Bambu Lab: Difference between revisions

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==Incidents==

===Bambu Lab A1 NTC thermistor fire and meltdown hazard===

===Authorization Control System (''2025'')===

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===Helio Additive===

In mid-2025, Bambu Lab added a new functionality in a form of a third party cloud service where you can send your design to get a thermal analysis, which can be used later to optimize the print adjusting the temperature (for [https://www.helioadditive.com/pricing paid membership]). Besides privacy concerns of sharing the designs with a Chinese startup, the functionality is restricted to an online-only model, with no offline simulation alternative, limiting potential open-source or community-driven innovation.

In 2026 this was integrated into bambu slicer as non-removable advertising <ref>{{Cite web |title=Mastodon post from @[email protected] |url=https://connectified.com/@masukomi/116736929422875166 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/1HHyv |archive-date=2026-06-12 |website=connectified}}</ref>

==Comparisons to similar practices==

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[[HP]]'s printer firmware updates have rendered third-party ink cartridges unusable, leading to class-action settlements in both the United States and the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-03-19 |title=HP avoids monetary damages over bricked printers in class-action settlement |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/hp-avoids-monetary-damages-over-bricked-printers-in-class-action-settlement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250319231817/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/hp-avoids-monetary-damages-over-bricked-printers-in-class-action-settlement/ |archive-date=2025-03-19 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> The Federal Trade Commission's May 2021 report ''Nixing the Fix'' described firmware-mediated cartridge restrictions as a recurring repair-policy issue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nixing the Fix: An FTC Report to Congress on Repair Restrictions |author=Federal Trade Commission |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/nixing-fix-ftc-report-congress-repair-restrictions/nixing_the_fix_report_final_5521_630pm-508_002.pdf |website=Federal Trade Commission |date=2021-05-06 |access-date=2026-05-10 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Within the 3D-printing industry, the now-defunct manufacturer [[MakerBot]] followed a similar trajectory, shifting from open-source, DIY-focused machines to closed-source, proprietary ones, which ultimately drove customers to less-expensive open-source competitors and contributed to MakerBot losing its position as an industry leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benchoff |first=Brian |date=2016-04-28 |title=The MakerBot Obituary |url=https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208222057/https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |archive-date=2025-12-08 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Hackaday]]}}</ref>

Within the 3D-printing industry, the now-defunct manufacturer [[MakerBot]] followed a similar trajectory, shifting from open-source, DIY-focused machines to closed-source, proprietary ones, which ultimately drove customers to less-expensive open-source competitors and contributed to MakerBot losing its position as an industry leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benchoff |first=Brian |date=2016-04-28 |title=The MakerBot Obituary |url=https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208222057/https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |archive-date=2025-12-08 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Hackaday}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Creality]]

*[[MakerBot]]

*[[Formlabs]]

*[[Bambu Lab Authorization Control System]]

*[[Bambu Farm Manager]]

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[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

[[Category:Companies]]

[[Category:Bambu Lab]]

[[Category:Feature Ransom]]

[[Category:3D printers]]

[[Category:Open source]]

[[Category:3D printing]]

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 ==Incidents==
+===Bambu Lab A1 NTC thermistor fire and meltdown hazard===
+{{Excerpt|Bambu Lab A1 NTC thermistor fire and meltdown hazard}}
 ===Authorization Control System (''2025'')===
 {{Main|Bambu Lab Authorization Control System}}
@@ Line 60: / Line 63: @@
 ===Helio Additive===
 In mid-2025, Bambu Lab added a new functionality in a form of a third party cloud service where you can send your design to get a thermal analysis, which can be used later to optimize the print adjusting the temperature (for [https://www.helioadditive.com/pricing paid membership]). Besides privacy concerns of sharing the designs with a Chinese startup, the functionality is restricted to an online-only model, with no offline simulation alternative, limiting potential open-source or community-driven innovation.
+In 2026 this was integrated into bambu slicer as non-removable advertising <ref>{{Cite web |title=Mastodon post from @[email protected] |url=https://connectified.com/@masukomi/116736929422875166 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/1HHyv |archive-date=2026-06-12 |website=connectified}}</ref>
 ==Comparisons to similar practices==
@@ Line 66: / Line 71: @@
 [[HP]]'s printer firmware updates have rendered third-party ink cartridges unusable, leading to class-action settlements in both the United States and the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=2025-03-19 |title=HP avoids monetary damages over bricked printers in class-action settlement |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/hp-avoids-monetary-damages-over-bricked-printers-in-class-action-settlement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250319231817/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/hp-avoids-monetary-damages-over-bricked-printers-in-class-action-settlement/ |archive-date=2025-03-19 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> The Federal Trade Commission's May 2021 report ''Nixing the Fix'' described firmware-mediated cartridge restrictions as a recurring repair-policy issue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nixing the Fix: An FTC Report to Congress on Repair Restrictions |author=Federal Trade Commission |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/nixing-fix-ftc-report-congress-repair-restrictions/nixing_the_fix_report_final_5521_630pm-508_002.pdf |website=Federal Trade Commission |date=2021-05-06 |access-date=2026-05-10 |url-status=live}}</ref>
-Within the 3D-printing industry, the now-defunct manufacturer [[MakerBot]] followed a similar trajectory, shifting from open-source, DIY-focused machines to closed-source, proprietary ones, which ultimately drove customers to less-expensive open-source competitors and contributed to MakerBot losing its position as an industry leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benchoff |first=Brian |date=2016-04-28 |title=The MakerBot Obituary |url=https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208222057/https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |archive-date=2025-12-08 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Hackaday]]}}</ref>
+Within the 3D-printing industry, the now-defunct manufacturer [[MakerBot]] followed a similar trajectory, shifting from open-source, DIY-focused machines to closed-source, proprietary ones, which ultimately drove customers to less-expensive open-source competitors and contributed to MakerBot losing its position as an industry leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benchoff |first=Brian |date=2016-04-28 |title=The MakerBot Obituary |url=https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208222057/https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/ |archive-date=2025-12-08 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Hackaday}}</ref>
 ==See also==
 *[[Creality]]
 *[[MakerBot]]
+*[[Formlabs]]
 *[[Bambu Lab Authorization Control System]]
 *[[Bambu Farm Manager]]
@@ Line 82: / Line 88: @@
 [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
+[[Category:Companies]]
+[[Category:Bambu Lab]]
 [[Category:Feature Ransom]]
 [[Category:3D printers]]
 [[Category:Open source]]
+[[Category:3D printing]]