – 120℃
- Chamber Temperature – 60℃
- Auxiliary Part Cooling Fan – 12W
- 7 μm Lidar Resolution
3D Printer that you can use right out of the box to print almost anything with ease. That is the promise of Bambu Lab’s X1 Carbon model with a built in AMS system. Did the team of five highly skilled engineers that worked for Chinese backed tech giant DJI delivered on their Kickstarter campaign promise? This review will help us understand what makes this such a sought after printer for both novice and experienced users.
Before we go into detail of what’s included in the packaging, let’s analyze the pricing model of the offer.
Pricing Options
The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon AMS bundle includes one AMS unit and 3 sample spools. You can also get the printer without an AMS unit and you also have the option to add up to 4 AMS units on a single printer using an AMS hub. Here are all your available options:
Get Your X1C Today
- Bambu Lab X1 Carbon AMS bundle – $1449
- Bambu Lab X1 Carbon no AMS – $1199
- Only AMS unit – $349
- AMS Hub – $48.99
If this is your first purchase of the X1 series we recommend going with the bundle option.
Here’s what’s included.
Unboxing
The packaging of the printer is extremely safe and each piece of equipment is well protected with sturdy foam. The AMS is screwed in the inside of the printer for maximum protection.
Here’s a list of everything included in the package:
- Bambu Lab X1 Carbon
- Bambu Lab AMS
- Build Plate
- Cold Build Plate print stickers
- 3x250g Filaments
- PLA Orange
- PLA White (for supports only)
- PA Carbon fiber
- Touchscreen 5” (1280×720 resolution)
- Printed Manuals
- Accessories:
- Spool holder
- Spare hot end
- Nozzle wiping pads
- Filament cutters
- Razor for model peeling
- 6 pin and 4 pin cables
- Power cord
- Lubricant for the motion system
- H 1.5 and 2 Allen keys
- Needle for cleaning the printer’s nose
- Glue stick to use on the print base
Installation
Following the Quick Start instructions will help you a lot. Here you can find instructional videos by scanning the QR codes. Time to completion is around half an hour.
Here’s a step by step guide:
1. Unboxing
- Carefully remove the printer from the box.
- Inside, you’ll find the AMS spool kit and some protective covers. Remove them before proceeding.
2. Remove the AMS (Automatic Material System)
- Take out the toolkit from the box. Use the provided 2mm Allen key to remove the screws marked with red tape.
- After removing the screws, gently lift the AMS unit out of the printer.
3. Remove Protective Covers
- Remove the protective foam and cardboard covers from the printer, especially around the print bed and other sensitive areas.
4. Connect the AMS
- At the back of the printer, attach the white hose to the AMS spool feeding system.
- Connect the electrical cables: plug the 6-pin cable from the AMS into the main unit and the 4-pin cable with the 90° connector to the printer.
5. Install the Spool Holder
- Attach the spool holder to the back of the printer using the provided screws.
6. Remove Bed Screws
- On the front side of the printer, remove the remaining screws located in the bed area.
7. Install the Touchscreen
- Carefully connect the ribbon cable for the touchscreen, making sure to follow the instructions to avoid damage.
- Snap the touchscreen into place on the front of the printer.
8. Power On and Initial Setup
- Turn the power on and remove the screen protector.
- Go through the startup menu to select your language and region.
- Connect the printer to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
9. AMS Calibration
- The printer will automatically calibrate, so allow it to complete this process.
10. Load Filament
- Open the AMS unit and load a spool of filament. The AMS system will automatically feed the filament into the printer.
11. Insert SD Card
- Insert an SD card into the printer for saving time-lapse videos and other files.
- Ensure the SD card is formatted as FAT32 to avoid errors.
- The card isn’t required to send files to the printer, check the first bulletpoint.
12. Ready to Print
- Select a pre-loaded file or upload a new file, then begin printing. You can monitor your print progress via the built-in camera and control the printer remotely if necessary.
Pro Tip
The above list includes everything included in the package. If you need additional tools, the 3D designs are installed and you’ll need to print them yourself. Example of this is the handle for the removal razor.
The goal of this approach is to reduce the use of plastic. That’s also why when you use all of your filament, you can order a refill and use the same spool.
