Bambu Lab’s P1P 3D printer delivers outstanding print quality out of the box. However, upgrading your machine can further improve user-friendliness and print quality.
If you’re facing issues printing ABS, want to print multiple colors, or improve the aesthetic machine, these Bambu Lab P1P upgrades and modifications can help.
We’ve tested dozens of modifications to recommend the best upgrades for your Bambu Lab P1P. By the end of this article, you’ll have a well-equipped Bambu Lab P1P that produces high-quality prints and operates more efficiently and reliably.
AMS
Our favorite P1P upgrade is Bambu Lab’s Automatic Material System (AMS). The AMS automates the material handling process, allowing you to print multiple colors.
One AMS unit allows up to four colors of printing, and you can add up to four AMS units to your P1P for up to 16-color 3D printing.
The AMS upgrade integrates seamlessly with your P1P for easy multi-color printing. With AMS, the printer automatically detects when the filament is running low and switches to a new spool without manual intervention. The filament runout detection saves time and reduces the risk of print failures due to filament runout.
Another advantage of AMS is its ability to maintain optimal filament conditions. The built-in humidity control keeps your filaments dry and prevents moisture-related issues that degrade print quality.
Purge Bucket
One of my biggest issues with Bambu Lab’s P1P is the “poop shoot.” When the print head purges filament during a color swap, the excess filament shoots out the back of the machine. Unfortunately, there’s no bucket to catch the discarded filament.
Adding a purge bucket to your Bambu Lab P1P collects the purge material and maintains the overall cleanliness and efficiency of your printing process.
When you switch filaments mid-print, the printer needs to purge the old filament from the nozzle to ensure that there aren’t color contaminations after the filament change. This excess filament creates a mess in your workspace without a purge bucket. The purge bucket provides a dedicated space for this waste material, keeping your workspace tidy.
Side Panels
The P1P is a stripped-down version of Bambu Lab’s flagship X1 Carbon 3D printer. While similar in many ways, the P1P is missing side panels and a front door.
Upgrading your Bambu Lab P1P with side panels enhances the functionality and aesthetics of your 3D printer by providing a more controlled printing environment. Additionally, the side panels allow you to print ABS, which requires an enclosure to prevent warping.
Side panels also reduce the dust and debris entering the printing area. Minimizing dust can improve print quality, but it is mostly beneficial for improving bed adhesion and keeping the internal components clean.
Less dust means less 3D printer maintenance and fewer repairs.
Another advantage is noise reduction.
Enclosing your printer with side panels dampens the sound of the moving parts, making for a quieter printing experience. This upgrade is almost necessary if your printer is located in a shared or living space where noise levels are a concern.
Side panels also add an extra layer of protection by preventing accidental contact with hot or moving parts. The additional safety layer is essential if you have children or pets around. The panels act as a barrier, reducing the risk of burns or other injuries.
Installing side panels on your Bambu Lab P1P is straightforward. You can purchase pre-made panels or print custom designs using Bambu Lab’s ModPlate.
Here are a few fun options:
Wham Bam HotBox Enclosure
Side panels are cool because they allow you to customize your printer with a personal design. But if you’re after optimal performance, you’ll want to check out the Wham Bam HotBox Enclosure.
This enclosure significantly enhances your 3D printing experience by better controlling your printing environment. The Wham Bam Hot Box manages temperature, reduces noise, and improves safety, making it a valuable addition to your printer setup.
The Wham Bam HotBox Enclosure is particularly beneficial for printing temperature-sensitive filaments like ABS, Nylon, and Polycarbonate. These materials are prone to warping and splitting if the ambient temperature isn’t stable.
The enclosure is made from high-grade Nylon 600D fabric with a fire-resistant coating, making it durable and safe. The HotBox is easy to assemble and disassemble, which is excellent if you don’t always need an enclosure.
P1P to P1S Upgrade Kit
A few months after the P1P debuted, Bambu Labs unveiled the P1S, an upgraded printer with a full enclosure, better cooling, and a few other benefits. At the same time, Bambu Labs provided an upgrade kit allowing you to convert your P1P to a P1S.
The kit includes:
- Glass Cover Plate (1)
- Front Glass Door (1)
- Front Door Mounting Kit (1)
- Left Plastic Panel (1)
- Right Plastic Panel (1)
- Rear Metal Panel (1)
- Front Cover (1)
- Auxiliary Part Cooling Fan (1)
- Control Board Fan (1)
- Chamber Temperature Regulator Fan (1)
- Cable Chain Assembly (1)
- P1S Toolhead Cable (1)
- PTFE Tube (1)
- P1P Toolhead Cable (1)
One of the most significant advantages of the P1P to P1S Upgrade Kit is the addition of an enclosure. The P1S model includes side panels and a front glass door to maintain a stable internal temperature. The enclosure is crucial for printing materials sensitive to temperature fluctuations, like ABS and Nylon.
