Your First Week with a Bambu Lab Printer

Morning: unboxing and physical setup

Take your time unboxing. There is foam and tape in places you won't expect, especially inside the print chamber on enclosed models. The instruction card has QR codes linking to video guides; use them.

• Remove ALL packaging materials, including inside the chamber
• Place printer on a stable, level surface away from drafts
• Attach spool holder and build plate
• Plug in and power on

Afternoon: initial configuration

On touchscreen models, the screen guides you through language, Wi-Fi, and account setup. On the P1P and P1S, Wi-Fi and account binding run through the Bambu Handy app over Bluetooth instead: open Account Configuration in the printer's settings menu and scan the QR code with the app (Bambu's P1 binding guide). Connect to your network. Cloud features are useful for beginners even if you go LAN-only later. When prompted, run the initial calibration. Takes 10–15 minutes. Don't skip it.

Evening: first print

Use a pre-sliced test model from Bambu (on the included SD card for models with a card slot) or a MakerWorld print. The included Bambu test models are sized for the printer and use optimized profiles. Watch the entire first layer. Check that it's adhering, the surface looks good, and there are no obvious issues. If it looks wrong, see first layer troubleshooting.

Print the same test model again, but this time watch actively:

• What does a good first layer look like on your plate?
• How does the part release when cool?
• Check that the plate type selected in Bambu Studio matches the plate on the printer; it changes how close the nozzle runs on the first layer
• Leave the Z-offset alone for now. Bambu's screen guides for the X1, P1, H2D, H2S and H2C list no Z-offset setting on the printer, and Bambu's H2D first-layer guide treats an offset change as a temporary start G-code fix of 0.02 mm or less. The P2S has one on the screen (First Layer Quality Calibration), but Bambu's P2S first-layer guide puts it last, after leveling and the hardware checks. Our nozzle-too-close guide lists the first-layer options per model

Download Bambu Studio and connect it to your printer. Explore the interface without slicing anything yet. Read the Bambu Studio basics guide.

Download a simple model from MakerWorld or Thingiverse: a small geometric shape or household item. Open it in Bambu Studio, use the default quality preset, and slice it. Review the layer preview. Send to printer.

Things to learn today: what the infill looks like, how supports work if your model needs them, what estimated time vs actual time differences look like.

Print a temperature tower for your filament. These are free downloads that print at different temperatures in a single print. It shows you the optimal temperature for your specific spool. This is genuinely useful knowledge, not just a curiosity.

Try adjusting print speed by 20% and see the result. Try 0.12mm vs 0.20mm layer height on the same model.

If you have an AMS or AMS Lite, load a second filament and print a pre-made multi-color model from MakerWorld (3MF format, colors are pre-assigned). Watch the filament switching process. The purge tower is normal; see multi-color guide.

If no AMS: print something that matters to you. A phone stand, a small organizer, something you'll actually use. Nothing teaches you faster than making something you care about.

Deliberately create a minor problem to solve it. Lower the bed temperature by 10°C and watch what happens to adhesion. Increase print speed by 50% and see where it breaks. This sounds counterproductive but learning to recognize problems early makes you a better operator.

Wipe the build plate properly and inspect the nozzle. Leave the carbon rods on the X1 and P1 series alone for now: Bambu says to check them once a month and to clean them after about 5 kg of ABS or ASA or when ribbing shows up, because cleaning too often wipes off their self-lubricating film (Bambu's carbon rod guide). On the A1 and A1 mini, the rails get a monthly clean followed by fresh lubricating oil. Read the routine maintenance guide. Set a monthly calendar reminder for the maintenance tasks.

By now you should understand: how to load/unload filament, what a good first layer looks like, how to use Bambu Studio for basic slicing, where the calibration settings are, and what to do when something looks wrong.