3D Printing News Digest - February 6, 2026
Published
Bambu Lab is fighting model theft with a new Creator Copyright Protection Program helping designers take down unauthorized copies. Creality launched a Kickstarter for the Filament Maker M1, enabling makers to recycle failed prints into new filament. Meanwhile, the Anycubic Kobra X tested nearly 2x faster than Bambu A1 at color changes in multicolor printing benchmarks.
Bambu Lab Launches Creator Copyright Protection Program
Bambu Lab announced a new Creator Copyright Protection Program to help designers combat unauthorized use of their 3D models posted on MakerWorld. The program provides legal resources, including partner attorneys, to facilitate takedown requests on other platforms. Over 100 creators have already enrolled.
Model theft is rampant in 3D printing. Designers post on MakerWorld, only to find their work sold on Etsy or Temu days later. Bambu's program provides actual legal muscle—not just DMCA templates, but coordinated takedowns. If you sell models on MakerWorld, enroll immediately. This is Bambu investing in their creator ecosystem, which benefits everyone who designs for their platform.
💡What this means for you
Program includes: DMCA takedown assistance, legal partner network for escalated cases, monitoring tools for detecting copies across platforms, and priority support for enrolled creators.
Market Position: Bambu is positioning MakerWorld as the 'safe' platform for creators. Competitors like Printables (Prusa) and Thingiverse (Makerbot) lack equivalent formal protection programs.
- Geographic coverage of legal assistance
- Criteria for 'escalated' legal action
- Whether protection extends to models cross-posted to other platforms
Creality Launches Filament Maker M1 and Shredder R1 Kickstarter
Creality launched a crowdfunding campaign for the Filament Maker M1 and Shredder R1—a closed-loop recycling system that transforms 3D printing waste into fresh filament. The system processes failed prints, support material, and waste from multi-material systems into reusable material.
Sustainability in 3D printing has been mostly talk. Creality is putting hardware behind it. The M1+R1 combo lets you shred failed prints and extrude new filament at home. This is particularly interesting if you run a multi-material system (AMS, CFS) that generates color-change waste. The real question is filament quality—home extrusion historically struggles with diameter consistency.
💡What this means for you
Shredder R1 granulates printed parts. Filament Maker M1 extrudes granules into 1.75mm filament. Expected materials include PLA and PETG. System targets closed-loop workflow within Creality ecosystem.
Market Position: Competes with Filabot (premium, proven) and various DIY/kit extruders. Creality's consumer pricing could make recycling accessible to hobbyists for the first time.
- Final retail pricing vs Kickstarter pricing
- Filament diameter tolerance (±0.02mm is production standard)
- Whether mixed-color waste produces usable 'rainbow' filament
⏸️ Wait if: Your print volume is low—cheaper to buy new filament, You need precision tolerances for production work
✅ Buy if: You generate significant waste from failed prints or supports, Sustainability is important to your workflow/brand
Anycubic Kobra X Proves 2x Faster at Color Changes vs Bambu A1
Testing by Tom's Hardware shows the Anycubic Kobra X performing nearly twice as fast as the Bambu Lab A1 at color-changing prints. The Kobra X integrates four filament channels directly into a single-nozzle printhead, creating shorter molten transitions and less waste.
Multi-material printing has an ugly secret: color changes waste filament and time. The Kobra X's integrated four-channel design reduces the 'purge tower' waste significantly. For multicolor prints, this could cut costs in half. The tradeoff is you're locked to four colors maximum (vs AMS's variable configurations). If you do lots of multicolor prints with consistent palettes, this architecture makes sense.
💡What this means for you
Four-channel printhead reduces transition paths from external unit (AMS) to built-in. Shorter melt zone = faster color switches and less purge waste. Testing showed 47% faster completion on equivalent multicolor benchmark prints.
Market Position: Direct competition with Bambu A1 + AMS Lite. Anycubic's architectural choice trades expandability for speed. Bambu's ecosystem remains more flexible but slower at color changes.
- Long-term reliability of integrated multi-channel head
- Ease of clearing jams across four channels
- Material compatibility (PLA-only or engineering materials too?)
⏸️ Wait if: You need more than four colors/materials per print, You already own Bambu AMS infrastructure
✅ Buy if: You print multicolor frequently with 2-4 color palettes, Color change speed and waste reduction matter for your margin
Bambu Lab X1 Series Gets Beta Firmware with AMS Humidity Display
Bambu Lab released beta firmware (v1.08.50.14) for the X1 Series and X1 Carbon introducing a refreshed interface and new utility features including humidity display for the AMS. Users can now monitor filament storage conditions directly from the printer screen.
Moisture is the silent killer of filament quality. This firmware update surfaces AMS humidity data that was previously hidden. If you print with hygroscopic materials like Nylon or PETG, knowing your AMS humidity helps diagnose print quality issues. The refreshed interface also improves usability—Bambu is investing in software, not just hardware.
💡What this means for you
Beta version 1.08.50.14 adds: humidity sensor data display, refreshed touchscreen UI, reported improvements to multi-color purge calibration. Standard beta caveats apply—wait for stable release for production use.
Market Position: Bambu's software iteration pace outpaces competitors. Regular firmware updates add features post-purchase, extending machine value over time.
- Humidity threshold recommendations for different materials
- Whether display triggers desiccant replacement warnings
- Stable release timeline
NASCAR Engineering Partners with USA Luge for 3D Printed Sleds
In an unexpected crossover, NASCAR's engineering team is leveraging additive manufacturing to optimize luge sled aerodynamics for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The partnership utilizes advanced 3D printing to iterate designs faster than traditional machining.
Speed is speed. NASCAR's aero expertise translating to Luge proves 3D printing's ultimate advantage: iteration velocity. They can print, test, fail, and reprint a bracket in hours, whereas machining takes days. This is how gold medals are engineered in 2026.
💡What this means for you
Likely using high-temp engineering filaments (PEEK/CF-Nylon) or metal SLS for functional sled components. Rapid prototyping enables wind tunnel testing of dozens of variations.
Market Position: Demonstrates high-performance application of production AM beyond automotive/aerospace.
- Specific materials used
- Whether parts are end-use or prototypes
⏸️ Wait if: N/A - General Interest
✅ Buy if: N/A - General Interest
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enroll in Bambu Lab's Creator Copyright Protection Program?▼
The program is available to creators who publish models on MakerWorld. Log into your MakerWorld account and look for the Creator Protection enrollment option. Once enrolled, you gain access to legal resources and takedown assistance for unauthorized copies of your designs.
Is the Creality Filament Maker worth it for home use?▼
It depends on your waste volume. If you generate significant failed prints or AMS purge waste, recycling can offset filament costs. However, home-extruded filament often has inconsistent diameter. Best for non-precision prints, prototyping, or sustainability-focused makers. Not recommended as your primary filament source for important prints.
Should I upgrade to Bambu beta firmware?▼
Only if you're comfortable troubleshooting potential bugs. Beta firmware adds features but may have stability issues. For production machines, wait for the stable release. For experimentation or secondary machines, beta testing helps Bambu improve the final product.