Prusa XL VS All Bambu Lab 3d Printers User Review

just my simple review of these 3d printers

[JonaDVargas]

Finally a person that has both brands and can share his experience with both with numbers. Thank you!

[sasquatchphil]

So I had bot the xl and the x1c and both are great printers. I just preferred my xl over my x1c. Great video

[donamills]

I just assembled my XL and very minor issues, about what you experienced.

I did end up loctiting the nextrude dock mounting screw in.

Other that that it's been fantastic.
Even made a print using petg and flex filament in same print.
Worked out great. (Door stop)

[langph]

The single extruder multi material option is for the MK3/4 with MMU.

[Toy_and_Prop_Masters]

Excellent video! Sorry for the lengthy comment in advance. I was initially leaning toward the Prusa XL, thinking it would finally meet my needs, but after watching your video, I’m now unsure about whether it’s the right choice for my specific requirements. To give you some context, what I primarily need from a 3D printer isn’t necessarily speed, but precision. I often prototype intricate parts that must fit together with tight tolerances, so accuracy is key. I was initially drawn to the Prusa XL for its build volume, which I thought would be ideal, as my typical print heights range from 2” (50mm) to a maximum of 14” (356mm). While I mostly work with single-color prints, I’m also open to multi-color or multi-material options when needed, like the XL promises. However, the most critical aspect for me is achieving a smooth surface finish akin to SLA prints, but without the associated hassle of maintaining an SLA printer. I’ve heard that the Prusa XL’s slicer now includes the Arachne perimeter generator, which promises improved print quality, and that was something I found promising.

Based on your extensive experience with various machines, I’d love to hear your thoughts on which printer would best meet these needs. Specifically, I’m looking for precision, ease of use, and the ability to deliver professional quality prototypes, without the maintenance demands of an SLA system. I trust your judgment and would greatly appreciate any suggestions or guidance on what to consider next in my search. Should I keep waiting or should I take the plunge?

Thanks again for all the valuable content you create, it’s been a huge help!

[zheyabgav]

10:43 funny shirt-circuiting realizing it's meters

[woodguy]

It's interesting to see that as a person who prints prototype and functional parts speed and ability to print different plastic types is my main concern and waste is an afterthought, but with a person who prints display pieces is just the opposite.

[Qwarzz]

I was considering Prusa XL but there are a few things I don't like. Marlin is not a fun firmware to customize and the tool changer seems to pretty much lock you to what ever Prusa offers.
So I just went pretty blindly forward and ordered RepRap V-Core 4... Remains to be seen how theat goes :)
I'll also get IDEX upgrade for it so I'll be able to print two different materials or if I'm printing multiples of the same part, I can be printing two at a time.

I brought Prusa MK2S when MK3 was just out and at this point I basically have just some of the hardware and motors left of the original machine. It's also running Reprap firmware now.

[RoccosStuff]

How noisy is the Prusa XL compared to the other printers? I'm SOOOO tempted to get a Prusa XL but noise is a real concern...

[pierre-henripaitre]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[BojanSusic-qiqn]

Even the MK4S with MMU3 saves more time/money on multi-color prints as it also doesn't flush filament but swaps spools and just wipes on the tower

[FishBaitBlue]

Sure wish I would have gone this direction vs the X1C

[dfloyd]

It might be good to get a 5T XL, but also other printers for making single material items. This way, you have the best of all worlds.

[Nooooo]

So just ran a test. I had to change the brown to white as I didnt have 5 colors.
X1C
I got 3 Squirtle on a bed.
print time 2 days 8 hrs the same as your 1. A single print is 1 day 20hrs(may as well print multiple as it only adds a little bit more in time. )
.2mm layer height, 15% infill
prime tower 33g shrunk. 20width 10 volume.
flushed 270g
long retract enabled
50% flush but I could go higher

now multiply that by 4 printers. (A1/X1C/P1P and P1S) 3models x 4 printers= 12models every 2 days.
Save the mini to print the glasses. which take about 15 min to print separately. or 6 in 2 hrs.
You are adding an hour leaving it on the build plate with the rest of the model.

Prusa XL
2 days 5 hrs to print 6. so 6 every 2 days.

Or you could just print 3 of them unpainted in 12 hrs(X1C) vs 17 hrs for 3 on the XL. or 6 in 35 hrs and post process which arguably will look better depending on your skillset.

Like I said there is no math that will beat the volume of 4 printers going at the same time, You are leaving a lot of time, filament and capacity out of the equation. Printing a single multicolor print on a large XL or ignoring the benefits of multiple items on a build plate to spread out the overall filament waste.

And lastly it as I stated before 1-3 thousand of dollars in filament waste means you would need to have milliions of filament swaps to reach the break even price of all of your printers vs the XL. 4 k for all of your printers roughly vs 5k for the XL leaving a 1k difference for filament.

avg filament purge is .2-.5 grams = 5000 to 2000 swaps a roll.

find your cost between 100 $10 rolls or 10*100 rolls..
lower end $10 filament 200, 00-500, 000 swaps
High end $100 filament 20, 000-50, 000 swaps

[jeffstrains]

I have the MK4 love the print quality VS the 3 really wanting to get an XL but from what I have watched seems like its print quality is not as good. Pursa seems to not want to fix their broken slicer if I don't go into task manager and put it in efficiently more I can't slice anything large without a crash

[seanmcne]

Thanks for the insight! One interesting thing about the slicers is: Bambu slicer is actually Prusa slicer but they re-skinned it and added a few new things (like multiple build plates). Personally, I prefer how prusa slicer laid out the menus but as you said switching is just a little different/weird. Also, 100% the time and filament wasted with the AMS is off the charts. I find the AMS to be valuable is simple swaps for lettering and supports or if you have the time to just let the Bambu rip. Thanks again for sharing!

[michawasiljew]

Imagine XL with recent updates MK4s will have.

[lxjmwoh]

Bambu is coming out with a tool changer printer. They are trying to take all the business from Prusa, so they will make same/better printer for every model Prusa sells.

[jazon]

We need Prusa XL Mini - with 25x25x25 plate, and 4 nozzels. And ofc lower prices....

[elchavode]

Most of the negative post are made by bots and people who just hate prusa