3D Printing: Bambu Vs. Snapmaker: Final Thoughts

 

We have been recently posting about the difference between our new school machine (Bambu H2D) and comparing its prints to the regular Snapmaker Prints that we have been completing over the last few years (since 2021).

We have been printing identical prints as a comparison in terms of print quality and also print time, and further as is relevant to ourselves as a school ensure that we are printing in a way that is reliable and can be monitored.   As a school while we are very lucky to have staff who are able to unblock and fix machines as the need arises it is not something that we want to spend time doing.

The print shown left has been completed using our Snapmaker printers and Cura design software with a gold filament.   The design was sourced online by a student from a freely available website.   In its current format the print 60mm across at the base and 80mm wide at the top.   The print is 75mm tall and 40mm wide.   The print took one and a half hours to complete on regular print settings.

There was rafting 'waste plastic' underneath the arms and underneath the cloak of the figure.   The rafting was removed using a basic pair of pliers.

The print was reliable although we have experienced difficulties at time with the spool fouling then causing the printer to jam.

The Bambu version of the same print was identical in terms of dimensions, although as can be noted from the pictures has a slightly more detailed finish.   

The biggest differences were in the print times, which was under half and the amount of waste which in this case was minimal restricted to a small amount under each arm and the base of the figure.

The other obvious point of difference is the housing for the PLA which in the case of the Bambu is held securely above the printed and unrolls from there.   We have used the Snapmakers extensively but do have to ensure that the printers are unwinding successfully.    Various features of the Bambu ensure that this should not be an issue.