Product
Recommendations
Printer Recommendation
Over the years, I have tried 3D printers from nearly all large brands. Currently, Bambu Lab offers by far the best overall package for reliability, print quality, and speed. My first machine has printed thousands of prints and still works like it did on day one.
Which printer is best for your idividual use case?
If you want a premium, carefree, and easy-to-use package, go for the X1C (+ AMS2).
The integrated LiDAR system with automatic filament calibration works great, and the touchscreen interface allows for easy use. The camera for timelapses and monitoring has a better resolution than other models. An active carbon filter also reduces odors while printing.
Fast, dimensionally accurate, and beautiful prints are the standard.
Its compatible with the AMS2 to dry and store you filament in optimal conditions.
Using this for the first time blew my mind away. I can wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone who can afford it.
You want the extremely high speeds and reliability of the X1C at a lower price? Then get the P1S, which has the same motion system and print quality as the X1C. It doesn’t have a touchscreen, LiDAR filament calibration, or a high-resolution camera, but these are all ‘nice-to-have’ features and aren’t necessarily needed.
This printer is a no-brainer for small to large print farms due to its value-for-money ratio. The enclosure still allows you to print with lots of filament types, and I would always choose the P1S over the P1P.
If you’re just starting out and are on a budget, take a look at the A1 or A1 Mini. These printers outperform other bed slinger competitors and deliver great value at a low price. Both are beginner-friendly and still print at top quality.
If you don’t need the extra print volume the A1 provides, I would always recommend the A1 Mini. Its lower mass results in slightly higher print speeds + better quality, and lower power consumption.
This can also be a great addition to your print farm if you produce lots of smaller items.
Additional remark for all Bambu Lab Printers:
If you want to do multicolor prints or easy support removal I recommend buying the AMS, AMS2 or AMS Lite together with your printer for a steep bundle discount. The AMS system is rarely on sale and even then costs more than directly buying the bundle. They are a joy to use.
The AMS 2 has an integrated drying function, while the AMS only has an air tight filament storage. The A1 Series + AMS Lite does not have air tight filament storage, which is a big disadvantage. (The A1 Series currently doesn’t work with the AMS or AMS 2)
Printers always perform best with dry filament and I would always recommend the AMS2 if you can afford it.
Other printers?
I sadly can’t recommend the Bambu Lab H2D, its slower and too expansive for its advantages. You are almost always better of getting multiple P1S + AMS2 for that price.
More printers I can suggest due to in-depth industry insight: – not tested myself yet –
- Elegoo Centrauri Carbon (cheap CoreXY printer)
- Creality K2 Plus + CFS (Good value & large volume CoreXY)
- Prusa Core One (More expensive, but great to modify & reliable)
3D Software & Automation
I tried countless Slicers and CAD software in the last 9 years, this is what I stuck with, currently use on a daily basis, and recommend to you. If you own a business I highly recommend trying out the following software to automate big parts of your operation to increase efficiency.
Looking for professional CAD Software at an affordable price?
Then I highly recommend trying out Alibre. It’s easy to use and has some incredible features that I haven’t seen in other (way more expensive) CAD software. The best of it all: its a one time buy product.
No subscribtion needed & commercial use allowed! They have a great official YouTube tutorials as well if you are just starting out.
I tried this out a few months ago and absolutely love it. Try the free trial. If you like it I would recommend getting the “Alibre Pro” version.
What 3D Slicer do you use and recommend?
I almost exclusively use Orca Slicer. It’s superior to Bambu Studio and any other Slicer on the market I have tried. Here are some advantages:
- Exceptional calibration tools & print quality
- Open-source & community driven
- Works with almost any printer
You can directly connect your Printer and open Bambu Studio 3MF files as well.
Only download it from the official website!
Do you own a E-Commerce store ? (Etsy, Amazon, Shopify …)
Getting some type of “Multichannel Tool Software” is a must-have in my opinion. Here is what software like this does:
- Automates orders, shipping labels + tracking, returns and invoicing
- Helps with taxes and sales analysis
- Connects all your shops in one place
The setup is fairly easy, and even if you only sell on one channel, this is incredibly useful. Base is the best international and budget friendly option I have found over the past years. BillBee for my fellow Germans.
Please try out any Multichannel Tool, I promise it will be worth your time & money. Multichannel Tool Software has literally saved me 100s of hours of tedious work over the years. More info about Base here
If you value my opinion and want to support my work for free, you can use the code ” factoriandesigns” for the Base signup.
You own a 3D printing business? —> Automate it!
If you follow my YouTube channel, you know how much I like
printer automation. Why?
- No more part pick-off & restarting files
- Less human error
- Incredibly satisfying
- Only needs stock parts
No matter what printer you have, I would start with one of my in-depth YouTube videos. In these, I answer nearly any question about 3D printer automation in general.
You want a ready-made farm solution, with less tinkering?
Try out Printago, a 3D print farm solution:
- Ready-made Bambu Lab automation sequences (my own & others)
- Automatic STL personalization & printing
- Many more neat features
Full Disclosure *
I am currently affiliated with multiple brands and earn from qualifying purchases. The price stays the same for you. This doesn’t change the fact that I will only recommend products I have tested myself, deem to be of high quality, and believe are a good purchase for every 3D printing enthusiast. These product links are marked with a * icon.
I have promoted these products for years, and I am beyond happy to finally be accepted by my favorite brands as a trusted affiliate. If you have any questions concerning a product, feel free to reach out to me on my contact page. I love to hear about your experiences!
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Filament Recommendation
I have tried countless 3D printing filaments, with mixed results. Nozzle clogs, brittle prints, or dull colors sometimes drove me crazy!
Filament brands I can currently recommend:
- Bambu Lab PLA & PETG HF (cheap when on sale)
- Polymaker
- “Das Filament” (German brand, incredibly consistent)
- Recycling Fabrik (German recycling company)
Just remember to keep your filament dry, and you should be good to go.
Wet Filament? Dry it and store it right!
Same print, same filament, same settings as last time but the print turns out brittle or has an ugly surface? Your filament probably got wet.
You can dry it using a filament dryer; the brand honestly doesn’t make much of a difference. I would buy one that goes up to at least 60°C or just dry it in an oven or food dehydrator.
Is your filament dry? Perfect! But it won’t stay dry just laying around. Use an airtight container and add desiccant. A box that fits multiple spools and is durable is best. I would not recommend using dry bags. They break easily and are a bad long-term solution.
Colored moisture-indicating desiccant is associated with cancer risk. Use the colorless desiccant and a hygrometer instead.