[3D Printing News] Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo: A high-performance multi-color 3D printer with excellent value for money!

[3D Printing News] Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo: A high-performance multi-color 3D printer with excellent value for money!

Since entering the desktop 3D printing market, Bambu Lab has made a splash with its solutions, including the original X1C , X1E , and P1S and P1P 3D printers. Now, the manufacturer introduces its latest FDM multicolor 3D printer : the Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo (with AMS Lite) . This bed-mounted printer is designed for high speed and will be the most affordable 3D printer in Bambu Lab's already budget-friendly lineup!

This new desktop 3D printer offers 4-color functionality, automatic calibration, active flow compensation, active motor noise cancellation, and a print volume of 180x180x180 mm.

As an entry-level product , Bambu Lab claims that its latest 3D printer will bring high-end, state-of-the-art features to beginners, making multi-color 3D printing easier for more people.

Key features of the new A1 mini

The A1 mini arrives pre-assembled, pre-adjusted, and pre-fitted, so users can use it right out of the box without having to assemble or adjust it themselves!

All calibrations are handled by the A1 mini. Z-offset, bed level, and X and Y-axis vibration resonance are automatically calibrated before each 3D print job. The A1 Mini also features a new nozzle pressure sensor for automatic calibration of fluid dynamics.

Bambu's latest 3D printer also features a brand-new touchscreen user interface that is simple and intuitive. Users have noted that the IPS touchscreen UI makes operation as smooth as a smartphone. The system guides users through all 3D printing steps and assists in resolving any issues related to the HMS system. More importantly, thanks to the new MakerWorld platform, the A1 mini can load preset 3MF files, allowing users to start 3D printing with just one click.

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The A1 mini is also easy to maintain, featuring a quick hot-end exchange function. It includes only one clip for quick and easy hot-end removal. In fact, the entire hot-end exchange process can be completed in under 30 seconds , and no electronic connectors are involved!

Bambu Lab's latest 3D printer also takes aesthetics into account, featuring a subtle color scheme and a clean CMF (Color, Material, Finish) design. As its name suggests, the A1 mini has a relatively small footprint, measuring 347 x 315 x 365 mm³. The A1 mini takes up slightly more surface space than an A4 sheet of paper, making it suitable for various working environments .

• The new A1 mini also features active motor noise cancellation technology: Bambu Lab claims this effectively reduces motor noise, resulting in a quieter 3D printing experience. Upon first power-on, the A1 mini will perform a motor calibration process to adjust the vibration characteristics of the specific motor in the 3D printer.

• Reliability is also a major highlight of the A1 mini : the 3D printer uses all-metal guideways and linear bearings. All metal guideways offer greater rigidity and precision than traditional plastic V-wheels. Furthermore, the A1 mini's design requires minimal adjustment and maintenance, making it easier for beginners to use!

• The A1 mini's drive system is protected by a cover : this helps prevent accidents and interference from external particles. The covered Z-axis also keeps the user's hands free from contamination by dirty screws.

• The A1 mini features an advanced filament monitoring system : Unlike most 3D printers equipped with filament sensors to detect filament presence, the A1 mini measures filament presence, its speed and mileage, tension above the extruder, and pressure below the extruder. This allows users to monitor filament slippage, tangles on the spool, and slippage on the extruder. When a problem is detected, 3D printing automatically pauses, and the HMS system accurately pinpoints the problem.

• Bambu HMS Code System : A highly user-friendly design that allows for quick and easy diagnosis of specific problems by searching for specific codes. Furthermore, all vulnerable parts are modular and easy to replace, making parts replacement convenient and cost-effective.

• High 3D printing speed is also considered key to new 3D printers : in fact, the A1 mini boasts a 3D printing speed of up to 500 mm/s and a maximum acceleration of 10,000 mm/s². Vibration calibration of the X and Y axes is performed at the start of each 3D print job to ensure high-speed 3D printing accuracy.

Most 3D printers on the market use preset values ​​that remain constant throughout the 3D printing process. However, the A1 mini calibrates these values ​​before each 3D print to accommodate printer tension and ambient temperature. Furthermore, an eddy current sensor located at the hot end measures the extrusion pressure before 3D printing. This compensates for the extrusion flow rate, ensuring stable extrusion throughout the 3D printing process.

