New Bambu H2D 3D Printer: Hype or Holy Grail? 50 Hours Later I’m Still Deciding

Bambu Lab’s latest printer is called the H2D, and it isn’t just a 3D printer. They call it a “multifunctional manufacturing hub” because it can do more than just print 3D objects. With the right accessories, you can use it as a laser engraver or even a vinyl cutter similar to a Cricut. Bambu Lab says it can deliver “comprehensive fabrication capabilities through unified hardware architecture.” Can a three-in-one machine be a good Jack of all trades? So far, it’s difficult to tell, but when it comes to the 3D printing part, I like what I see.

Bambu Lab burst onto the 3D printing scene just two years ago and has since managed to turn consumer 3D printing on its head. From the high-end X1 Carbon to the base A1 Mini Combo, Bambu Lab has managed to create some of the best 3D printers you can buy in every price range. This latest release goes beyond what it’s previously made and gives us more than just another incremental upgrade. I’ve spent a couple of weeks with this 3D printer, and while I’m not ready for a full review, I can tell you I like what I’ve seen so far.

The 3D printer

As you can imagine, the H2D is a good 3D printer. It may even be great. The few weeks I’ve used it have produced many great prints and zero fails. The business gorilla from Fotis Mint you can see here printed wonderfully — though I used too high a layer height– and the impressive 325 by 320 by 325mm build area gives me a lot of room to play with. Overall, the H2D is massive, both in build area and footprint, so be prepared for it to take up a lot of workbench. That said, it can, in theory, replace several machines, such as hobby laser engravers or vinyl cutters, so you may save some space in the long run.

The H2D goes beyond what came before it with a dual nozzle setup. I’m always hesitant with dual nozzles because one often gets in the way of the other, but Bambu Lab has thought of that. When not in use, the left nozzle moves up out of the way and is covered by a drip stop, making it really clean. It’s an ingenious design. The advantage that dual nozzles give you is the ability to use different filaments at different temperatures, something that previous Bambu Lab color systems struggled to do. I’ve been using the AMS 2 color system on one nozzle and support material in the second, but you could easily use it to print five colors or, if you buy another AMS 2 or use an AMS 1 you already own, up to eight colors with no issues. In fact, Bambu has said you could potentially use up to 25 colors on a single H2D, but we will have to see if that’s economical.

The new AMS has also been upgraded. It now includes environmental controls that can help maintain your filament by keeping it dry and away from moisture. I haven’t tried that part of it yet, but from my limited testing, it works as well as the original AMS in actually feeding the filament through. I’ve also used the fifth nozzle to print supports using PETG with PLA in the AMS 2, and it worked like a charm. I think I will like playing with the 3D printing part a lot more in the coming weeks. Bambu Lab has also created a specific slot for using TPU, as the AMS has historically struggled with it. It’s a nice addition and shows the thought that has gone into this new machine.

My only 3D printing concern isn’t really about the 3D printer itself but how much maintenance it will require if you use the laser module as often as the 3D printer. It will need constant care and cleaning to keep it 100%, as dust, smoke and debris may interfere with the oiled parts of the H2D. That being said, the H2D has been built from the ground up to expel as much of that as possible with a powerful extraction and filtration system that works very well.

If all you want from the H2D is its 3D printing capabilities, then you can buy it with the AMS 2 starting on March 25 for $2,200. From what I have seen, it’s a good successor to the X1 Carbon, and the extra size and extra nozzle make it a force to be reckoned with.

The vinyl cutter

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting a vinyl cutter to be a part of the H2D. I knew it had a laser engraver, and I thought the H2D would use that to cut vinyl, but no, there is an entirely separate module designed for cutting along with a metal cutting mat with a soft grip side and a hard grip side. I was pleasantly surprised at how accurately the tool cut. I can see myself using it to make small projects when I don’t want to pull out the Cricut cutter I have. It even has a pen adapter for plotting and art projects.

Having three machines in one place is helpful, especially if you have limited space. While the H2D vinyl cutter is smaller and slower than Cricut machines’ current line, it eliminates the need for one if you aren’t planning to use it for large batch runs of products. The cutting module is only available in the laser combo, priced at $2,800 for the 10W and $3,500 for the 40W, but I’m sure it will also be available as a standalone purchase.

The laser cutter

Both the 10W and the 40W lasers performed excellently. The only real difference is how fast they did it. The 40W is significantly faster at every aspect of lasering, especially when cutting through materials rather than engraving. The H2D makes it very easy to swap out modules. You don’t need to remove the 3D printing head; just slide the laser onto the front of the tool head. The machine recognizes which module is connected and asks you to run a setup. Once that’s done, you are good to go.

I’ve cut through wood and engraved on leather and stainless steel with the H2D, and while my testing isn’t complete, I think the lasers are as good as any of the hobbyist lasers out there. Machines like the Glowforge Aura or the xTool F1 could easily be replaced by the laser on the H2D, keeping all of your crafting needs in one place. The extraction is good with a load of filters and fans to make sure as much of the debris and smoke is pulled away from the machine. There is even a built-in air assist system to make sure your cut is sharp and less prone to fires.

The H2D laser combo kit comes in two flavors, the 10W and 40W versions, and includes a cutting tray, an emergency stop button and the cutting module. As an added extra, a portable air filter is available as an optional extra. There’s a $700 bump to jump from a 10W laser to a 40W one, which seems excessive, but what projects you want to do with it will determine what power you need. If you want to cut through materials, the 40w is your best bet. If you’re only engraving, the 10w will work fine.

First impressions

Overall, the H2D is a fine addition to the Bambu pantheon. As a 3D printer, it’s what people have been calling for; it’s bigger — though not as big as some on Reddit would like –, faster and has more printing options than ever before. I can see the basic 3D printing combo being extremely popular without any of the other manufacturing bells and whistles.

The popularity of all of the optional extras is harder to gauge, though other companies have had success with this type of machine. I can see people streamlining their workshops with this three-in-one tool, especially when you do the math. The 10W laser combo costs $2,800 but can replace three separate machines that could cost significantly more when taken together. So far, I like what I see in the H2D, especially the 3D printing part, and I’m looking forward to getting a full review down on paper in the coming weeks.

The H2D with the AMS2 is available to purchase now with the laser combo and standalone printer available to preorder now with shipping in April and June, respectively.