What is MakerWorld? This is like Bambu’s shop for finding 3D Prints. Most of these prints will be FREE for you to download to your printer and print out. Literally thousands of prints can be found here and are all set for Bambu printers. You can view MakerWorld for free without even owning a printer, making it a great place to visit while waiting on your printer to arrive!

VIP NOTE: I should mention that anything you print that will go inside the AMS or Printer should be printed with PETG filament that will withstand the heat produced by the machine while operating!

Desiccant Boxes

Desiccant boxes are stored inside the AMS Pro2, in the front and back areas. You fill these with Silica Gel beads, which help to control the humidity inside the AMS and the filaments placed inside. You can find a variety of styles; some hold the humidity meter while others do not. NOTE that these need to be printed in PETG filament due to the heat produced by the machine while in operation.

Printer Decorations

As I mentioned in another post, you can find all sorts of decoration ideas for your specific printer in MakerWorld. It’s not only fun but a great way to learn and experience your printer when you first get it. Some are simply decorative, and some are functional. Take a day to pick out a few things and have FUN!

Here is a look at a couple of things I printed right away. These accents were all printed with the Sunlu Matte PETG Sky Blue filament.

These tiny hole covers might seem silly, but I have noticed that tiny pieces of filament can fall down in this area, and these covers can prevent them from falling into the areas, possibly causing an issue for the printer.

Not for decor, but a very useful tool is this bed scraper. The printer comes with a metal scraper, though it’s not recommended as it will ruin the printing plate! This printable scraper has a removable plastic end, so when it becomes dull, you can simply print a replacement!

1. Screen Edge Cover
2. Handle Decor
3. Dust protectors for the bottom of the printer
4. Hot End Fan Cover Options

Here is a link to my collection of other ideas for printer decor items. I continue to add to this collection as I run across things. While I may not print them all, it’s nice to have them in a collection till I have time to look into them further.

Once you create an account in MakerWorld, you can scroll and search through the files, then create a themed collection area where you can save files you like. It’s such a time saver for when you want to print something specific or for a quick gift.

So have fun finding ways to decorate your own printer, and please leave a comment below if you find something to print that you think I might like!!

Till next time . . .

Teri

What extra items should you also purchase with the machine . . .

As with any machines made for crafting, there are always “other items” you normally need to purchase. Some are necessary, and some are more for convenience. One of the first things you will purchase is various colors of filament, which must be kept dry in order to work properly. Filaments should be stored in airtight containers with Silica Gel beads to control the humidity. Humidity meters also stored inside the container help you to know if your filament needs to be dried before use. Wet filament can cause all sorts of issues when trying to print, so these extras are very much a necessity. Buying Silica Gel beads in bulk is a great option, as they change color when they’re no longer working and then can be dried and reused. Wire cutters are needed to clip the end of the filament before loading it into the printer so that it feeds properly. Last but not least, if you want to record timelapse videos of your prints, you will need a USB Flash Drive. You don’t have to have a flash drive, but it is a fun option!

Here is a look at the items you will need to purchase right away when purchasing filament.

I have linked the specific items that I purchased, but you can find many different versions of these items available on Amazon.

Bambu Labs P2S Combo Printer at Best Buy

In last week’s post, I mentioned the type of printer I purchased and the reasons why I chose this specific model. The “combo” option includes the very top portion you see in the photo where filaments are placed and ready to be used. This is called the AMS Pro 2. The AMS feeds the filament into the machine for printing and holds four filaments at a time. It also has the ability to dry filament! If you find your filament is too wet, you can set the machine to dry the filaments for a specific amount of time. This is best done overnight if you intend to print the next day. It can not dry the filament while printing.

I strongly suggest getting the combo option if you purchase this model of printer.

I hope that you are finding these posts on 3D Printing informative and fun. Please feel free to use the comment section below to ask me questions or post your own experience and tips! Your input will help others reading this series!

Next Up . . . What filaments should you buy right away

Till next time . . .

