We’ve been secretly testing the new Bambu Lab H2S desktop 3D printer for a while, and here are our findings.
This is part one of a four-part series; please read parts two, three and four.
Bambu Lab H2S Background
Bambu Lab is now one of the largest manufacturers of desktop 3D printers on the planet, and their new H series is definitely not going to jeopardize that position. Some months ago, the company announced the H2D, which superseded their highly successful X1C device introduced a couple of years ago.
3D printer operators were eager to use a Bambu Lab 3D printer that had a much larger build volume, as the X1C tops out at 256 x 256 x 256 mm. The H2D does have a larger build volume, but it’s not quite as big as thought. That’s because the “D” means “Dual”: the H2D has two side-by-side hot ends, which reduces the build volume somewhat.
That issue evaporates with the new H2S 3D printer, where the “S” stands for “Single”. The H2S has a full build volume of 340 x 320 x 340 mm, by far the largest ever offered by Bambu Lab, and in fact, one of the larger desktop units available from key manufacturers.
The H2S is expected to be one of the company’s most popular 3D print platforms.
Bambu Lab H2S Specifications and Features
Visually, the H2S resembles an H2D unless you look very closely. The main difference, aside from the build volume, is that there is a single extruder/nozzle instead of two in the H2D. Almost everything else is the same.
The H2S has significant thermal capabilities. The nozzle can reach a scorching 350°C, the build plate can reach 120°C, and the chamber itself can be actively heated up to 65°C. All of these combine together to enable the H2S to competently print most engineering materials, including TPU, PA, ABS, ASA, PPS, etc.
The large build volume and ability to print in multiple engineering materials suggest the H2S could be a great platform for making parts. Indeed, the company’s slogan for the H2S is:
“Your Personal Manufacturing Hub”
Like all of Bambu Lab’s 3D printers, the H2S connects easily to the company’s cloud system for remote monitoring and control. Note that some operators may not want to use their cloud system, and it’s possible to use “LAN mode” in that case. Our review used stock Bambu Lab materials, software, and networking to mimic the experience of a typical user.
The extrusion system features a custom-designed servo motor that can provide a “67% increase in extrusion force”. This should alleviate concerns about high-speed 3D printing; this extruder can definitely keep up.
An optional feature that we also tested was the Vision Encoder. It’s a specialized plate that can be inspected by the toolhead camera in order to “supercalibrate” the H2S. They say this can provide under 0.05mm accuracy once calibrated.
Amazingly, the H2S contains 23 sensors and three on-board cameras. These provide real-time feedback for dynamic adjustment of the system’s functions, as well as plenty of statistics. The cameras are used to detect print failures and objects left on the build plate using AI technology.
The H2S has safety in mind more than your average 3D printer. This is likely because there is a Laser Engraver option, although we did not test that configuration. The H2S includes five flame sensors, door sensors, and an emergency stop key.
The H2S is easily one of the most well-featured 3D printers we’ve ever tested.
This is part one of a four-part series; please read parts two, three and four.
Via Bambu Lab
