3D printer manufacturer Bambu Lab’s newest firmware update for its A- and P-Series 3D printers has ignited backlash within the 3D printing community, with critics accusing the company of reinforcing i
While I agree with the most valuable users statement, I can’t imagine that is how they see it. Or that they even should realistically care from a purely financial standpoint. Most users buy their printers and just use them with whatever software came with them. And most of those didn’t even watch or read reviews. Or worse: they did, and possibly heard about the firmware and online thing and just didn’t care.
I disagree with your second part though. Voron is only relevant for the complete opposite end of the spectrum. People who are multi-discipline tinkerers (electronics, hardware, …) and capable and interested in building their own printer. Actual overlap with all Bambu customers is probably sub-1%. The commercial printers that are Voron-adjacent (inspired by or based on the design in some way) still have a different demographic and severely lack in software polish and especially out of the box experience. It isn’t remotely close. Even if they innovated over night and made it even with Bambu, there is nothing that would cause that to be actually relevant in the market without millions in marketing. They might be able to gain momentum, but only slowly and I highly doubt they can catch up to Bambu momentum even in years.
The overlap might be greater than you think. I hesitated to buy my P1S but in the end bought it with a view to printing Voron parts and eventually having best of both worlds, felt like I was never going to get my CR10-S to where I wanted it to be. As it turns out I’m a serial 3D printer starter lol. I’ll get to the Vorons, but I’m feeling the pull of the Rook MK1 right now.
While I agree with the most valuable users statement, I can’t imagine that is how they see it. Or that they even should realistically care from a purely financial standpoint. Most users buy their printers and just use them with whatever software came with them. And most of those didn’t even watch or read reviews. Or worse: they did, and possibly heard about the firmware and online thing and just didn’t care.
I disagree with your second part though. Voron is only relevant for the complete opposite end of the spectrum. People who are multi-discipline tinkerers (electronics, hardware, …) and capable and interested in building their own printer. Actual overlap with all Bambu customers is probably sub-1%. The commercial printers that are Voron-adjacent (inspired by or based on the design in some way) still have a different demographic and severely lack in software polish and especially out of the box experience. It isn’t remotely close. Even if they innovated over night and made it even with Bambu, there is nothing that would cause that to be actually relevant in the market without millions in marketing. They might be able to gain momentum, but only slowly and I highly doubt they can catch up to Bambu momentum even in years.
The overlap might be greater than you think. I hesitated to buy my P1S but in the end bought it with a view to printing Voron parts and eventually having best of both worlds, felt like I was never going to get my CR10-S to where I wanted it to be. As it turns out I’m a serial 3D printer starter lol. I’ll get to the Vorons, but I’m feeling the pull of the Rook MK1 right now.