Check out how two of Bambu Lab’s newest 3D printers stack up against each other in Bangladesh’s growing 3D printing scene. Get ready for Bambu Lab A1 vs A1 Mini!
Founded in 2019, Bambu Lab is a relatively young company that has gained attention worldwide, including in Bangladesh, with the release of their X1 Carbon 3D printer in 2022. This printer, designed for “prosumers”, offers fast print speeds, high reliability, and the AMS (Automatic Material System) in a neat form factor.
Since then, Bambu Lab has continued to innovate, launching more 3D printers, including the P1S and P1P. In late 2023, they introduced their A-series range, including the A1 Mini and the A1. These bed-slingers are geared toward casual consumers rather than professional makers, making them attractive for 3D printing enthusiasts in USA, China, Bangladesh and beyond.
The A1 Mini is an excellent choice for beginners, offering a small, portable machine that delivers reliability and high-quality prints. On the other hand, the A1 is larger and more expensive, making it suitable for users who want to print bigger parts with a wider range of materials.
In this article, we’ll compare these two models, highlighting their similarities and differences in terms of design, software, price, and more. Let’s dive in!
At a GlanceÂ
| Feature | Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab A1 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Build Volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 180 x 180 x 180 mm |
| Build Plate | Textured PEI plate | Textured PEI plate |
| Bed Leveling | Automatic | Automatic |
| Max. Bed Temperature | 100 °C | 80 °C |
| Extrusion | Direct | Direct |
| Max. Nozzle Temperature | 300 °C | 300 °C |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA | PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA |
| Mainboard | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| UI | 3.5-inch LCD, color touchscreen | 2.4-inch LCD, color touchscreen |
| Software | Bambu Studio | Bambu Studio |
| Price | Approximately BDT 65,000 (2024) | Approximately BDT 40,000Â (2024) |
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Bambu Lab A1 vs A1 Mini: The Differences
Similarities
Both the A1 and A1 Mini offer a range of similar features, making them both attractive options for 3D printing in Bangladesh. Here are some shared aspects:
Bed Leveling:
Both models feature automatic bed leveling using a strain gauge sensor, which makes calibration quick and easy. This feature is great for users in Dhaka and Chottogram, where convenience and ease of setup are key for busy 3D printing enthusiasts.
Extrusion System:
The A1 and A1 Mini both use a direct extrusion system with a maximum temperature of 300 °C, compatible with a wide range of materials such as PLA, PETG, and TPU. Whether you’re running a 3D printing service in Dhaka or just printing prototypes at PrototypeBD, this reliable system is perfect for various applications.
Mainboard & UI:
Both printers come with Bambu Lab’s custom proprietary mainboard and are equipped with user-friendly LCD touchscreens, allowing easy control of print settings like temperatures and print statuses.
Software:
The Bambu Studio software, compatible with both printers, is based on PrusaSlicer, providing powerful slicing options and support for remote printing. This is ideal for 3D printing service providers in Bangladesh who manage multiple jobs at once.
Differences
While both printers share many features, they differ significantly in design, print volume, and price, catering to different user needs in Bangladesh.
Design:
The A1 Mini is compact, designed with beginners in mind, while the A1 has a more robust structure ideal for serious makers. In Bangladesh’s local market, where space and budget are often considerations, the smaller A1 Mini might be a better fit for hobbyists or smaller-scale operations.
Build Volume:
The A1 offers a larger build volume of 256 x 256 x 256 mm, compared to the A1 Mini’s 180 x 180 x 180 mm. For businesses offering 3D printing services in Dhaka and Chottogram, the A1’s larger capacity allows printing larger parts in a single go, increasing efficiency.
Price:
The A1 Mini is priced at around BDT 40,000, while the A1 costs about BDT 65,000. For users in Bangladesh, where cost considerations are crucial, the A1 Mini provides excellent value for beginners or casual users who don’t need the larger build volume and additional features of the A1.
