Reviews & Guides · Creative Tools
Bambu Lab A1: Six Months of PLA and PETG 3D Printing
I used a Bambu Lab A1 for six months and more than 50 filament rolls; damp PETG caused stringing, and I later inspected a loose hotend screw after hearing noise.
As a complete beginner, I find one Bambu Lab A1 3D printer is more than enough. You do not need to buy the AMS multicolor system.
Most models can be printed as separate parts, so I have very rarely needed multicolor printing.
I bought it about six months ago and have used more than 50 rolls of filament. More than ten were Bambu PLA; the rest were Caige PETG because it was cheaper. I have had almost no problems so far.
You should definitely have a filament dryer. I bought a Creality one. PETG filament absorbs moisture easily, so dry it before use; otherwise it will produce stringing.
The print head has made some unusual noise over the past few days. The hotend retaining screw had come loose. This was my first time taking it apart, and it was fairly easy.
Actually, getting into 3D printing does not cost that much.
Source: 王先生 · Xiaohongshu · 2026-05-04 · 拓竹A13d打印机，新手绝对够用了. Search this Chinese title in Xiaohongshu to find the original post.
Before You Buy
Models in your region
The owner identifies the printer as a Bambu Lab A1 but does not state whether it is the standard printer or the A1 Combo, and does not give a full regional model or purchase-market detail. Official US, UK and Hungary listings identify the A1 and A1 Combo as the corresponding products; the Combo adds AMS lite.
| Model in this review | Related regional model | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab A1 / A1 Combo (US) | The US listing identifies the A1 and the A1 Combo as variants; the owner does not establish which package he used. The listed build volume is 256 × 256 × 256 mm, and PLA and PETG are listed as ideal materials. |
| Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab A1 / A1 Combo (UK) | The UK listing is the corresponding regional A1 product, also offered as an A1 Combo with AMS lite. It supports the same listed 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume and automatic calibration, but the owner’s package and local warranty are not identified. |
| Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab A1 / A1 Combo (Hungary (EU)) | The localized Hungary listing represents the EU-market A1 and A1 Combo, with AMS lite included in the Combo. It lists a 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume, automatic calibration and active flow-rate compensation; this evidence does not establish every EU country’s availability or terms. |
- Model in this review
- Bambu Lab A1
- Related regional model
- Bambu Lab A1 / A1 Combo (US)
- What to know
- The US listing identifies the A1 and the A1 Combo as variants; the owner does not establish which package he used. The listed build volume is 256 × 256 × 256 mm, and PLA and PETG are listed as ideal materials.
- Model in this review
- Bambu Lab A1
- Related regional model
- Bambu Lab A1 / A1 Combo (UK)
- What to know
- The UK listing is the corresponding regional A1 product, also offered as an A1 Combo with AMS lite. It supports the same listed 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume and automatic calibration, but the owner’s package and local warranty are not identified.
- Model in this review
- Bambu Lab A1
- Related regional model
- Bambu Lab A1 / A1 Combo (Hungary (EU))
- What to know
- The localized Hungary listing represents the EU-market A1 and A1 Combo, with AMS lite included in the Combo. It lists a 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume, automatic calibration and active flow-rate compensation; this evidence does not establish every EU country’s availability or terms.
Which A1 package fits this experience?
The owner's main buying point is that a beginner can use the A1 without an AMS multicolor system, because he usually prints models as separate parts. Official US, UK and Hungary listings show that AMS lite is associated with the A1 Combo rather than the standard A1, and one AMS lite supports up to four colors. Choose the Combo only if that multicolor workflow matters to you; the owner's experience does not test it.
Filament and drying requirements
The owner reports using more than 50 rolls over roughly six months, including Bambu PLA and third-party PETG, with almost no problems in his use. The official regional listings identify PLA and PETG as ideal materials for the A1, while the owner specifically reports PETG stringing when it is not dried first. A dryer is therefore part of his practical setup, although the source does not establish a universal drying time or temperature.
A small maintenance issue
After unusual print-head noise, the owner found that the hotend retaining screw had loosened. He says this was his first disassembly and found it fairly easy. The supplied photograph shows the opened toolhead and detached hotend; the printed instructions say to return the cutter, remove two screws, release the latch and grip the heatsink, while warning not to touch the nozzle when hot. Buyers should treat this as the owner's disassembly experience, not a guarantee that every service task will be equally simple.
Material and regional limits
The official US, UK and localized Hungary listings do not recommend ABS, ASA, PC, PA or fiber-reinforced filament for the A1. That makes the owner's PLA-and-PETG experience relevant to the listed materials, but it should not be extended to those other filament types. The regional evidence also does not establish whether a China-purchased unit has the same package contents, firmware or warranty as a local product.
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