Bambu Lab pushes a “control system” for 3D printers, and boy, did it not go well

“By ensuring that all interactions with the hardware—such as moving axes, heating components, or performing other critical actions—are verified and secure, we can minimize risks and prevent potentially dangerous situations,” Bambu wrote in a FAQ. This was necessary, Bambu wrote, because of increases in requests made to its cloud services “through unofficial channels,” targeted DDOS attacks, and “peaks of up to 30 million unauthorized requests per day” (link added by Bambu).

While Bambu has caused attention-getting “abnormal traffic” before, and 3D printer web hacks are real, many of its customers noticed a less-touted effect: third-party software and tools, like slicers (which turn 3D designs into machine-printable “slices”) and third-party screens, losing direct access to Bambu printers. Instead, “Bambu Connect” software offers devices like OrcaSlicer protocols to send printer instructions and get a printer’s status. As pitched initially, this would have applied to all Bambu printers, whether on local, non-Internet-exposed “LAN Mode” or on “Cloud Mode”

Notably, those who use Bambu’s own slicer, Bambu Studio, would not be impacted by the incoming firmware upgrade, as that software will keep working as-is.

“Unfortunate misinformation circulating online”

How did this go over? So well that Bambu issued a second blog post about the change four days later, sub-titled “Setting the record straight about our security update.” Addressing “a mix of valuable feedback and unfortunate misinformation circulating online,” the firm denied claims about subscription-required printing, remote file monitoring or bricking, third-party filament blocking, and other fears, uncertainties, and doubts.

Using third-party software through Bambu Connect, the difference for users is “not much,” Bambu Lab suggests, adding a GIF of a “seamless” authentication inside the OrcaSlicer app. More importantly, the firm said it would update LAN mode on its devices so that there is a Standard Mode with Bambu Connect in place and a Developer Mode that leaves the printer’s MQTT, live stream, and FTP functions open.