Similarities
The A1 and A1 Mini offer a range of features. In this section, we’ll delve into the shared aspects of both printers.
Bed Leveling
The A1 and Ai Mini both feature automatic bed leveling, using a strain gauge sensor in the extruder assembly that calculates the height of the bed based on when the nozzle touches it in the calibration sequence. The calibration sequence can be triggered with the single press of a button, enabling fast and easy automatic bed leveling.
Extrusion
Both the A1 and the A1 Mini use the same easily swappable direct extruder, capable of reaching 300 °C. This lets you print common materials, such as PETG, PLA, ABS, Nylon, and ASA. In addition, both printers come fitted with a filament runout sensor. The extruder also has hardened steel gears and comes equipped with a filament cutter for filament unloading and switching.
This is a very capable extrusion system, although it’s not designed to print abrasive materials, as the stainless steel nozzle will wear down quickly under abrasive loads. You’ll need to upgrade the stock nozzle to a hardened steel one if you wish to print abrasive materials like glow-in-the-dark or carbon fiber-based filaments.
It’s also worth noting that, while the AMS Lite is compatible with both the A1 and A1 Mini, it’ll be necessary to tweak the PTFE tube for the latter as the overall unit matches the former’s lengthier measurements.
Mainboard
Both printers use the same custom proprietary mainboard and stepper drivers from Bambu Lab. The mainboard on both printers includes a dual-core processor, Wi-Fi, RF, and Bluetooth capabilities, as well as dual- and single-core MCUs. These enable you to connect directly to the printer wirelessly and to stream a camera feed straight to your phone or desktop.
The powerful mainboard provides dynamic flow control and calibration, resonance compensation, and active motor noise cancellation. This ensures a constant rate of filament extrusion, a reduction in minor print inaccuracies, and the suppression of overall printer noise, respectively.
UI
Both printers feature a full-color touchscreen LCD display: 3.5-inch for the the A1 and 2.4-inch for the A1 Mini. This screen displays a helpful print status and control menu that enables modification of print settings such as hot end or bed temperatures while printing. The UI also provides quick, easy-to-access shortcuts for bed leveling and enables the use of the AMS Lite.
From here, you can also use Bambu Lab’s handy remote printing service by scanning a barcode with your phone and downloading their mobile app, called Bambu Handy. This enables the syncing of printer settings between your phone and Bambu Studio, from either of which prints can be uploaded. The interface provides a simple and user-friendly introduction to the printer through pages that guide you through the setup and calibration process.
Software
Both the A1 and A1 Mini come with Bambu Studio, the company’s feature-rich slicing software. This cross-platform slicer is based on PrusaSlicer and supports multiple printer profiles and remote printing on network-connected Bambu Lab printers, via a Bambu Lab account.
One unique feature Bambu Studio offers is multiple build plates, enabling you to plan future prints out in advance. It’s possible to add up to 36 plates to your build area. Other great features include the project-based workflow, custom filament profiles, and the Go Live function, which lets users stream their prints in action. Bambu Studio is required to access the full functionality of most Bambu Lab printers.
Differences
Although the A1 and A1 Mini have similar names, they do in fact feature significant differences in terms of their design and capabilities. In this section, we’ll discuss these key differences, covering aspects such as their respective design, build volume, build plate, and price.
Design
Both printers are bed-slingers, also known as Cartesian XZ-head motion systems, in which the bed moves along the Y-axis, the printhead moves along the X-axis, and then gantry containing the printhead moves vertically along a rail. However, the A1 Mini uses a cantilever-style structure, as opposed to the A1’s more classic design.
The use of only one support for the Z-axis could lead to vibration issues in the A1 Mini due to the lack of rigidity compared to the A1. However, the A1 Mini is reported to be surprisingly stable. Bambu Lab doesn’t recommend using an enclosure with either of these printers, although in theory enclosures for similarly-sized printers could be used.
It’s worth noting that, while both have cameras with similar specs that are meant to enable live streaming and to create time-lapse videos, the compatibility is specified for each machine, so they’re not interchangeable (something that’s worth keeping in mind if you need to replace it).
