4 ms·

BambuLab new firmware to cut access to third-party API and tools

61 points by dazhbog 2y ago

daghamm 2y ago
Saw this on reddit " My product is the reason Bambu blocked the API" https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1i4gotq/my_product_is_the_reason_bambu_blocked_the_api/ https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1i4gotq/my_prod...
- junon 2y ago
  I highly doubt this was the reason. There have been a number of Chinese clones of their peripherals that I think they're trying to lock down. This sucks though. Hopefully some good open firmware exists when this eventually bites me.
  - daghamm 2y ago
    Well, their private keys have been leaked todays so let's hope we will see some OSS firmware soon. Current firmware does some dubious things, I would be happy if someone removed that.
    - bhhaskin 2y ago
      What's concerning with the current firmware?
      - junon 2y ago
        It seems to require the cloud to print remotely. I don't want to have to use an SD card or whatever nonsense each time I need to start a print, nor use the tiny slow touch screen to do what I need.
- nullc 2y ago
  I think the fact that enough users are using LAN mode and firewalling the printer off that it's less useful as a CCP data theft vector is a more credible explanation. The new interface code, running on your host computer, is much harder to firewall off than just a whole device. Bambu's filament offerings are extremely price competitive (except perhaps their PAHT-CF / PPA-CF) and are well liked for their consistency and reliability-- they're not something they need to protect with any kind of lock in... and if they would being able to send to the printer directly from orca/etc. hardly threatens it. From a lockout perspective the uploader shim won't work anyways, as it will quickly be reverse engineered to extract the certificate. But what it will do is keep most people's prints going through code that can send copies home to China or act as a backdoor to enter interesting systems on a highly targeted basis. Aside, it's pretty interesting that bambustudio is unusable in qubes, all the GUI dropdowns instantly close when you click on them -- it's literally the only Linux program I've encountered that doesn't work.
p0w3n3d 2y ago
Crippling hardware for people using non-original materials is douchebaggery
- op00to 2y ago
  That’s not what’s happening.
michaelcampbell 2y ago
They seem to be going in quite hard on banning people in both Discord and reddit talking about it, too. Not a good look.
stamps 2y ago
When buying a 3D printer I found it better to support Prusa[0] or another company that cares more about open source / hardware. [0] https://github.com/prusa3d https://github.com/prusa3d
- ghostpepper 2y ago
  Which prusa would you recommend for someone switching from a bambu P1S? Primary requirements are single-color PLA and PETG with a comparable ease of use, speed and print quality.
  - PrivateButts 2y ago
    Mk4 or Mk4s would be the current one, or wait for the new core one
- nerdwaller 2y ago
  I couldn't bring myself to pay the premium at the time, especially with the slow rollout of the MMU. But now with multiple printers in my fleet, I might be kicking myself shortly. We all knew some of this was a possibility, unfortunately.
solid_fuel 2y ago
I find this timing somewhat curious - I recently became aware that Luigi Mangione is accused of, amongst other things, using a 3d printed firearm in the assassination of the United Healthcare CEO. [0] Now, one of the most popular 3d printer manufacturers is taking steps which could lead to tighter controls on what models can be printed. [0] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/19/luigi-mangione-ghost-gun-3d-printed-gun-design/77069151007/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/19/luigi-...
evanjrowley 2y ago
Glad I never bought one. BambuLab is and has always been a grift scheme. If you couldn't see that, then you probably also think it's inconsequential that open source 3D printing has taken a hit ever since their A1 launched.
- oliwarner 2y ago
  How is it a grift? If it's better than the competition (which others suggest) then it's no surprise that the sales of others might suffer.
  - evanjrowley 2y ago
    For those with ears to hear and eyes to see: https://www.reddit.com/r/prusa3d/comments/17la0gq/do_you_think_bambu_lab_is_behaving_ethically/ https://www.reddit.com/r/prusa3d/comments/17la0gq/do_you_thi...

61 points by dazhbog 2y ago

Saw this on reddit " My product is the reason Bambu blocked the API" https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1i4gotq/my_product_is_the_reason_bambu_blocked_the_api/ https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1i4gotq/my_prod...

junon 2y ago
I highly doubt this was the reason. There have been a number of Chinese clones of their peripherals that I think they're trying to lock down. This sucks though. Hopefully some good open firmware exists when this eventually bites me.
- daghamm 2y ago
  Well, their private keys have been leaked todays so let's hope we will see some OSS firmware soon. Current firmware does some dubious things, I would be happy if someone removed that.
  - bhhaskin 2y ago
    What's concerning with the current firmware?
    - junon 2y ago
      It seems to require the cloud to print remotely. I don't want to have to use an SD card or whatever nonsense each time I need to start a print, nor use the tiny slow touch screen to do what I need.
nullc 2y ago
I think the fact that enough users are using LAN mode and firewalling the printer off that it's less useful as a CCP data theft vector is a more credible explanation. The new interface code, running on your host computer, is much harder to firewall off than just a whole device. Bambu's filament offerings are extremely price competitive (except perhaps their PAHT-CF / PPA-CF) and are well liked for their consistency and reliability-- they're not something they need to protect with any kind of lock in... and if they would being able to send to the printer directly from orca/etc. hardly threatens it. From a lockout perspective the uploader shim won't work anyways, as it will quickly be reverse engineered to extract the certificate. But what it will do is keep most people's prints going through code that can send copies home to China or act as a backdoor to enter interesting systems on a highly targeted basis. Aside, it's pretty interesting that bambustudio is unusable in qubes, all the GUI dropdowns instantly close when you click on them -- it's literally the only Linux program I've encountered that doesn't work.

p0w3n3d 2y ago

Crippling hardware for people using non-original materials is douchebaggery

op00to 2y ago
That’s not what’s happening.

michaelcampbell 2y ago

They seem to be going in quite hard on banning people in both Discord and reddit talking about it, too. Not a good look.

stamps 2y ago

When buying a 3D printer I found it better to support Prusa[0] or another company that cares more about open source / hardware. [0] https://github.com/prusa3d https://github.com/prusa3d

ghostpepper 2y ago
Which prusa would you recommend for someone switching from a bambu P1S? Primary requirements are single-color PLA and PETG with a comparable ease of use, speed and print quality.
- PrivateButts 2y ago
  Mk4 or Mk4s would be the current one, or wait for the new core one
nerdwaller 2y ago
I couldn't bring myself to pay the premium at the time, especially with the slow rollout of the MMU. But now with multiple printers in my fleet, I might be kicking myself shortly. We all knew some of this was a possibility, unfortunately.

solid_fuel 2y ago

I find this timing somewhat curious - I recently became aware that Luigi Mangione is accused of, amongst other things, using a 3d printed firearm in the assassination of the United Healthcare CEO. [0] Now, one of the most popular 3d printer manufacturers is taking steps which could lead to tighter controls on what models can be printed. [0] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/19/luigi-mangione-ghost-gun-3d-printed-gun-design/77069151007/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/19/luigi-...

evanjrowley 2y ago

Glad I never bought one. BambuLab is and has always been a grift scheme. If you couldn't see that, then you probably also think it's inconsequential that open source 3D printing has taken a hit ever since their A1 launched.

oliwarner 2y ago
How is it a grift? If it's better than the competition (which others suggest) then it's no surprise that the sales of others might suffer.
- evanjrowley 2y ago
  For those with ears to hear and eyes to see: https://www.reddit.com/r/prusa3d/comments/17la0gq/do_you_think_bambu_lab_is_behaving_ethically/ https://www.reddit.com/r/prusa3d/comments/17la0gq/do_you_thi...