As announced, Bambu Lab released its new build plate and TPU filament on November 12th, 2024.
The new build plate
The new build plate is called “Bambu Cool Plate SuperTack” and is available in two variants. One is for the “X1 series/P1 series/A1” and one is for the A1 mini.
It is said to be designed especially for PLA and PETG and to have excellent adhesion. This should reduce the risks of warping. Bambu Lab says the adhesion strength declines by less than 20% even after 300 prints.
This new build plate’s texture helps create a smooth finish on your models’ bottom surfaces. Bambu Lab describes it as between the smooth PEI plate and the Textured PEI plate. Yet, its texture is closer to that of the smooth PEI plate.
Finally, since it delivers strong adhesion at low temperatures, it’s more energy efficient.
Bambu Lab also shared some information on how to clean it:
SuperTack provides good adhesion without adhesive or frequent cleaning. You can clean the surface with water and detergent if heavy dirt appears. Do not use organic solvents (especially acetone) to clean the build plate, as it will damage the SuperTack surface.
If you are interested, you can order it now at Bambu Lab’s store: https://store.bambulab.com/products/bambu-cool-plate-supertack
The TPU filament
This new TPU filament is currently the only one compatible with an AMS. It has a Shore hardness of 68D.
To better understand what that means, the website aeromarineproducts.com has a good and extensive explanation with an excellent infographic:
Yet, note that 3D printable TPU filaments are usually rated 95A. You can find some softer material, but it gets really hard to print. Also, the flexibility of prints is also influenced by the Wall Loops and Sparse Infill Density settings. The higher the Wall Loops or Sparse Infill Density, the lower the elasticity, and vice versa.
Bambu Lab notes that this filament must be fully dry before printing, as other TPU filaments. Moreover, it should only be printed with PLA in interlocking structures. In other cases, printing with PLA is not recommended, and it should not be printed with other filament types.
Bambu Lab advertises this filament as AMS compatible, with less stringing, and fast printing speed.
It currently comes in seven colors:
- White (53100): #FFFFFF
- Black (53101): #000000
- Gray (53102): #939393
- Red (53200): #ED0000
- Yellow (53400): #F9EF41
- Neon Green (53500): #90FF1A
- Blue (53600): #5898DD
If you are interested, you can order it now at Bambu Lab’s store: https://store.bambulab.com/en-be/products/tpu-for-ams