Do you need a multifunction 3D printer?
That seems to be Bambu Lab’s thinking. The recent introduction of their new H2D 3D printer surprised everyone with its added feature: multifunction tools.
The H2D is indeed a powerful dual-extrusion 3D printer, but it also optionally includes a laser toolhead. This can be used for engraving or cutting, depending on the material used. The device also includes optional cutting and drawing toolheads.
Bambu Lab bills the H2D (when fully outfitted) as an “All-In-One Personal Manufacturing Hub” with “Integrated 3D printing, laser engraving/cutting, and digital cutting/plotting in a unified platform.”
The concept is that you can theoretically purchase the full H2D device and make anything, or at least a lot of things. The H2D does not include a CNC milling toolhead, so there is a notable gap in its making capabilities.
However, myself and no doubt most Fabbaloo readers are really only interested in the 3D printing functions. There are some who genuinely would be interested in the integrated functions, particularly those with constrained physical space capacity, but they are certainly in the minority.
I’ve used multifunction 3D printers in the past and generally found them to be less useful than using separate devices. Typically the integrated features are less powerful / smaller than those on dedicated devices. While I happen to have had access to separate devices, some won’t and must resort to multifunction devices.
Any way you look at it, the multifunction market is definitely smaller than the 3D printer market. I was unsure why Bambu Lab entered this market, but perhaps they felt they could grow it. The H2D’s integrated laser is actually substantially more powerful than typical integrated lasers, so they made some big steps forward over prior attempts at multifunction 3D printers.
Now, months after the surprise introduction of the H2D, I received a message from Bambu Lab marketing, entitled “5 Reasons to Invest in Multifunctional 3D Printers – Insights from Bambu Lab”.
The message does not promote the 3D printing features, but instead focuses only on the multifunctional aspects. It lists five reasons they feel multifunctional devices are important:
- Save space and resources
- Increased productivity through artificial intelligence
- Technology for both beginners and professionals
- Fast, on-demand production with quality results
- Sustainability and innovation go hand in hand
What struck me about these reasons is that they are only applicable if you already intend to use multiple functions. There is nothing to persuade 3D printing-only operators that they should begin using the extra functions.
Clearly, Bambu Lab spent considerable resources to develop the multifunctional features of the H2D, and they’d surely like to get their investment back. That happens only if considerable numbers of H2D buyers opt for the extra functions.
We have no idea of those numbers. What percentage of H2D buyers added the laser feature? Now seeing a message from Bambu Lab promoting the multifunctional features might suggest they want to push their sales higher.
Is this reasonable? I believe that there really are only two types of 3D printer operators: those that use multiple functions and those that don’t. I don’t see one converting into another very often.
For general makers, the H2D with optional features would definitely be a great choice. However, I believe the majority of H2D buyers are really just 3D printing.
Via Bambu Lab