Teri

At the time, or shortly after purchasing your 3D Printer you will want to purchase some filaments to work with. There are several types of filaments availalble for varied uses as well as many different brands. They range from beginner-friendly to industrial engineering materials. What you purchase depends on what you want to do and there are various things to consider before purchasing. Hopefully the following information will help you to decide what works for you.

Types of Filament

I mainly print PLA and PETG for home decor and miniatures. Printed toys are mentioned a lot with these materials, but I question toys for children who may put the items in their mouths. I think better safe than sorry! You need to make your own choice on that subject.

• PLA – This is the easiest filament to use and what most beginners start with. It’s the most popular type of filament sold. It prints at low temperatures with minimal warping, making it ideal for visual models, toys, and decor items. It is safe to print indoors and has little to no smell, depending on how sensitive you are to smells. I am super sensitive and have not noticed any smell when printing with PLA. Note that it is not food safe and is sensitive to heat, so suggested for items placed outdoors in the heat or direct hot sun. You will find more colors of PLA than any other type of filament.
• PETG – Combines the ease of PLA with higher strength, chemical stability, and moisture resistance. It works well for outdoor prints and durable mechanical parts. It has little to no smell and is safe for indoor printing. There is a good variety of colors available in PETG on the market.
• ABS / ASA – Tough, impact-resistant, petroleum-based materials that offer high heat resistance. It is favored for outdoor use due to its superior UV resistance. It requires a higher temperature and an enclosed printer. I don’t suggest this material for indoor printing unless you have a very good ventalation! There will be a smell with this material, and not great for breathing fumes.
• TPU – This is an elastic, rubber-like material used for flexible objects like phone cases, grips, and such. Must have very good ventilation!
• NYLON – An engineering-grade polyamide with high tensile strength, wear resistance, and toughness, ideal for functional gears and mechanical components. It requires high temperatures and strict moisture control. Another material I don’t suggest for indoor printing, and it does require very good ventilation.

Bambu Labs Filament Guide is worth taking a look at!

Brands of Filaments

There are a variety of filament brands on the market today. I suggest that you try several and choose what you like best. Below is my experience with several brands I have used so far.

Bambu Labs Filaments – If you don’t mind the wait for shipping, Bambu Labs filaments can be purchased online, and they frequently have a good sale going on. You can get good discounts based on the number of filaments you purchase. Be aware that they can often be limited in stock. You can also search and find Bambu filaments on Amazon, but the choices can be limited. I have heard that some big-box local stores are now carrying this brand. An advantage of using Bambu filaments is that they contain an RFID code on the spool, allowing the printer to read and set the type of filament in the software.

I have used the following other brands of filaments with the same success as the Bambu Labs filaments and highly suggest that you try them out!

• Polymaker – This is another popular brand that I want to try out but have not purchased any so far. It does get great reviews. They also have discounts based on the amount of purchase. You can also find a good selection of Polymaker filament on Amazon.
• Sunlu – I picked up one filament from Amazon and had a great experience with it. A lot of people seem to like it.
• Hobby Lobby Filament – Stock tends to clear out quickly. They also sell refillable filament spools! It is nice to be able to just run out locally and pick up filament instead of waiting for shipping.
• Michaels Filament – Very limited stock and not a lot of colors. In-store shopping is better than online. I only recently purchased a black PLA from Michaels and have not tried it yet but reports are that it prints well.

NOTE: Some filaments will come on a plastic spool while others might be on a thick cardboard spool. I have used both without any issues. When looking at filaments, you will often see them available on a spool or as a refill. Be sure to read the descriptions and be sure what you are purchasing. As for spools, you can find printable spools in MakerWorld for various filament brands. Some brands sell refillable plastic spools as well.

Specialty Filaments

I have tried out a few specialty filaments such as PLA Marble, PLA Silk, and PLA Wood. Silk has no issues, but I do see it mentioned that with Marble and Wood filaments, the grit in them can wear down the nozzle. It is suggested that if you like to print these a lot, you should invest in the Hardened Steel Nozzle.

