Bambu Lab P1S 3D Printer

Most printers force a compromise. Open-frame machines are fast and affordable, but try printing ABS or ASA on one without an enclosure and you will spend more time chasing warped edges and delaminating layers than actually finishing parts. Conversely, industrial enclosed units solve the materials problem but cost multiples of what a serious maker, engineer, or small business can justify. The Bambu Lab P1S sits exactly between these two worlds, offering a fully enclosed, actively cooled, high-speed FDM printer that prints engineering-grade materials as confidently as it handles everyday PLA, all without the tuning burden of open-source machines.

Running on a CoreXY motion system at up to 500 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration, matched to an all-metal 300 °C hotend and a 256 × 256 × 256 mm³ build volume, the P1S produces parts at a pace and quality level that used to require machinery costing three to five times more. It calibrates itself, monitors itself via a built-in camera, and connects to Bambu Studio and the Bambu Handy app so you can manage print jobs from anywhere. At R10,599.99, available with local stock and South African warranty support through 3D Printing Store, it is the most capable enclosed printer in the Bambu Lab range at this price point.

CoreXY 500 mm/s | 256 × 256 × 256 mm³ build volume | Fully enclosed chamber | Activated carbon filter | Auto bed levelling | AMS-compatible (up to 16 colours) | 300 °C all-metal hotend

Who the Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer is built for

The prototyping engineer who needs functional parts, fast

If your day involves iterating on brackets, enclosures, jigs, or structural components, print speed and material capability are the two specs that directly affect your workflow. The P1S reaches 500 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration, cutting iteration cycles down to hours rather than overnight runs. Its enclosed chamber, with a regulated internal temperature and activated carbon filter, makes ABS, ASA, Nylon (PA), and Polycarbonate viable without a dedicated print room or fume extraction system. A 0.4 mm stainless steel nozzle handles the majority of engineering polymers, and swapping to a hardened steel nozzle unlocks carbon-fibre composites for parts that need stiffness beyond standard plastics. You can print a full-size functional prototype bracket in ABS, check fit, and have a second iteration running the same afternoon.

The small print farm or production operator scaling output

Print farm operators have run the P1S hard, with documented runs beyond 4,000 hours on individual units maintaining consistent quality. The printer's self-calibration, power-loss recovery, and built-in camera with spaghetti failure detection reduce the supervision burden per machine significantly. Stack up to four AMS units for 16-colour capability, or run the P1S in single-colour mode as a reliable production workhorse. Its enclosed chamber means ABS and ASA parts come off the bed warp-free, reducing reject rates on engineering-grade batches. G-code files slice quickly in Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer, and the Wi-Fi connection lets you queue jobs remotely, so you can manage several units from a single workstation.

The school or makerspace running shared equipment

Shared printers get rough treatment. Students forget to level beds, pull parts off plates too hard, and leave partially used spools exposed to humidity. The P1S reduces every one of these failure modes. Auto bed levelling means no manual tramming between users. The enclosed glass door and steel chassis are robust enough for daily multi-user access. A textured PEI spring-steel plate releases prints cleanly with a flex of the sheet, protecting the surface from scraping damage. The built-in camera and Bambu Handy app allow a single supervisor to monitor all machines simultaneously. Filament runout detection stops a job rather than printing air, so a class project is not ruined because the last user left a spool low. With South African loadshedding factored in, power-loss recovery picks up exactly where a print left off, meaning an interrupted overnight job is salvageable rather than wasted.

What sets the Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer apart

An enclosure that actually changes which materials you can print

Not all enclosures are equal. The P1S uses a steel-chassis frame with polycarbonate side panels, a glass front door, and a sealed top. Inside, three fans manage airflow independently: an Auxiliary Part Cooling Fan directed at the print, a Chamber Regulator Fan that stabilises the internal temperature as the heated bed climbs, and a Control Board Fan that prevents thermal throttling of the electronics. The result is a chamber that naturally maintains elevated temperatures when you are printing ABS, ASA, or Nylon, reducing the thermal stress that causes layer separation and warping. An activated carbon filter sits at the rear and scrubs the fume output, making the P1S practical in a home office, school lab, or shared workspace where chemical odours from ABS and ASA would otherwise be a problem. This is not a marketing feature. It meaningfully expands the material palette available to you without any additional hardware.

CoreXY motion and vibration compensation that deliver genuine print quality at high speed

The P1S inherits the same CoreXY kinematic architecture used in Bambu Lab's flagship printers. The toolhead moves at up to 500 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² (20 m/s²) acceleration, going from zero to full speed in approximately 0.025 seconds. At those speeds, most printers produce ringing artefacts, the ghost-like ripple pattern visible on vertical walls adjacent to sharp corners. Bambu's vibration compensation system, equivalent in concept to input shaping, measures the resonant frequencies of the X and Y axes before printing and applies counter-phase correction so the toolhead trajectory cancels out the resonance rather than amplifying it. Pressure advance, running simultaneously, continuously adjusts flow rate in response to acceleration and deceleration so line width stays consistent at every corner. The practical result is that prints produced at 300 mm/s on the P1S are routinely cleaner than those from printers running at 60 mm/s without these algorithms.

