Bambu Lab: Difference between revisions

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Alongside 3D printers, Bambu Lab also sells its own brand of 3D printer filament on spools with embedded NFC tags that describe the filament material, type, model. The NFC tags are meant to interact with a corresponding NFC tag reader inside their proprietary AMS (Automatic Material System).{{citation needed}} A group of researchers by the name [https://github.com/Bambu-Research-Group/RFID-Tag-Guide Bambu Research Group] has since managed to reverse-engineer these tags, although not managing to make their own custom tags. Their project's documentation also mentions their efforts may be slowed down due to fear of repercussions from Bambu Lab.
Alongside 3D printers, Bambu Lab also sells its own brand of 3D printer filament on spools with embedded NFC tags that describe the filament material, type, model. The NFC tags are meant to interact with a corresponding NFC tag reader inside their proprietary AMS (Automatic Material System).{{citation needed}} A group of researchers by the name [https://github.com/Bambu-Research-Group/RFID-Tag-Guide Bambu Research Group] has since managed to reverse-engineer these tags, although not managing to make their own custom tags. Their project's documentation also mentions their efforts may be slowed down due to fear of repercussions from Bambu Lab.


Bambu Lab's official accompanying software package is [https://github.com/bambulab/BambuStudio Bambu Studio], which handles the converting ([https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Slicer_(3D_printing) slicing]) of digital model files into compatible [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/G-code G-code] that the 3D printer can read and process. It is based on the open-source software [https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer PrusaSlicer], and draws the majority of its inner workings from it. <ref>https://github.com/bambulab/BambuStudio#bambustudio</ref>
Bambu Lab's official accompanying software package is [https://github.com/bambulab/BambuStudio Bambu Studio], which handles the converting ([https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Slicer_(3D_printing) slicing]) of digital model files into compatible [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/G-code G-code] that the 3D printer can read and process. It is based on the open-source software [https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer PrusaSlicer], and draws the majority of its inner workings from it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@bambulab |title=PC Software for BambuLab and other 3D printers |url=https://github.com/bambulab/BambuStudio#bambustudio |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=GitHub}}</ref>


== Consumer impact summary ==
==Consumer impact summary==
<nowiki>*</nowiki> User Freedom:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> User Freedom:


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===Authorization Control System (2025)===
===Authorization Control System (2025)===
{{Main|Bambu Lab Authorization Control System}}
{{Main|Bambu Lab Authorization Control System}}
In early 2025, Bambu Lab announced changes to future firmwares that would implement a centralised authentication mechanism that regulated connections and control over the customer's 3D printer. This new firmware would be mandatory to install and could have prevented the customer's printer from functioning until it had been. This effectively forced customers to agree to new Terms and Conditions surrounding the use of their printer, which they did not agree with upon purchase of the product.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250214090029/https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/bambu-lab-responds-to-backlash-over-new-firmware-update-235771/ </ref>  
In early 2025, Bambu Lab announced changes to future firmwares that would implement a centralised authentication mechanism that regulated connections and control over the customer's 3D printer. This new firmware would be mandatory to install and could have prevented the customer's printer from functioning until it had been. This effectively forced customers to agree to new Terms and Conditions surrounding the use of their printer, which they did not agree with upon purchase of the product.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyrer-Jones |first=Alex |date=20 Jan 2025 |title=Bambu Lab Responds to Backlash Over New Firmware Update |url=https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/bambu-lab-responds-to-backlash-over-new-firmware-update-235771/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214090029/https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/bambu-lab-responds-to-backlash-over-new-firmware-update-235771/ |archive-date=14 Feb 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=3D Printing Industry}} </ref>  


This new authentication mechanism resulted in numerous designed-for and compatible third-party products, both software and hardware, being made incompatible with the printers going forward. The chief products affected were (including but not limited to): Panda Touch, OrcaSlicer, any third-party product making use of the MQTT protocol. Soon after the updated software was released, users managed to [[Bambu private keys leaked less than 24 hours after announcement|extract necessary security keys]] from it to continue using their third-party products. Amendments have presently been made that would allow some or all of these products to work with workarounds or extra software or tools from Bambu embedded into these products.  
This new authentication mechanism resulted in numerous designed-for and compatible third-party products, both software and hardware, being made incompatible with the printers going forward. The chief products affected were (including but not limited to): Panda Touch, OrcaSlicer, any third-party product making use of the MQTT protocol. Soon after the updated software was released, users managed to [[Bambu private keys leaked less than 24 hours after announcement|extract necessary security keys]] from it to continue using their third-party products. Amendments have presently been made that would allow some or all of these products to work with workarounds or extra software or tools from Bambu embedded into these products.  


Bambu Lab later responded to public outrage and controversy over these changes, stating that feedback has been provided and they would amend the firmware's new security measures with developer options that would unlock the use of the 3D printer without connecting to Bambu Lab's services.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIyaDD8onIE</ref> However, the wording of these updates has been widely criticised by consumer rights conscious people as implying these were good-will gestures or extra granted rights, or that restriction of functionality was never on the roadmap.   
Bambu Lab later responded to public outrage and controversy over these changes, stating that feedback has been provided and they would amend the firmware's new security measures with developer options that would unlock the use of the 3D printer without connecting to Bambu Lab's services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=19 Jan 2025 |title=Bambu Lab Firmware Update Forces Cloud Dependency & User Lock-In - AVOID THEIR 3D PRINTERS! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIyaDD8onIE |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> However, the wording of these updates has been widely criticised by consumer rights conscious people as implying these were good-will gestures or extra granted rights, or that restriction of functionality was never on the roadmap.   


Bambu Lab vocally spoke out against the public's reaction, calling many of the valid concerns "unfortunate misinformation", "false accusations" and "baseless allegations".<ref>https://blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integration-with-bambu-connect/</ref> It is notable that Bambu's recall of these accusations seems to fall on the [[Bambu's Gaslighting Masterclass: Denying their own documented restrictions|creatively victimized interpretation]] side of the matter.
Bambu Lab vocally spoke out against the public's reaction, calling many of the valid concerns "unfortunate misinformation", "false accusations" and "baseless allegations".<ref>{{Cite web |last=@SpaghettiMonster |date=20 Jan 2025 |title=Updates and Third-Party Integration with Bambu Connect |url=https://blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integration-with-bambu-connect/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=Bambu Lab Blog}}</ref> It is notable that Bambu's recall of these accusations seems to fall on the [[Bambu's Gaslighting Masterclass: Denying their own documented restrictions|creatively victimized interpretation]] side of the matter.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Bambu Lab]]
[[Category:Bambu Lab]]
[[Category:3D printers]]