Bambu Lab pushes a “control system” for 3D printers, and boy, did it not go well
Security measure? Boxing out third-party tools? Or something more complex?
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/bambu-lab-pushes-a-control-system-for-3d-printers-and-boy-did-it-not-go-well/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
@arstechnica ffs... Bambu isn't a hacker printer. It's for getting shit done.. You wanna hack on shit, you have ENDLESS OPTIONS
@Brahn This isn't just for "hacking" though. This is for ANY software integrating with the printer that isn't BambuLab's in-house stuff.
Think a print farm using 100's of Bambu printers with a third-party management program designed for scheduling tasks from the farm's clients autonomously.
This also makes it easier for them to do things like lock you into only using their filament (identified by the RFID tags) instead of using other spools.
This can prevent people from "getting shit done."
@Brahn @arstechnica I want to get shit done on mine, but ruining things like Home Assistant, Panda Touch and the like (not hypothetical, will break these builds) and needing keys to talk to my own printer is a bit much.
@Brahn @arstechnica lock ins are the number one precursor to enshitfication.
@arstechnica @geerlingguy, you apparently aren't alone.
@arstechnica bambu has been accused of a number of dirty dealings which is why many choose a different brand
@steveriggins I credit Bambu with raising the bar for out of the box performance. Now that they’ve done that, they can ride off into the sunset.
Bambu Lab just copied the "HP printer cartridge ripoff" business model.