A direct-drive extruder that handles flexible filaments reliably

Direct-drive extruders place the motor directly at the toolhead, as opposed to the Bowden arrangement where a remote motor pushes filament through a long PTFE tube. The short, controlled filament path of a direct drive gives you precise command over retraction and extrusion, which is the critical variable when printing flexible materials like TPU. On a Bowden setup, the tube absorbs some of the motor's retraction force and the flexible filament compresses inside it, leading to ooze and stringing that is difficult to tune out. The P1S's direct-drive extruder with steel extruder gears eliminates this, making TPU prints at standard speeds reliable rather than finicky. The same extruder design also benefits abrasive-composite printing: paired with a hardened steel nozzle upgrade, it handles PLA-CF and PETG-CF with consistent grip even under the higher back-pressure those materials generate.

Auto bed levelling and first-layer calibration that require no manual intervention

Before every print, the P1S runs an automatic bed levelling (ABL) sequence using a force sensor at the nozzle tip to probe the build surface and map any deviation across the plate. It then applies a mesh compensation to the toolhead path during the first layer, so even a slightly warped plate prints a flat, even first layer across the full 256 × 256 mm surface. This system does not require paper, feeler gauges, or repeated manual adjustments between print jobs, which is a significant operational advantage in shared environments. The included textured PEI spring-steel build plate provides excellent adhesion across PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, and TPU. For PA (Nylon) and PC (Polycarbonate), Bambu's Engineering Plate is the preferred surface. Plates swap by peeling off the flexible steel sheet and snapping a new one onto the magnetic base, a ten-second process.

Remote monitoring, camera, and AMS multi-colour capability

The P1S ships with a built-in 1280 × 720 camera that streams to Bambu Studio on your computer or the Bambu Handy app on your phone. Spaghetti failure detection runs continuously in the background, identifying when a print has detached from the bed and forming the characteristic tangled mass that wastes hours of filament, and stops the job automatically. You get a push notification. No wasted overnight runs. The printer connects via Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and Bambu-Bus) and stores jobs on a 32 GB MicroSD card, so it can print independently of a connected computer once the job is sent. For multi-colour output, the P1S accepts Bambu's standard AMS unit (sold separately), which holds four filament spools in a sealed, humidity-managed enclosure and switches between them automatically during a print. Connect up to four AMS units simultaneously for 16-colour printing, with RFID-equipped Bambu Lab filaments auto-loading their correct print profiles.

Full specifications

How the Bambu Lab P1S compares to the rest of the Bambu Lab range

Materials and software for the Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer

Filaments the P1S handles

• PLA, hotend approx. 220 °C, bed approx. 55 °C. The easiest starting point. Bambu profiles are dialled in for excellent surface quality at high speed. Default Bambu Studio profiles handle PLA reliably across generic and branded spools.
• PETG, hotend approx. 240 °C, bed approx. 70 °C. Well-suited to mechanical parts that need moisture resistance or light UV stability. Slightly stickier than PLA on the textured PEI plate, so do not over-squeeze the first layer.
• TPU, hotend approx. 220 °C, bed approx. 35 °C. The direct-drive extruder handles TPU reliably at standard speeds. Reduce print speed to around 40 mm/s for the best results, particularly on thin walls or highly flexible shore ratings.
• ABS, hotend approx. 250 °C, bed approx. 90–100 °C. This is where the P1S's enclosed chamber earns its price delta over open-frame machines. The enclosed chamber reduces the thermal gradient at layer interfaces, which is the root cause of ABS warping and delamination. The activated carbon filter handles the characteristic odour.
• ASA, hotend approx. 250 °C, bed approx. 90 °C. Behaves similarly to ABS with better UV resistance, a good choice for outdoor brackets, signage, and vehicle parts. Print in the enclosure for warp-free results.
• PA (Nylon), hotend approx. 260–280 °C, bed approx. 70–80 °C (Engineering Plate recommended). Nylon is hygroscopic, so dry your spool before printing. Reduce wall speeds to around 75 mm/s for better inter-layer adhesion. Capable on the P1S with attention to filament dryness.
• PC (Polycarbonate), hotend approx. 270–280 °C, bed approx. 100 °C (Engineering Plate recommended). High-temperature prints benefit from the enclosed chamber. PC is demanding and benefits from a pre-dried, sealed spool storage routine.
• Carbon-fibre composites (PLA-CF, PETG-CF): Requires a hardened steel nozzle upgrade and is recommended with a hardened extruder gear kit. The stock 0.4 mm stainless steel nozzle will wear rapidly with abrasive composites. The P1S's direct-drive extruder handles the increased back-pressure of CF filaments effectively once upgraded.

