10 ms·

I'm so happy Bambu is getting what's coming to them after screwing us so badly <3

by ClassyJacket 2y ago

BWStearns 2y ago
What did they do?
- adenta 2y ago
  They are locking down their software so you have to use it
- bradfitz 2y ago
  https://hackaday.com/2025/01/17/new-bambu-lab-firmware-update-adds-mandatory-authorization-control-system/ https://hackaday.com/2025/01/17/new-bambu-lab-firmware-updat... has a summary that caught me up. I feel like it must be missing some of the story though.
- bdcravens 2y ago
  They used a plugin to communicate print jobs (and other integrations), so that third party software could be used pretty seamlessly. Now they're moving to a new authentication model, and will be requiring users to send files to a separate print app. (Bambu Connect) It adds friction to the process, especially for those who were looking to run print jobs at scale, using "print farm" software or building their own solutions.
  - c0nsumer 2y ago
    I do wonder how much friction it'll really add, since the slicers can send the data to Connect via a protocol handler. It also means that Connect could act as a farm / queueing system as well, more like a print driver vs. individual printer support within the app.
    - intothemild 2y ago
      Its pretty much this, nothing seems to be blocking any third party slicer like Orca from working with bambu printers as they are now.. just the print button would now send the file to Bambu Connect, where you would most likely only press an extra button.. Getting info from the printer or AMS? MQTT still works. They specifically said they are not touching that. Sadly the usual groups of people are screaming, and the open printer people are laughing. But at worst.. this is just friction. Anyone pointing this out seems to get downvoted. But its all there in the bambu press statement and subsequent pages. Those that are upset seemed to have not read those, and instead just read or watched something inflammatory.
      - c0nsumer 2y ago
        Did you happen to see this? Interesting development, they are basically going to keep the current wide-open-barely-auth'd state and call it a developer mode. And submitted a PR to make Orca Slicer work with the new auth: https://blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integration-with-bambu-connect/ https://blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integratio... And yeah, I'm realizing that about the downvotes. It's sad the state of things, but SKY-IS-FALLING-GET-PITCHFORKS wins the day over technical analysis, even on purportedly technical forums. But alas, that's an aside. I'm really looking forward to this rolling out, as I want to monitor my printer with Home Assistant but I /really/ don't like how much control the current (non-beta, non-future) state gives HA. I /want/ auth of some sort when submitting jobs, and it looks like I'll have that. (I also really want the slicer decoupled from the print management stuff, because I tend to keep a few slicers open and experiment.)
        bdcravens 2y ago
        My understanding is that the "addition" of the developer mode (basically the current status quo) is the result of the feedback/pitchforking. I don't believe that was originally planned.
      - autoexec 2y ago
        > just the print button would now send the file to Bambu Connect, where you would most likely only press an extra button.. Today it's just one extra button press. In 5-10 years when they shut down the servers for Bambu Connect nobody would be able to print anything at all. It's only because people were vocal in their complaints that their unsupported dev mode was made an option that would let people continue to use what they paid for
    - bdcravens 2y ago
      I've tried the URL handler (the software is in beta). It only sends the print job (sliced file), it doesn't start it. You still have to assign it to the printer, etc, and press the start button.
      - c0nsumer 2y ago
        That doesn't seem any harder because you have to do that with the Network Plugin via a popup window. Or am I missing something else?
adenta 2y ago
The A1 mini was my first printer and it just works. Is there another brand that is idiot proof?
- bdcravens 2y ago
  Not yet, but other brands are stepping up their quality. I just bought a Creality K2 Plus, and it's almost on par with my X1C (and has some features I prefer, like the CFS, their version of the AMS)
- 0_____0 2y ago
  I've been using a Prusa Mk2 for years no with no real issues. Doesn't have the bells and whistles but it does, like, consistently work. Eventually I'll get a used FormLabs setup. Once I have a shop space set up.
- sho_hn 2y ago
  If you buy a Prusa in non-kit form, it's not any harder to unbox or operate, and more reliable, while generally achieving somewhat better results. Without phoning home and while maintaining the software Bambu forked theirs from. A recent review coming to a similar conclusion was Maker Muse' review of bedslingers. It's a channel I respect a lot, because he has over the years relentlessly disclosed emails of companies trying to bribe or lean on him, or threaten him, and refused to play along. Most other 3D printing content is essentially paid advertising -- including, I suspect, the carefully constructed brand narrative of Bambu as the first "fire and forget" printers, as if they somehow elevated the art form, when really the user experience is not substantially different. You do not need to tinker or problem-solve with other modern well-reviewing printers, nor do they fail more prints. My MK4 hasn't failed a single print in a year (i.e. since I bought it), and I haven't had to do any sort of maintenance.
  - MindSpunk 2y ago
    And they cost 3x as much. Which is a pretty tough sell IMO.
    - 2y ago

