Bambu Lab is very particular about its slicer, to the point where cloud connectivity must be disabled if you want to use something other than Bambu Studio. Despite the obvious concerns this limitation raises, Bambu Studio isn’t a bad choice.
Here are some features you shouldn’t overlook.
Measure
When you download a model from the internet, the exact dimensions aren’t always clear from the author’s description. That’s where the measure tool comes in, allowing you to size up a model to make sure it meets your size expectations before you print it. It’s essential for any work you might do in the slicer, like scaling a model up or down to suit your specific use case.
You can also use the measure tool to figure out the angle between two planes. To get started, click on the object you want to measure and then find the ruler icon in the toolbar above the preview area. There are two ways to use this tool: either by laying down two points (for distance) or by clicking one face and then the other (for angle).
To lay two points, hold Shift and select a point on the model. While still holding shift, lay down another point. You should now see the distance between those two points. Hit Escape to cancel the operation. For angles, just click one face (which will appear blue) and then a second (which will appear pink).
Scale
The scale tool allows you to make an object (or an entire build plate’s worth of objects) larger or smaller. Select the objects you want to change the size of, and then find the scale icon in the toolbar above the model preview.
By default, the “Uniform scale” checkbox will be enabled. This locks all axes so that the model will scale in a linear fashion. You can manipulate an object’s size by clicking and dragging the small rectangle icons that appear on the build plate, though this isn’t particularly accurate.
A better method is to change the values in the box in the toolbar. You can either do this by modifying the percentage or by changing the X, Y, or Z value to a specific size.
Cut
Cut allows you to make a precise cut in a single object or to create two separate objects. To use it, select a single item on the build plate and then find the cut icon in the toolbar. A plane will appear, which you can manipulate either using your mouse or by changing the values in the X, Y, and Z axis boxes.
There are two modes to choose from, starting with “Planar” which simply creates a flat cut at a point of your choosing. You can use this tool to cut out small sections of larger models to test if whatever is meant to fit inside needs adjustment before committing to the whole print.
The other option is the “Dovetail” cut, which is ideal for cutting objects down to size when they don’t fit on your build plate. This type of cut is designed to make the two resulting objects fit together once the print is complete, though you might need a dab of glue or similar to ensure a solid outcome.
Pick your mode, pick your point, and click “Perform cut” to slice away. Be mindful that Bambu Studio will reorient your objects as it sees best following a cut, and you might want to reorient these to suit the original printing profile.
Lay on Face
Perhaps the most self-explanatory tool on the list, but it’s worth mentioning because of the way that print orientation can greatly affect object strength. Select an object, then click the tool in the toolbar and select a face. The object will now print on the face that you select. It’s as easy as that.
Seam Painting
Seams are the point at which a layer stops before the printer moves on to another part of the model. All objects have seams; it’s just the nature of filament-based 3D printing. You can control where these seams appear, however, by using this painting tool.
First, use the “Slice plate” button to slice your print and make sure that the “Seams” box is checked in the small grey box that appears. You’ll notice the seams appear in white. If you’re not keen on the location, go back to the “Prepare” tab and select your object, then click the seam painting tool.
You can now paint the seam in an area of your choosing. You can pick somewhere you won’t see, and even lock the brush to vertical strokes for clean lines.
Color Painting
Want to brighten up a model that’s a single solid color? Do this by selecting a single object and then clicking on the color painting (paint bucket) icon in the toolbar. There are several tools available to you when doing this.
“Circle” is a flat tool that paints on the outermost layer, while “Sphere” does a similar job but as a 3D object (ideal for getting into gaps). Since your model is divided into triangles, the “Triangle” paint mode applies color section-by-section. Then there’s the incredibly useful “Layer height range” tool, which lets you paint a section of layers along the Z axis. You also have a “Paint bucket fill” and “Gap filler.”
Just remember that multi-color printing can be wasteful. Using the height range tool (and orienting your model to suit) is the least wasteful way to inject a bit of color variation, since this will keep filament changes to a minimum.
Text Shape
The other way to add a personal touch to an object is to add your own text. This doesn’t require that you modify the model in an app like Fusion of FreeCAD, but rather you can add text by selecting an object and using the text shape tool in the toolbar.
You can use the “Mode” drop-down to choose how the text behaves on various shapes. For example, “Surround surface” will wrap the text around the model when the angle changes, while “Surround+Horizontal” will maintain horizontal alignment on slopes.
You can also choose several operations, including “Part” and “Cut,” which create protruding or cutout text, respectively. If you choose to create a “Modifier,” the model geometry won’t be affected, but a selectable area (that’s flush with the model) is created, which is perfect for different-colored text.
Poke around, and you’ll discover plenty of other tools in Bambu Studio, in addition to the many slicer default settings you might want to tweak from time to time.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