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Multicolor 3D printing using AMS lite

AMS lite is a completely new and updated version of the original AMS , enabling simple and easy multi-material 3D printing. Compared to its predecessor, this new AMS has fewer parts and exposes all the parts that require maintenance, thus improving reliability and making it easier to maintain. For example, Bambu Lab claims that removing broken wires from the PTFE tubing is "very easy."

A new Bambu RFID reader has been added to AMS lite, enabling automatic cable synchronization. Therefore, AMS lite can automatically detect Bambu cable types and synchronize them with Bambu Studio, thereby optimizing 3D printer profiles accordingly.

AMS Lite is only compatible with the A1 Mini , not with the X1E , X1 Carbon , or P1S . All of these machines use the standard AMS system, not AMS Lite.

Regarding material compatibility, Bambu Lab claims that AMS lite is compatible with the original AMS using the same materials. Therefore, AMS lite can use a variety of filament materials and colors. However, according to Bambu Lab, flexible wires such as TPU and TPE, and absorbent wires such as PVA, "should be avoided when using AMS lite."

AMS Lite — the automated material management system — is the real reason the A1 Mini stands out. At the most affordable price, you get an A1 Mini 3D printer and AMS Lite! AMS Lite can feed four different rolls of material to the A1 Mini and supports simultaneous printing of multiple colors, which is almost unheard of in this price range! As you can see from the cute panda included on the SD card, it produces amazing results with minimal effort.

Quality cannot be ignored

This adorable little panda wasn't a one-time success; dozens of models were printed, taking just over 100 hours. Each model (excluding the complete failures) looked excellent, with even layer lines and clear details. In CNET's test prints, there were very few overhang and bridging issues, and no oscillations appeared. The spike displaying the cooling fan's operation was slightly wobbly. Additionally, there was some wire stripping—melted wire—but it wasn't enough to affect the overall quality.

Testing of different materials

The Bambu Lab A1 Mini has a maximum speed of 500 mm/s, but the preset slicer speed is in the range of 200-300. It features excellent input shaping capabilities to suppress vibration and eliminate oscillation marks.

The printer arrives pre-loaded with several printouts. Before taking this machine home, you'll likely want to purchase consumables, especially if you plan to do a lot of AMS printing. We offer a complete range of 3D printing filaments here.

The tester used a standard gray PLA printer (2 walls, 3 top and bottom layers, 10% grid fill, 0.25 layer height and 0.5 layer width) for 19 minutes and 15 seconds to print Benchy. Most prints were smooth, with no shaky edges or layer shifting. Due to a lack of cooling, the overhangs and the area around the bow of the boat became slightly rough, but considering that printing at the default settings would take 46 minutes, the print quality was excellent.

3D bench (Image source: Tom's Hardware)

To demonstrate the performance of the Bambu Lab A1 Mini under normal conditions, the tester printed the "Spirit of Forest Wishes" image using preset settings of 200-300mm/s and a layer height of 0.2mm. The printing time was 9 hours and 20 minutes, and the tester "painted" the colors in BambuSlicer. The print needed to be reduced to 85% to fit the printing platform, but the result was very smooth, with no visible layer lines or vibration marks. Due to insufficient purification, there was a slight green tint at the bottom of the crystal, but the tester liked this effect.

Wishing fairies in the layered green forest (Image source: Tom's Hardware)

The following is a PETG test; I printed the new Mini Joel with my finger! The print is clean and clear, requiring no support to print! This print took 1 hour and 16 minutes, with a layer height of 0.2 and a speed of 200-300 mm/s. A normal-speed printer like the Neptune 3 Pro would take approximately 3 hours to print the same model.

Wekster's new mini Joel (Image source: Tom's Hardware)

For the TPU test, the tester printed this rubber duck from Thingiverse . I did have to trim the rounded bottom slightly because the overhang was too large for TPU, and I didn't want to use a support. Once that issue was resolved, the A1 Mini handles TPU very well.

Note – AMS cannot handle TPU, so the spool was mounted directly on the single spool holder on the machine. There was a little string and a tuft of filament at the end, but these were easily wiped away. The Bambu Slicer slowed the printing speed to 5 hours and 6 minutes using a 0.2-layer height.

For manufacturers with limited budgets who want to get into color, this machine is the obvious choice! And for beginners looking for an affordable, compact, and ready-to-use machine, the standalone A1 Mini is also an excellent option.


👉For specifications, please see here: Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D printer