Here is a look at printed items with two of these filaments. I do love both of these!

Table and chair legs printed in Hobby Lobby PLA Silk Gold

Tabletop and chair seats printed in Hobby Lobby PLA Marble White

There are a lot of YouTube videos on various filaments. Several channels work with a variety of filaments and show finished projects using the filaments. Get comfy and browse YouTube for some of these channels!

I hope this information gets you a bit informed and started with choosing your first filaments. I will make some update posts as I try out new filaments in the future.

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Till next time . . .

Teri

Here is a look at the machine I purchased and a list of the product features. Read on before clicking the link to see my honest opinions after using it for a few months.

Bambu Labs P2S Combo W/AMS Pro 2

• Intuitive Touchscreen Interface: Seamless control at your fingertips.
• Fully Enclosed Chamber: Engineered for the safe and consistent printing of advanced materials.
• Multi-Color Printing: Unlock limitless creativity with AMS-powered multi-material printing.
• AI-Powered Oversight: Intelligent error detection makes 3D printing simpler and more reliable.
• Integrated Filament Drying: Keep your materials in peak condition with the 2nd-Gen AMS.
• Built on a Legend: The power of the best-selling P1S, completely refined and reimagined.
• Full-Scale Build Volume: A spacious 256 × 256 × 256 mm³ canvas for your biggest ideas.

There were always a few reasons I didn’t want to get into 3D printing, but in the last few years, things have changed. There are two types of printers: resin and filament (FDM), and each has qualities to be considered before purchase. Below are the main qualities to consider when looking for a 3D Printer. The qualities below are the very reason I decided to go with the Bambu Labs P2S, including the affordable price!

• Resin printers use a liquid material, have a strong smell when working, and involve a messy cleanup. I also believe (don’t quote me here) that resin printers – unless there are very expensive ones – print only one color at a time.
• FDM filament printers use plastic that is in the form of a string shape. While some FDM printers can print one color at a time, there are many on the market now that can print multiple colors at the same time. If you look at the image above, you can see four colors/spools of filament inside the box at the top of the printer. This box is called the AMS Pro2 and can feed all four colors into a single print or print any single-color filament into a single print. The P2S also has an external spool holder that comes with the machine, which can be used to add a fifth color. Plus, you can add a second AMS to the machine, giving you nine colors total.

Another point I strongly suggest is to purchase your 3D printer locally at Best Buy, Micro Center, or any big-box store that offers an extended warranty. I purchased my printer from Best Buy with the extended warranty after learning that if anything goes wrong, they will either fix the printer or exchange it with a new one – no problem. Dealing with a local company is far better than trying to deal with emails back and forth in a foreign country!

Once I received my order, with the help of the excellent setup manual and watching a single setup video online, I had the machine running and making my first print in less than 45 minutes! It truly is that easy. Bambu Labs also has Bambu Academy with several FREE courses you can take to learn all about the printer and how it works.

Once your printer is set up, Bambu has a “first print” little boat called a Benchy. It’s a simple push a button, choose your color, print to see how your printer works. Inside MakerWorld, you can find a ton of altered Benchy prints for more fun. Below are two Benchies I printed.

LEFT: printed in a golf PLA. RIGHT: printed in white and black PLA – multicolor print.

Bambu Labs has everything you need to get started, and trust me … you won’t believe how EASY it is to get started!!!

• Bambu Studio: Bambu Studio is an open-source, cutting-edge, feature-rich slicing software. It contains project-based workflows, systematically optimized slicing algorithms, and an easy-to-use graphical interface, bringing users an incredibly smooth printing experience.
• Bambu Handy App: The Bambu Handy app is a one-stop 3D printing service platform designed to offer a convenient, seamless, and enjoyable 3D printing experience. With Bambu Handy, you can control printers anywhere, connect to the MakerWorld models library, and print your favorite designs easily!
• Maker World: Is a fantastic place you can go to get thousands of FREE 3D print designs! You simply pick the item you want to print, download it to the operating software, and get it ready to print. You can visit MakerWorld even without a printer to see the types of prints available!

