The race to catch up to Bambu Labs continues.
After looking at a number of more advanced desktop 3D printers recently, there’s a pattern emerging that shows where the competition is relative to Bambu Lab.
Readers may recall that a couple of years ago Bambu Lab emerged on the 3D print scene and basically changed everything. They introduced a new device, the X1C, that would produce excellent quality parts at high speeds and was easy to operate. The killer aspect was the price: it was far lower than the professional machines of the day that offered similar capabilities.
Most 3D printer manufacturers were caught with this sudden machine introduction. Professional 3D printer manufacturers suddenly had a very low-cost competitor. Desktop 3D printer manufacturers now had a competitor offering a machine at more or less the same price, but with high-end capabilities. Bambu Lab wrecked both of those business models.
Since then, much has happened.
On the professional side, we’ve seen a number of machine manufacturers pivot their products into different areas. For example, some are now deeply embedded into specific industries to provide extra value beyond what Bambu Lab could provide. Others have simply faded away.
On the desktop side, we’ve seen two approaches. One is to attempt to match Bambu Lab’s technology, and the other is to, well, give up. A number of desktop 3D printer manufacturers seem to not have the capability to catch up and are likely doomed.
For the others, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in new equipment that is eerily similar to Bambu Lab’s configuration: CoreXY motion system; high-speed printing; automatic filament switching; enclosed build chamber; build volume near 250 x 250 x 250 mm, etc.
The number of machines of this type that have recently appeared is startling. We’ve seen the K1/2 from Creality; the Kobra S1 from Anycubic; the COREOne from Prusa; and there are more. All of these machines look and perform very similarly.
If there is a difference, it is in the software. Most of the competitors are having a hard time matching Bambu Lab’s software interface, which is among the best I’ve seen. If there is a way for competitors to catch Bambu Lab, it is through software. However, few seem to realize that.
To get to this point, these manufacturers spent months (or years) developing their new competitive machines, and they’re only now beginning to be sold. Meanwhile, Bambu Lab has been selling their advanced equipment for literally years. Some, like Phrozen, have yet to still launch their competitor, the ARCO.
Now, just as these competitors have caught up, Bambu Lab introduced their new machine, the H2D.
The H2D includes a raft of new improvements that should provide even better print quality and reliability. It also optionally has a very curious laser module that has led me to some speculation on its true purpose.
Nevertheless, the H2D is a very capable 3D printer, with an expanded build volume. This machine’s features are sufficiently advanced that Stratasys sued them for patent infringement. That’s something Stratasys does only when a company has released a product that overlaps with their customers. That tells you a lot about the H2D.
Where does this put all the competitors that just spent the better part of two years rapidly developing products that matched the X1C? Are they back to the drawing board? Can they modify their designs to incorporate more advanced features?
Were they also developing follow-on products that we have yet to see?
If you catch up to Bambu Lab, what do you do when they take things to another level?
These are questions I am wondering about these days, and I am certain they are also being asked in the executive offices of Bambu Lab’s competitors.
