# Bambu 3D Printing Instructions


## Availability

The current status of the printers is published to https://members.thelab.ms/machines.
Access is first come first serve - we don't (currently) have a reservation system.


## Cost

If you use filament provided by TheLab, we ask for a donation of $0.03/gram to cover the costs of the materials.

[[https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XHQRUTFXRSWQY|Donate on PayPal]]

You can find this filament in one of the obviously marked bins under the printers and in the AMS(s).


## AMS (Automatic Material System)

Typically there are a few spools of TheLab-owned PLA stocked in the AMSs and labeled appropriately. Use the AMSs for active prints if you like, but the side spool is typically easier if you're only using a single filament per print. Just don't leave your filament in the AMS once your print is done.


## Personal Filament Storage

There are three bins under the 3d printers that can be used for short term storage: less than 6 months. Mark your spools with your Discord handle and the date.

If there isn't room for your spool, throw out (or take home!) the first spool you find that's unmarked or older than six months (prefer empty spools, etc.)


## Attending Prints

The Bambus are very reliable/safe printers - just stick around to make sure the first layer sticks before letting the print run unattended.


## Etiquette

- If someone else's print has finished, feel free to remove their print and place it in the bin
- Don't hold up both printers at once unless you've gotten consensus in the `#filament-general` Discord channel first
- Long prints are okay! Try to run them overnight, leave a note in Discord first.
- Only use gluestick on plates that require it
- Vacuum up the inside of the printer enclosure if your print left dust, etc.


## Sending Prints

Bambu Studio is installed on most of the machines around TheLab and works as advertised. :)

## IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
The Bambu process sends the file to be printed to a cloud product, from there it is sent back down to the actual machine to be printed.

Thus, it is very important that we DO NOT log out of the Bambu cloud within the Studio instances installed on TheLab machines. Doing so will render this inoperative.
 
If you want to log into the Bambu cloud with your own Id you must do so on your own machine. 

## Local Quick Start Guide ##

Note: This is preliminary, for general introductory information only at this time. Some of what is here may not be totally correct. Please ask for help from those who know the local processes.
 
** [[checklist:bambu_quick_start| Preliminary TheLab Quick Start]]**