Do I have to learn a new software program . . .

Another comment I always made when asked about getting a 3D printer was: “I don’t want to spend the time learning another software program”. I wound up eating these words when I helped a friend set up her own printer and discovered just how EASY Bambu software is to use!!! I printed things the same day I set up the printer, even though I’d never used a 3D printer before! It truly is that EASY!

In MakerWorld, most files are set up by the designer, so you just download the file, open it in Bambu Studio, slice the print, and print it. Prints can also be sized up or down as you like and printed in any color of filament you have loaded. And while the Bambu Academy will teach you a lot, you can do this as you like and do not need it to get started printing.

Here is a look at some things I printed in the first few days after setting the printer up . . .

Notice the turquoise parts on the printer and AMS in the photos above? These all come from inside Maker World, are free, and are a fun way to decorate your machine! There are tons of different options to choose from and a great way to get used to using the printer.

Is a 3D printer safe to use in my house . . .

Now, about “smell”, my other concern. There are a lot of different types of filaments to choose from such as PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, and Nylon. Each is suited for different uses and strengths. If you use only PLA and PETG, created with safe materials. PLA is plant-based, while PETG is made with the same material used in clear water bottles. They have no smell and are safe for indoor use. That said, you should always consider venting any machine running indoors by opening a window and keeping the air circulating. The other filaments do have strong smells and need better venting setups. For most needs, PLA or PETG will be fine when creating items for decor or general use. PLA is suited for indoor use, with no direct hot sun exposure, while PETG is stronger and can be placed outdoors. When printing parts for the 3D printer, inside or outside, you should use PETG due to it’s tolerence for heat!

Final thoughts . . .

I do not regret my choice to purchase a 3D printer and am so happy I went with a Bambu Labs machine. The machine works like a dream and is so user-friendly for beginners. I have only had one issue with the machine, my fault, and the machine interface walked me through how to fix it! It will also remind you when it’s time to do any upkeep or maintenance on the machine! No big deal, just wiping down the rails and adding grease or lubrication to them. Easy peasy.

I chose the P2S AMS Combo machine after viewing tons of Bambu Labs printer comparison YouTube videos. One, it’s an enclosed printer. Two, it has great reviews, is easy to set up and begin using right away, and the price was affordable. I suggest that you search Bambu Labs P2S videos on YouTube to see how easy setup is. There are hundreds of great videos about these printers and 3D printing online, and tons with tips on using the software (slicer) program.

One thing I will warn you about… You will have so much FUN that you just might want to purchase another printer in the very near future! I know I have already thought about it.

A very important point I want to mention is that if you ask friends who have printers about Resin over FDM, they will most likely say: ” Oh, you can’t get the small details with an FDM printer that you can get with Resin.” In my opinion, that is not 100% true. FDM printers have come a very long way in the past 3-5 years and continue to evolve. I have printed some very tiny, detailed houses and trees that turned out lovely. There are options in the slicer software that you can choose to get better details when needed. This adds additional print time to the project, but it’s worth it. You can also purchase an additional nozzle for finer details.

Last but not least, as with all machines, there are other items you will want to purchase at some point, but you do not need these right away if you get the AMS Pro2 with the machine. I will be making another post about this subject next week.

I will leave you with a look at the most recent thing I printed. This print comes from PA1 Maker, who has tons of FREE fantastic files on his Patreon page. His print files are designed to be printed in parts, without using an AMS. Parts are either snapped together or glued. You can see the parts for the Nutcracker on the left side photo. He also has some offerings on MakerWorld and a few other places. I just had to have this for Halloween!!!

Follow My 3D Printing Journey

Follow my 3D Printing experience, and let’s see what I can make for miniature projects! I will be printing for my own use while I learn more about the printer and the software. Eventually, I will be creating printed miniatures for sale in my shop here and at any shows I attend.

Happy crafting!