RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
This is a very useful thread. Owning four MK3S+ printers I currently need to expand. The small detailed parts I print mean that I cannot forgive threads and print errors. I would be very interested to know if such small detailed parts are the Bambu Labs' strong point or if going that way would be a mistake. If I could wish for something it would be for Prusa to make a fast corexy model in the MK3/4 size (or a bit larger). I agree that an upgrade path is important but my feeling is that the MK4 was a rushed release to counter the Bambu Labs threat. I am going to dig into reviews and comparisons but I am willing to wait a bit longer. Having two completely different machines for volume production is not ideal, you have to use different SW, g-codes, etc, so it is not ideal...
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
The quality of the print from the Bambu X1X, P1S, and Prusa Mk4 are identical. There aare subtle things that each prints better but that could be due to the slicer.
This is a very useful thread. Owning four MK3S+ printers I currently need to expand. The small detailed parts I print mean that I cannot forgive threads and print errors. I would be very interested to know if such small detailed parts are the Bambu Labs' strong point or if going that way would be a mistake. If I could wish for something it would be for Prusa to make a fast corexy model in the MK3/4 size (or a bit larger). I agree that an upgrade path is important but my feeling is that the MK4 was a rushed release to counter the Bambu Labs threat. I am going to dig into reviews and comparisons but I am willing to wait a bit longer. Having two completely different machines for volume production is not ideal, you have to use different SW, g-codes, etc, so it is not ideal...
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
The X1X or X1C? Good point about the slicer I also think how well the printer is tuned is probably the most important factor? From what I have been reading the Bambu seems to be faster but the verdict is still out regarding quality, which to me means the quality of of the X1C and the MK4 is very, very close.
For me if the speed difference is only 15-20% faster or slower thats negligible, also for me if print quality is close that's also negligible (I will eat those words next time I print a piece that needs a high finish quality). What is most important for me is the ease of calibration and changing print head assemblies. I loved my Ender 3 V2 and all the mods I made for it, but I am a big boy now. I want something that works out of the box, something that will calibrate itself. I just want to focus on my designs and my modeling.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
This is a very useful thread. Owning four MK3S+ printers I currently need to expand. The small detailed parts I print mean that I cannot forgive threads and print errors. I would be very interested to know if such small detailed parts are the Bambu Labs' strong point or if going that way would be a mistake. If I could wish for something it would be for Prusa to make a fast corexy model in the MK3/4 size (or a bit larger). I agree that an upgrade path is important but my feeling is that the MK4 was a rushed release to counter the Bambu Labs threat. I am going to dig into reviews and comparisons but I am willing to wait a bit longer. Having two completely different machines for volume production is not ideal, you have to use different SW, g-codes, etc, so it is not ideal...
I have 2 X1C printers, one with a 0.4 and the other with a 0.2 nozzle. The 0.2 is used for all small components we print (e.g. tactile button caps) and the 0.4 for everything else. We only use PETG and the quality is very good.
I have 2 MK3+ that were used for this but they are now gathering dust as they just can't match the speed of the X1C e.g. one of the larger parts (0.4) would take 12 hours to print 8 units in the MK3 but on the X1C it is 17 hours for 21 units.
I don't use the AMS for printing colour components but it's excellent for quickly swapping between rolls and for switching when one runs out.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
So in general the Bambu is 2x the speed of the mk3S+, that is quite encouraging. I believe the MK4 has speed advantages as well but at a fairly steep price you do not get some of the Bambu's features. Do you use your Bambu's 24/7 or just when the pieces are needed?
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
I'm curious as to why you think that the MK4 has a 'Steep price'. Doesn't the MK4 kit cost the same as the MK3S+ kit did when it came out a few years ago?
Chris
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
If your comparing assembled printers the Bambu X1 Carbon is only $100 then the Prusa MK4 with more advanced features including enclosure and Lidar. One question is which is more reliable, and which costs less to service.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
If your comparing assembled printers the Bambu X1 Carbon is only $100 then the Prusa MK4 with more advanced features including enclosure and Lidar. One question is which is more reliable, and which costs less to service.
RE:
My Bambu's wouldn't be printing 24/7 all the time but often they wouldn't stop printing for 1 to 2 weeks.
There is about 100euro between the MK4 and the X1C but the X1C is a much more polished product for people who just want a printer that works. The MK4 is good but I feel it will appeal to users who like to modify or tinker with it. As the X1C is a fully enclosed printer it is probably more difficult to service (more to dismantle) so its possible that the MK4 will appeal to print farms more but my X1C's haven't missed a beat in the past year. If you need an enclosure for the MK4 then it'll be about 250euro more expensive than the X1C.
Depending on the materials you want to use you could save about 400euro by going with the P1S. When it comes to the AMS, there is no comparison from Prusa.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
Another question is which is Open Sourced, and which is Closed Source. I'm not interested in a Closed Source Printer. Not interested in a printer that cannot be modified, nor maintained once the company that sourced it decides to obsolete it. Not interested in a printer that can't run open sourced software if needed.
Chris Shaker
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
How many years has Bambu Labs committed to support your printers for? It's not Open Sourced, so once they obsolete it, where are you going to get parts?
