The X2D Has Arrived: Now It Has to Prove Itself

The X2D Has Arrived: Now It Has to Prove Itself

Der X2D ist da: Jetzt muss er zeigen, was er kann

There it is. The box I had been thinking about for quite a while. The printer that made me go back and forth between reason, desire and real usefulness. The Bambu Lab X2D has finally arrived.

It is not set up yet. Nothing has been calibrated, and not a single test print has started. But even this moment already feels special, because all the thinking, comparing and hesitating has now become real. A few days ago, it was still only a decision in my head. Now the box is actually standing in front of me.

This was not an easy decision

If you followed my last posts, you know that this was not a quick decision. I already own a Bambu Lab P1S , and that printer is far from bad. Quite the opposite. My P1S has done a lot of work for me. Figures, dioramas, practical parts, models for painting and many other projects came from that machine.

That is exactly why the decision was difficult. If you come from an old or annoying printer, an upgrade is easy to explain. But when the printer you already have works reliably, a new machine needs to offer more than just a new name.

I thought about it for quite a while. The P2S was interesting because of the price. The H2S was tempting because of the larger build volume. The H2D was probably the most complete technical solution. But in the end, I chose the X2D .

Not because it is perfect in every way, but because it brings exactly the things my P1S does not offer in the same way.

Why I chose the X2D

The most important point for me is the dual-nozzle system . Support material, cleaner interface layers and difficult models could become much more interesting with it. Anyone who prints figures, dioramas or detailed models knows the problem: the print itself may look good, but the support areas often mean extra work afterwards. Cutting, sanding, cleaning and hoping that nothing breaks. This is exactly where the X2D could become really useful for me.

Another important point is TPU . Flexible materials have interested me for a while. Not only as a gimmick, but for useful parts like protective caps, seals, inserts, grips or small flexible components.

Of course, TPU can also be printed on other machines. I do not want to pretend that the P1S cannot print TPU at all. But the X2D makes this topic more interesting for me, especially together with two nozzles and new material options. That was one of the main reasons for my decision in the end.

It is not just a newer printer. It gives me new possibilities.

The compromise is still there

I do not want to make the X2D sound perfect. There is one clear compromise: in dual-nozzle printing, the usable print area is smaller than on my P1S. That was one of the reasons why I hesitated for so long.

When you buy an upgrade, you usually do not want to feel like you are losing something in one area. But with the X2D, that is part of the deal. More possibilities with materials and supports, but not more build volume. That has to be said honestly.

For larger parts, an H2S or H2D would probably have been more interesting. But I had to ask myself what I would really use more often: more build volume, or more options with materials, supports and TPU?

In the end, the second point won.

The P1S is not forgotten

The P1S is not suddenly a bad printer now. Quite the opposite. I will not just write it off because the X2D has arrived. It has served me too well for that.

At the moment, I see the X2D more as an addition than a direct replacement. The P1S can still handle reliable everyday prints. The X2D now has to show what it can do better with special projects, support material, TPU and dual-nozzle printing.

Maybe both printers will work side by side for a while. Maybe the X2D will slowly replace the P1S. Maybe this combination will turn out to be the best solution for me.

I do not know yet. That is exactly what I want to find out.

Now the real test begins

Technical data and comparisons are one thing. But in the end, only one thing really matters: what actually happens on the build plate?

That is why I do not want to start with a huge project right away. I want to get to know the machine step by step. First unpacking, then setup, calibration and a few simple test prints. After that, it gets interesting.

I want to test PLA, then PETG, then TPU, and of course I want to see what the two nozzles can really do with support material. Only then will I be able to say whether this decision was worth it.

This is not a review yet

This post is not a final review. It is too early for that. Today is only about this moment: the X2D has arrived. The decision is no longer just a thought. It is now standing in the room as a box, waiting to be unpacked.

I am curious, but also careful with my expectations. A new printer can sound great on paper. But in the end, it has to convince me in daily use.

How easy is the setup? How clean are the first prints? How well does TPU really work? How useful is the second nozzle in real projects? And will the smaller dual-nozzle print area bother me more than I currently expect?

These are the things I want to find out.

My conclusion for today

The X2D is here. After a long decision process, there is now a real box in the room. And yes, that feels pretty good.

The P1S was and still is a strong printer. But now a new chapter begins. Not because the old printer was bad, but because I want to try new possibilities.

The box will not tell me whether the X2D was the right decision. The prints will. And of course, I will report about that.

What would you test first on a new dual-nozzle printer? A simple PLA test, TPU right away, or a model with support material?

Thank you for reading, and see you in the next post.

Your Hornet on Tour

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Deutsche Kurzfassung

Der Bambu Lab X2D ist endlich angekommen. Noch ist er nicht aufgebaut, nicht kalibriert und es gibt noch keinen ersten Testdruck. Aber nach dem langen Überlegen steht der Karton jetzt wirklich vor mir.

Die Entscheidung war nicht leicht, weil mein P1S immer noch ein guter und zuverlässiger Drucker ist. Der P2S war wegen des Preises interessant, der H2S wegen des größeren Bauraums und der H2D wäre technisch wahrscheinlich die rundeste Lösung gewesen. Am Ende habe ich mich trotzdem für den X2D entschieden.

Der Grund sind vor allem die zwei Düsen, die Möglichkeiten mit Supportmaterial und das Thema TPU. Genau diese Punkte können für meine Figuren, Dioramen, praktischen Teile und zukünftigen Projekte spannend werden.

Natürlich gibt es auch einen Haken: Im Dual-Nozzle-Druck ist der nutzbare Druckbereich kleiner als beim P1S. Das ist ein Kompromiss, den man nicht schönreden sollte.

Der P1S ist deshalb aber nicht vergessen. Im Moment sehe ich den X2D eher als Ergänzung und nicht sofort als kompletten Ersatz. Jetzt folgen Auspacken, Aufbau, Kalibrierung und erste Tests mit PLA, PETG, TPU und Supportmaterial.

Ein richtiger Erfahrungsbericht kommt später, wenn der Drucker zeigen konnte, was er wirklich kann.

Was würdet ihr auf einem neuen Dual-Nozzle-Drucker zuerst testen?

Danke fürs Lesen, und wir sehen uns im nächsten Beitrag.

Euer Hornet on Tour

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