Slicers and software

• Bambu Studio: The native slicer, available for macOS and Windows, includes built-in profiles for every Bambu Lab printer and material, automatic G-code generation, AMS slot assignment for multi-colour jobs, and direct print-queue sending over Wi-Fi. The best starting point for most users and the only slicer with full access to the P1S's proprietary calibration data exchange.
• OrcaSlicer: An open-source fork built on the same codebase as Bambu Studio. Preferred by experienced users who want granular control over pressure advance tuning, input shaping profiles, and multi-material transition settings. Fully compatible with the P1S via standard G-code output, with some advanced features unavailable due to proprietary firmware handshaking.
• PrusaSlicer: Community-maintained P1S profiles are available and functional for standard single-colour printing. A good choice if you are already familiar with the PrusaSlicer workflow from a different printer. Advanced Bambu features such as AMS filament mapping and vibration compensation settings are not accessible through PrusaSlicer.
• Ultimaker Cura: Compatible via standard G-code export with community-maintained machine profiles. Suitable for users in educational environments already standardised on Cura for other printers. Again, proprietary Bambu calibration features are unavailable through Cura.

What's in the box

• Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer (pre-assembled, textured PEI plate pre-installed on heatbed)
• 3.5-inch LCD screen (requires installation of 2 screws and plug-in connection)
• Filament spool holder
• Sample filament spool
• Spare hotend assembly
• 2× nozzle wiping pads
• Power cord
• Unclogging pin tool
• PTFE tube
• Bambu scraper
• Allen key set
• Hotend clip, double-sided tape
• 32 GB MicroSD card (pre-installed in printer, includes sample print files)

Ordering, shipping and support

The Bambu Lab P1S is stocked at 3D Printing Store's branches in Centurion and Boksburg, and ships via courier to any address in South Africa. Warranty claims are managed locally through our service team, so you deal with us directly rather than navigating international returns. Replacement nozzles, PEI build plates, and a range of compatible PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, and TPU filaments are stocked for ongoing consumables and maintenance. Contact us at sales@3dprintingstore.co.za for pre-purchase advice or post-sale technical support. The P1S's input voltage range of 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz means it runs directly from South Africa's 220 V grid without a converter.

Frequently asked questions about the Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer

Is the Bambu Lab P1S better than the Bambu Lab A1 for engineering materials?

Yes, for engineering materials the P1S is the better choice. The core difference is the enclosure. The A1 is an open-frame printer: it prints PLA, PETG, and most TPU without difficulty, but ABS and ASA require a stable, draught-free thermal environment that an open frame cannot guarantee. The P1S's fully enclosed chamber, combined with its chamber regulator fan and activated carbon filter, creates and maintains the conditions that engineering-grade filaments need. It also has 20,000 mm/s² acceleration versus the A1's 10,000 mm/s², which means faster practical print times on complex geometries.

Can the Bambu Lab P1S print TPU, ABS, and carbon-fibre filaments?

TPU and ABS print reliably on the P1S as supplied. TPU benefits from the direct-drive extruder, which gives precise retraction control that flexible filaments need. ABS prints consistently inside the enclosed chamber with the carbon filter managing odour. Carbon-fibre composite filaments such as PLA-CF or PETG-CF require a hardened steel nozzle upgrade and, for best results, a hardened extruder gear upgrade. The stock stainless steel nozzle wears quickly with abrasive composites. Once upgraded, the P1S handles CF composites reliably, making it a cost-effective entry point for engineers who need the stiffness and thermal stability these materials provide.

How long does the Bambu Lab P1S take to set up out of the box?

Setup takes approximately 15 minutes. You install the LCD screen (two screws, one connector), attach the filament spool holder, insert the PTFE tube anchor, plug in the power cable, and switch the printer on. The on-screen guide walks you through the self-test, bed levelling calibration, and Wi-Fi setup. A sample model is pre-loaded on the MicroSD card so you can send your first print within minutes of powering up. No manual bed tramming, no first-layer calibration sheets, no initial firmware flashing.

How often does the nozzle need replacing on the Bambu Lab P1S?

With standard non-abrasive filaments such as PLA, PETG, and ABS, a stainless steel 0.4 mm nozzle typically lasts hundreds of printing hours before wear affects print quality. With abrasive filaments, including carbon-fibre composites, glass-fibre blends, and metal-filled materials, a stainless steel nozzle can degrade noticeably in under 10 hours. For those materials, fit a hardened steel nozzle before printing, not after you notice quality degradation. Replacement nozzles in 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mm diameters are stocked at 3D Printing Store.

Does the Bambu Lab P1S come with a South African plug, and is there local warranty support?

The P1S accepts 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz input and is fully compatible with South Africa's 220 V grid and plugs.  3D Printing Store handles warranty claims locally through our Centurion and Boksburg branches, so any fault covered under the manufacturer warranty is managed in South Africa without sending the unit overseas. Contact us at sales@3dprintingstore.co.za for warranty queries.