My 6-Month 3D Printing Journey: The Bambu Lab P1S Experience
Hey everyone, it’s Kevin! Welcome back to the blog. It’s been about six months since I first got into 3D printing, and today, I want to share my journey and experience using my first-ever 3D printer—the Bambu Lab P1S. I’ll be walking you through my initial impressions, the ups and downs, and what I’ve learned so far as someone completely new to the medium. Whether you’re considering getting into 3D printing or just curious about the P1S, stick around for some insights from a beginner’s perspective.
Why I Chose the Bambu Lab P1S
I’d been wanting to try 3D printing for years, but it always seemed complicated and intimidating. I wasn’t sure where to even start, and honestly, I overthought the whole thing. But last year, I came across the Bambu Lab P1S on social media and saw a lot of positive reviews from influencers. What drew me in was how easy it seemed to set up—perfect for a beginner like me.
Bambu Lab has three main printers: the X1, P1, and A1. I went with the P1S because my goal was to start simple and print primarily with PLA. Since I’m a designer, the multicolor printing option with the AMS (Automatic Material System) was also a huge selling point. I grabbed mine during their anniversary sale, which made the decision even easier.
I’ll be honest—I wasn’t expecting the smooth experience that everyone else seemed to have. But here I am, six months later, and overall, I’ve been pretty happy with it. Of course, there have been challenges, but we’ll get to that.
Unboxing and Initial Impressions
When the package arrived, I was excited but also a little intimidated. The printer was bigger than I expected, and I wasn’t entirely sure where I was going to set it up. But once I opened the box, the instructions were clear, and the setup process went pretty smoothly. It took me about a day, but that was mostly because I was filming the process. Realistically, if you’re not documenting every step like I was, you could probably get it running in 10 to 15 minutes.
In fact, after four months of using the P1S, I was confident enough to buy a second one. That’s how easy the initial setup felt.
One of the standout features for me was the Bambu Studio software and app. It lets you monitor your printer remotely, and the built-in camera allows you to see how your prints are progressing in real time. I also liked how it showed which filaments were loaded in the AMS, especially when using Bambu’s own filament.
For my first prints, I started with the classic Benchy and a small figurine—both turned out fine. Seeing those successful first prints gave me the confidence to try more complex projects.
Learning Curve and First Projects
Once I got the basics down, I dove into printing a variety of projects. Here’s a quick look at some of the things I made:
Keychains
Plant accessories like trellises and pots
Functional items like a lithophane
If you’re interested in seeing any of these projects in detail, I have a few videos up on my channel—I’ll link them below.
A major part of my 3D printing journey has been using Hue Forge, a software that converts 2D creations into 3D objects. As someone with a background in 2D design, this was a game-changer. I’ve recently been working on tarot-like cards inspired by video games, and I even printed a custom bookmark.
The two projects that really helped me grow were a 3D-printed pot and my experiments with Hue Forge:
The Pot Project: This taught me how to optimize my 3D models for printing, including filament changes and design tweaks.
Hue Forge: This software pushed me to experiment with slicer settings. Let’s just say I have an embarrassingly large number of failed experiments, but each one was a learning experience.
If you’re new to 3D printing and want a quick start, check out my keychain tutorial—it walks you through the basics of using Blender for 3D printing.
Challenges and Issues
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Here are a few challenges I faced:
Resonance Frequency Issues: This error kept appearing on my second printer. It’s along both the X and Y axis. The error persists, but I’m still able to use the printer.
AMS Assembly Problems: My AMS wasn’t assembled correctly out of the box, which led to some filament loading issues.
Filament Changes: Learning how to change filaments quickly and efficiently took some trial and error, but I’ve got it down now.
While these challenges were frustrating at times, they were manageable and part of the learning process.
Final Thoughts and What’s Next
Overall, the Bambu Lab P1S has been an incredible introduction to 3D printing. I highly recommend it to anyone just starting out. It’s user-friendly, reliable, and has made the transition from 2D design to 3D printing as smooth as I could have hoped for.
What held me back initially was overthinking the complexity of the process. But once I got my hands on the printer, I realized how much I enjoy tinkering and experimenting. Now, I’m not afraid to try new things, even if it means making mistakes along the way.
Looking ahead, I want to design more functional items—think props with magnets or embedded lights. If you’re interested in seeing some of my creations, check out my shop at kevandram.com.
If you’re a fellow beginner or considering getting into 3D printing, I’d love to hear about your experiences! Feel free to leave a comment or reach out with any questions. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you in the next one!
Also, are you new to 3D printing? You can check out a helpful video that walks you through the basics and more: