Bambu Lab is steadily consuming Prusa's user base
The Atomic Layers: S3E31 (00087)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
It seems that Bambu Lab’s plan is simple: to suffocate Prusa Research, take over its entire fan base, and claim the image of the “cool company” in the low-cost FFF 3D printers sector. Perhaps once the Czechs are out of the picture, Bambu Lab will then set its sights on local Chinese competitors? For now, however, it’s clear that Prusa is seen as their biggest threat, and they are focusing their attention there.
As we know, here’s what Bambu Lab has already copied from Prusa:
Prusa Slic3r → Bambu Studio
MMU → AMS
Prusa i3 Mk3 → A1
Prusa MINI → A1 Mini
Printables → Makerworld.
But that’s not all… