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A1
The Bambu Lab A1 is a FDM 3D printer released in 2023 by Bambu Lab, with a build volume of 256³ mm and MSRP of €399. Compatible with AMS lite (4 slots). Claimed maximum speed: 500 mm/s.
Manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). Not the store price — the actual price may vary.
Our take on the A1
The A1 is the printer Marco, who runs hotend, started 3D printing with, so here there is first-hand experience: he writes about it on the blog, from his first-printer mistakes to what happened when he mounted the AMS lite on top and what he learned in 500 days. On paper: 256 × 256 × 256 mm, a quick-swap nozzle up to 300 °C, automatic calibration and optional multicolour with the AMS lite.
Its big strength is that it works without a fight: it calibrates itself, Bambu Lab's ecosystem (Bambu Studio, the app and MakerWorld) is tightly integrated, and multicolour can be added whenever you like. Its direct rivals are the Anycubic Kobra X, with a similar volume and ACE Pro, and the Creality SPARKX i7, with the CFS.
Its limits: it's a bed slinger (the bed moves on the Y axis), so tall, heavy parts suffer more than on a CoreXY (we explain it in CoreXY vs bed slinger). It's open-frame with a 100 °C bed, so ABS comes with caveats, and the AMS lite takes its own space next to the printer. There's also a longer analysis.
Marco, who runs hotend, owns this printer: the linked projects are first-hand. The figures come from its specs and the sources cited at the end of this page.
Technical specifications
| Technology | FDM |
|---|---|
| Build volume | 256³ mm |
| Weight | 8.3 kg |
| Max speed | 500 mm/s |
| Max acceleration | 10,000 mm/s² |
| Max nozzle temp | 300 °C |
| Nozzle material | stainless steel |
| Drive | direct |
| Flow rate | 28 mm³/s |
| Max bed temp | 100 °C |
| Bed material | PEI plate |
| Auto-leveling | load cell + auto mesh |
| Enclosed | No |
| Heated chamber | No |
| AMS compatible | Yes (AMS lite (4 slots)) |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Camera included | Yes (1080p) |
| Official slicer | Bambu Studio |
| OrcaSlicer support | Yes |
| Power | 1300 W |
| Noise | 48 dB |
What materials can the A1 print?
This comes from four facts on its spec sheet: the nozzle reaches 300 °C, the bed 100 °C, and the machine is open-frame with a direct-drive extruder. Those four facts decide most of the list: nozzle temperature sets the ceiling on what you can melt, the bed decides whether the first layer sticks, the enclosure keeps large parts from warping, and the extruder type rules flexibles. We don't test the machine — this is guidance derived from verified data, not a guarantee.
In short: it prints PLA, PETG, TPU (flexible) without a fight, and it can reach ABS, ASA, Nylon (PA), Policarbonato (PC) with conditions — the detail for each is below.
| Material | Prints it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | Yes | Yes. PLA has no special needs: any FDM printer like the A1 prints it out of the box. |
| PETG | Yes | Yes. With a nozzle up to 300 °C and a bed up to 100 °C it comfortably meets PETG's needs. |
| TPU (flexible) | Yes | Yes. It has a direct-drive extruder, ideal for flexibles; prints TPU well (go slow). |
| ABS | With caveats | With caveats. It reaches 300 °C, but it's open-frame: ABS can warp and ventilation is advised. Doable in a draft-free spot or by adding an enclosure. |
| ASA | With caveats | With caveats. It reaches 300 °C, but it's open-frame: ASA can warp and ventilation is advised. Doable in a draft-free spot or by adding an enclosure. |
| Nylon (PA) | With caveats | With caveats. It reaches 300 °C but is open-frame; Nylon warps in drafts and absorbs moisture. Enclosure + drying almost mandatory. For carbon-fibre variants, use a hardened-steel nozzle. |
| Policarbonato (PC) | With caveats | With caveats. It has the temperature (300 °C) but is open-frame; PC warps badly without an enclosure. Only with one added. For carbon-fibre variants, use a hardened-steel nozzle. |
Need the materials it struggles with? These printers handle them
ABS, ASA, Nylon (PA), Policarbonato (PC)
Popular comparisons
Own the A1? Write a review
User opinions, moderated before publishing. hotend doesn't verify purchases.
Sources & references
Specs cross-checked against these public sources:
- Spec sheet oficial Bambu LabOfficial spec sheet
- AniwaaIndependent review
- Bambu Lab Wiki — Flow Dynamics Calibration (calibración automática de presión y flujo)Manufacturer pageretrieved10/7/2026
Specs taken from the sources cited above; we have no recorded date for the last check. Confidence in the data: high.