Chris
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
As a business user an X1C or MK3/4 will be written off over 3 to 5 years. If it last this long then the cost breaks down to 300 to 500 euro per year. I can understand a hobbyist looking for challenges and ways to tinker with their printers but as a business tool, it just needs to work reliably and from my experience the X1C reliability has been excellent. If the printer is not serviceable in 3 or 5 years then it will be replaced with the that latest model which will probably increase efficiency, thus reducing costs and will probably pay for itself within a few weeks to a few months.
Open source is great but the paper print on your desk, your phone, car and probably more than 90% of the hardware we all own is closed source as businesses need to protect their investment and their future. Prusa's future could be in doubt if they stick to their current path as competitors like Bambu will deliver more for less.
We all want Prusa to succeed and thrive but pinning their future on a select group of users that are stuck on Open Source would not be a business plan that they should bank on.
From what I read, none of the Prusa printers except the Mini are ranking anywhere near the top recommendations, where only a year or 2 ago they always held the top spots.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
Though open source is great, it is not a deciding factor for me. I would estimate real innovative changes are coming out every two to three years. If I get three years out of a printer I feel I have gotten my money's worth. If Bambu delivers an affordable quality product that is popular they will be around to support their products. That's one of the benefits of Capitalism. I think they have a very long term plan. I don't buy open source cars or tvs or coffee makers. Open source is great when a product design is in its infancy and is constantly being revised. Plus the fact that its not open source doesn't mean you won't see tons of mods coming out from the community. I am still sitting on the fence deciding between a Bambu X1C or a Prusa MK4. Bambu would be fun for something bleeding edge, Prusa would be something I would think is reliable and that I could trust. I feel like a crow that is attracted to something new and shiny. 😆
Personally in light of Bambu pricing and tech I think the retail on the pre-built MK4 should be reduced to under $1000.
RE:
None of you have answered the question about how long Bambu Labs has committed to support your printers. If you are using them for business, I'd think that would be an important question for you. Especially since it is a Closed Source printer where you can only get support from them.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
How long is a piece of string. Market forces will dictate how long anything is directly supported by a manufacturer but I have to say they are doing a very good job so far. I've received at least 5 firmware updates for the printers and probably the same for the slicer in the past year and all have introduced good improvements.
As with any business tool we keep a stock of commonly replaced spares. Other than wipers, cutters and some lube, we haven't had to replace anything.
There are no guarantees with anything you purchase but we have the printers for a year now and I don't see Bambu disappearing any time soon. If anything, they are going from strength to strength.
To directly answer your question about how long will Bambu support the printer, I haven't got a clue but if companies like Bambu keep eating away at Prusa then it might be better to ask how long will Prusa be able to directly support their printers.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
The nice thing about open sourced printers is that I don't have to rely on just Prusa for support. I can get parts from many companies to maintain my open sourced printers. There are even Chinese clones of the buddy board and MMU that you can buy if Prusa didn't exist anymore.
Who makes clones of the Bambu Labs parts? Where are you going to get parts if they go away?
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
Support from Bambu and Prusa is night and day different. You email Bambu and you might get an answer tomorrow or in a week. Prusa is great. I open a chat and I get a solution in a matter of minutes.
Bambu is not a threat to Prusa at this time.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
The nice thing about open sourced printers is that I don't have to rely on just Prusa for support. I can get parts from many companies to maintain my open sourced printers. There are even Chinese clones of the buddy board and MMU that you can buy if Prusa didn't exist anymore.
Who makes clones of the Bambu Labs parts? Where are you going to get parts if they go away?
If Bambu disappears and the printers fail in a way that none of our stock spares or other market spares won't fix it then it'll be replaced with whatever is the best available option at that time.
Sticking with overpriced legacy technology just because something might happen at some time in some possible future will do nothing for innovation.
I'd say that most 3D printer buyers now are more interested in a device that just works, straight out of the box, is a polished design, fast and gets good reviews. They don't or won't care about open source or clone parts. Users that have been 3D printing for 3, 5 or 10 years will consider this but that's not the future. The future is with the companies who truly innovate and make it more affordable.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
Support from Bambu and Prusa is night and day different. You email Bambu and you might get an answer tomorrow or in a week. Prusa is great. I open a chat and I get a solution in a matter of minutes.
Bambu is not a threat to Prusa at this time.
Why do you need so much support?? Is you Prusa failing all the time?
If it's a hobby then a few days is fine. If it's a work tool then have a spare.
RE: Prusa MK3S+ vs Bambu Lab X1 carbon
The debate about open/closed source will never be resolved since every person has their own need and comfort level. Myself, I use open source almost 100%.
My concern with Bambu is the need for cloud access. What do you lose if you don't have network access or if you lose network access during a print job? What features do you lose if you are not connected to the Internet for weeks at a time? Does the slicer work without having access to the Internet? What firewall ports need to be opened? I also look at privacy, or worse for a business, intellectual property issues. I have done some custom designs that cannot be shared with others. Would this limit my use of a Bambu?
I ask as questions, I don't need to know myself.
I worked for a company that took almost a year to get access to an Internet based license server through the network. Not an issue for some. Commercial usage may depend on it. It wouldn't be useful to have a great printer, that only is great, if you need to have it connected to some domain that you cannot get IT to allow.