The stable printing environment reduces print defects like warping, resulting in higher-quality prints. The enclosed environment also helps reduce noise.
The upgrade kit also includes an auxiliary fan, which improves airflow and cooling during prints. The enhanced cooling is particularly beneficial for prints with overhangs and small intricate details.
Installing your P1P to P1S Upgrade Kit is relatively straightforward. The instructions are detailed and easy to follow, and several YouTube videos guide you through the process.
Side Spool Arm
I don’t know why Bambu Labs put the filament holder on the back of the printer, but it’s a pain to swap filaments. If you don’t have an AMS, upgrading your P1P to a side-mounted spool holder will greatly improve its ease of use.
There are several dozen files online, but I like this Heavy Duty Side Spool Arm on Printables.
Simply print the arm on your P1P, and connect it to the frame using two M3x8 screws and one M3X12 screw.
By moving the location of the spool holder, you’ll have a much easier time swapping filaments.
Vibration Dampeners
Vibration dampeners are added to your P1P’s feet to absorb vibrations during high-speed printing. Vibrations cause various issues, such as layer misalignment, ghosting, and ringing, which negatively impact the appearance of your prints. By installing vibration dampeners, you can minimize the effect of vibrations on your prints, and they also make the printer quieter.
Several types of vibration dampeners are available, including rubber feet, silicone pads, and specialized mounts. Each type has its advantages, but all reduce the impact of vibrations on your prints.
The rubber feet on the P1P are good enough for most people, and I rarely recommend upgrading. But if you do a lot of high-speed printing or have a shaky table, it’s worth the upgrade.
You can even print your own anti-vibration feet using TPU filament thanks to this Thingiverse file by Bonfiggy.
Hardened Steel Nozzle
Upgrading your Bambu Lab P1P with a hardened steel nozzle allows you to print with abrasive materials and reduce the frequency you need to change nozzles. Hardened steel nozzles are designed to withstand the wear and tear caused by filaments that contain abrasive additives, such as carbon fiber, glow-in-the-dark, metal, and wood fills.
I recommend upgrading to a hardened steel nozzle mainly because of its durability.
The P1P’s stainless steel nozzle is great for general-purpose printing, but it requires frequent replacement. Printing wear and tear widen the nozzle diameter, leading to inconsistent extrusion and lower print quality.
Hardened steel nozzles are much more resistant to abrasion, maintaining their integrity and performance over a longer period, and require less maintenance.
While hardened steel nozzles offer these significant benefits, there are a few considerations. One is thermal conductivity. Hardened steel has lower thermal conductivity than stainless steel, meaning it doesn’t transfer heat as efficiently. I recommend increasing the printing temperature slightly to compensate.
Touch Screen Display
The Panda touchscreen brings a modern, user-friendly approach to managing your 3D printing tasks. One of the primary benefits is the ease of navigation compared to the rotary knob navigation. The larger screen makes navigating the menus easier and finding the information you need.
The five-inch display provides real-time monitoring of print progress, temperature readings, and even the ability to preview G-code files. This level of detail can help you make more informed decisions about your prints and catch potential issues before they become significant problems.
Installing the display is as easy as attaching the mount and plugging the screen into the mainboard.
But my favorite feature is the ability to control up to 10 printers from one terminal. It makes running a print farm easier than ever.
Build Plate Upgrades
The P1P ships with a gold, textured PEI Build Sheet (my favorite choice of build plate material). But this isn’t necessarily about improving the build plate.
A popular TikTok trend is the Bambu 3D Effect Sheets.
These fun build plates look flashy, but their unique patterns translate to the bottom of your prints. That means you can add a carbon fiber or galaxy design to your 3D prints. When you print black filament using the carbon fiber sheet, it actually gives the appearance of authentic carbon fiber.
LED Strips
LED strips are a cosmetic addition to your P1P. They’re easy to install and provide better lighting and cool effects for your 3D printer.
Adding LED strips improves visibility, making it easier to see the progress of your prints. This increased visibility is particularly useful for spotting issues like layer shifting, warping, or other print defects early on.
The enhanced lighting also makes maintenance tasks more convenient, such as changing filaments or cleaning the print bed.
Beyond functionality, LED strips give your printer a modern look. I recommend choosing RGB LED strips that allow you to customize the lighting color and effects.