Both the A1 and A1 Mini have a modern and sleek grey aesthetic, matching that of other Bambu Lab printers such as the X1 Carbon. The optional AMS Lite system matches the color scheme and style of the printers, with an almost organic structure. While adding this system makes it possible to print beautiful, multicolor prints, it does massively increase the footprint of the printers, which is a major drawback if you’re looking to purchase an A1 Mini for its small form factor.
Build Volume
The main difference between these two printers is their build volume. At 256 x 256 x 256 mm, the A1 boasts a build volume larger than the average 3D printer in its weight class. This is slightly larger than the Prusa MK4, which is often considered a competitor. On the other hand, the A1 Mini has a smaller print bed, identical to that of the classic Prusa Mini+. This makes it better suited to smaller prints.
Although the larger build volume of the A1 enables the printing of multiple parts in one go or larger parts than the A1 Mini, this comes with the added drawback of a larger form factor. It takes up a much larger footprint, which could be problematic in some contexts.
Build Plate
The A1 and A1 Mini are both shipped with a textured PEI build plate that provides excellent adhesion and an easy print-removal process, not to mention a wonderful textured surface finish on the bottom of prints. However, there are some downsides, too. The plate only provides adhesion when heated, and it’s difficult to clean and maintain.
In addition to the textured plate, both printers can be used with the official Bambu Lab smooth PEI build plate. Only the A1, however, is also compatible with their cool plate, which can enhance the print quality of lower-temperature materials, such as PLA and PVA.
Which Should You Choose?
Whether you’re looking for an affordable and compact option like the A1 Mini or a larger, more versatile printer like the A1, both models bring advanced 3D printing capabilities to the Bangladesh market. At PrototypeBD, we offer a variety of 3D printers suited to different needs, whether for personal use or as part of a professional service. If you’re based in Dhaka or Chottogram, you can find both models, along with expert advice on selecting the right printer for your needs.
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The Verdict: Which Printer Should You Choose?
A print from the A1 Mini, using the AMS Lite
Both the Bambu Lab A1 and A1 Mini are extremely capable 3D printers, making them excellent choices for anyone planning to buy 3D printers in Bangladesh. These models are perfect for users seeking a plug-and-play experience, unlike other options that often require hands-on tinkering, such as the Ender 3.
For beginners or professionals in Bangladesh, especially in Dhaka or Chottogram, the Bambu Lab A1 Mini offers an affordable and reliable entry point to 3D printing, without compromising on print quality. On the other hand, the A1 caters to users looking for higher bed temperatures and larger build volumes, essential for creating larger models or professional-grade parts.
Another highlight for buyers in Bangladesh is the ease of maintaining these printers. Replacement parts, such as the Bambu Lab extruder assembly, are simple to install without requiring advanced tools or expertise. This makes these printers an attractive choice for those new to 3D printing, as well as for those who want minimal downtime.
While the Bambu Lab A1 Mini is perfect for those starting their 3D printing journey at a competitive price point, the A1 provides advanced features at a slightly higher price, ideal for makers and small businesses. However, users planning to customize their printers extensively might find Bambu Lab’s proprietary ecosystem somewhat restrictive, as it limits third-party upgrades.
Whether you’re a hobbyist, a student, or a business owner in Bangladesh, these models cater to diverse needs. For those searching to buy 3D printers in Dhaka or Chottogram, both the A1 and A1 Mini are available through local distributors like PrototypeBD, ensuring easy access to high-quality machines with ongoing support.
While the bed-slinger design of both printers does limit print speed compared to CoreXY printers like the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon or Creality K1, the A1 and A1 Mini remain competitively priced for users who prioritize quality over speed.
Ultimately, choosing between the Bambu Lab A1 and A1 Mini depends on your specific requirements, budget, and the types of models you wish to create. If you’re considering where to buy a 3D printer in Bangladesh, look no further than these options to get started on your 3D printing journey.