Printing
Auto Bed Leveling
Auto bed leveling is a feature that helps ensure that the print surface is perfectly level before beginning a print. On the X1-Carbon, this process is automatic and highly efficient. The printer uses a combination of 7 μm Lidar Resolution and analog force sensors to measure the bed’s calibration and set the Z-offset. This Z-offset is crucial for ensuring that the nozzle is at the correct height relative to the bed during printing.
The printer’s sensors will move around the bed, measuring the distance between the nozzle and the print surface at multiple points. These measurements help the printer compensate for any minor inconsistencies in the bed’s flatness, ensuring that the first layer of the print adheres properly.
Automatic bed leveling saves time and frustration by eliminating the need for manual adjustments, which would traditionally involve turning knobs under the print bed. For the X1-Carbon, this process is particularly streamlined because it completes the bed leveling before each print, ensuring consistency with every job.
First Layer Inspection
In addition to the auto bed leveling, the X1-Carbon performs a first layer inspection using its LIDAR sensor. After the first layer is printed, the sensor scans the surface to detect any issues with adhesion. If parts of the layer do not adhere properly, the printer will pause, allowing the user to inspect and fix the issue before continuing. While this inspection adds a few minutes to the print time, it enhances the quality of the final print by catching potential issues early on.
Starting a Print
After bed leveling and first layer inspection have completed, you can proceed to start your first print.
Preparing the Print Bed
You may want to apply a thin layer of adhesive, such as Elmer’s glue, to the print bed to ensure strong adhesion. This step can be done right before the print starts using your glue gun.
Loading Filament
Ensure that the filament is properly loaded into AMS unit on the top of the printer, by opening it up and adding the filament to the stool. For users that don’t have the AMS, there is a filament holder on the back of the printer.
If the X1-Carbon detects residual filament from a previous job, it will perform a purge (filament ejection) through what is humorously referred to as the “Poop Shoot” to clean out the old color or filament. You’ll also need to detect the color and type of filament you’re using before starting the print. For users that want to start of with multi color printing, you’ll need to map out the areas on the 3D model on your screen.
Selecting Design
If this is your first print, you can select one of the already available designs in the printer’s system. Alternatively you can send a 3D design from your computer or device connected to the printer.
Removing Prints
Once the print is complete, the magnetic bed can be removed, making it easy to flex and detach the finished print without causing damage.
Features
Bambu Lab Automatic Material System (AMS)
- Single AMS unit has four filament stools and can be either mounted on top of the printer or stand on the side.
- Using the AMS hub (not included) you can use 16 different materials at the same time with 4 AMS units connected to the printer.
- Although the unit has a simplistic design and has only two connections (PTFE & wiring terminal) it can perform the following tasks:
- Detect filament tangles,
- Switch between materials during a runout,
- Detects material types and colors using a built in RFID system. (working only with Bambu filaments)
- Being able to print multiple colors/materials at the same time using a single nozzle means that:
- There is a constant purging process that includes cutting, retracting and replacing filament between each change.
- To avoid creating blobs during printing, a priming tower is built to help the extrusion get up to speed during a color change. This allows the X1 to apply equal pressure during printing.
Pro Tip
In order to reduce the waste that happens during the multicolor printing process you will need to tune the purge volumes without causing color bleeding and not adhere to the conservative Bambu specifications.
Build Plate and Sheet
The X1 used to come with a Cool Plate, but after it was discontinued, you will now get a Dual-Sided Textured PEI Plate, which has a stainless steel body and is wrapped by 0.075 mm PEI powder on both sides. You also get two spare sheets.
The reason why this change was made is because the Textured plate doesn’t necessarily require usage of glue (only for some filaments), while the Cool Plate couldn’t operate without adhesive added to the initial layer.
Additional Features
- Live Stream Video: The printer can record a time-lapse video of the print and store it on an SD card, allowing users to review the print process and identify any errors that occurred.
- Power Cut Protection: The X1-Carbon has power cut-off protection, meaning if the printer loses power during a print, it can resume the print from where it left off once power is restored.
Pro Tip: Novice users can start with the P1S with AMS
If you’re just stepping into the world of 3D printing and want to find out more about the multicolor printing that Bambu Labs offer, you can start with the P1S model that comes with a standalone AMS. Compared to the X1, this model doesn’t have a LIDAR scanner, which is most used for printing with more complex materials.
Final Verdict
The Bambu Labs X1 Carbon 3D printer with an AMS unit matches the hype. It’s great for novice users that are entering the world of 3D printing as well as prosumers that want to get their printing to the next level.