The 3D printer manufacturer Bambu Lab has announced that it will allow its customers to install third-party firmware in future. This is Bambu Lab’s response to the development of an alternative firmware called X1 Plus by a team of developers.
As Bambu Lab announced in a statement, a security vulnerability was initially discovered in the original firmware, which made it possible to “jailbreak” the printer. After initial skepticism, Bambu Lab and the developers of the X1 Plus firmware finally entered into talks.
According to Bambu Lab, the company has so far pursued a similar strategy to Apple with its closed system. This does have some advantages, such as ensuring quality standards. However, it also limits the customization options for ambitious users.
As a compromise, Bambu Lab now wants to give its customers the choice between the original system and the installation of third-party firmwares. A special firmware update will soon be available for this purpose. However, the installation of third-party firmwares is at the customer’s own risk and without any support claims against Bambu Lab.
The company is planning official interfaces for developers in the future. Until these are available, the new firmware will allow tech-savvy users to make extensive adjustments to their printers.
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