I'm so happy Bambu is getting what's coming to them after screwing us so badly <3

BWStearns 2y ago

What did they do?

adenta 2y ago
They are locking down their software so you have to use it
bradfitz 2y ago
https://hackaday.com/2025/01/17/new-bambu-lab-firmware-update-adds-mandatory-authorization-control-system/ https://hackaday.com/2025/01/17/new-bambu-lab-firmware-updat... has a summary that caught me up. I feel like it must be missing some of the story though.
bdcravens 2y ago
They used a plugin to communicate print jobs (and other integrations), so that third party software could be used pretty seamlessly. Now they're moving to a new authentication model, and will be requiring users to send files to a separate print app. (Bambu Connect) It adds friction to the process, especially for those who were looking to run print jobs at scale, using "print farm" software or building their own solutions.
- c0nsumer 2y ago
  I do wonder how much friction it'll really add, since the slicers can send the data to Connect via a protocol handler. It also means that Connect could act as a farm / queueing system as well, more like a print driver vs. individual printer support within the app.
  - intothemild 2y ago
    Its pretty much this, nothing seems to be blocking any third party slicer like Orca from working with bambu printers as they are now.. just the print button would now send the file to Bambu Connect, where you would most likely only press an extra button.. Getting info from the printer or AMS? MQTT still works. They specifically said they are not touching that. Sadly the usual groups of people are screaming, and the open printer people are laughing. But at worst.. this is just friction. Anyone pointing this out seems to get downvoted. But its all there in the bambu press statement and subsequent pages. Those that are upset seemed to have not read those, and instead just read or watched something inflammatory.
    - c0nsumer 2y ago
      Did you happen to see this? Interesting development, they are basically going to keep the current wide-open-barely-auth'd state and call it a developer mode. And submitted a PR to make Orca Slicer work with the new auth: https://blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integration-with-bambu-connect/ https://blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integratio... And yeah, I'm realizing that about the downvotes. It's sad the state of things, but SKY-IS-FALLING-GET-PITCHFORKS wins the day over technical analysis, even on purportedly technical forums. But alas, that's an aside. I'm really looking forward to this rolling out, as I want to monitor my printer with Home Assistant but I /really/ don't like how much control the current (non-beta, non-future) state gives HA. I /want/ auth of some sort when submitting jobs, and it looks like I'll have that. (I also really want the slicer decoupled from the print management stuff, because I tend to keep a few slicers open and experiment.)
      - bdcravens 2y ago
        My understanding is that the "addition" of the developer mode (basically the current status quo) is the result of the feedback/pitchforking. I don't believe that was originally planned.
    - autoexec 2y ago
      > just the print button would now send the file to Bambu Connect, where you would most likely only press an extra button.. Today it's just one extra button press. In 5-10 years when they shut down the servers for Bambu Connect nobody would be able to print anything at all. It's only because people were vocal in their complaints that their unsupported dev mode was made an option that would let people continue to use what they paid for
  - bdcravens 2y ago
    I've tried the URL handler (the software is in beta). It only sends the print job (sliced file), it doesn't start it. You still have to assign it to the printer, etc, and press the start button.
    - c0nsumer 2y ago
      That doesn't seem any harder because you have to do that with the Network Plugin via a popup window. Or am I missing something else?

adenta 2y ago

The A1 mini was my first printer and it just works. Is there another brand that is idiot proof?

bdcravens 2y ago
Not yet, but other brands are stepping up their quality. I just bought a Creality K2 Plus, and it's almost on par with my X1C (and has some features I prefer, like the CFS, their version of the AMS)
0_____0 2y ago
I've been using a Prusa Mk2 for years no with no real issues. Doesn't have the bells and whistles but it does, like, consistently work. Eventually I'll get a used FormLabs setup. Once I have a shop space set up.
sho_hn 2y ago
If you buy a Prusa in non-kit form, it's not any harder to unbox or operate, and more reliable, while generally achieving somewhat better results. Without phoning home and while maintaining the software Bambu forked theirs from. A recent review coming to a similar conclusion was Maker Muse' review of bedslingers. It's a channel I respect a lot, because he has over the years relentlessly disclosed emails of companies trying to bribe or lean on him, or threaten him, and refused to play along. Most other 3D printing content is essentially paid advertising -- including, I suspect, the carefully constructed brand narrative of Bambu as the first "fire and forget" printers, as if they somehow elevated the art form, when really the user experience is not substantially different. You do not need to tinker or problem-solve with other modern well-reviewing printers, nor do they fail more prints. My MK4 hasn't failed a single print in a year (i.e. since I bought it), and I haven't had to do any sort of maintenance.
- MindSpunk 2y ago
  And they cost 3x as much. Which is a pretty tough sell IMO.
  - 2y ago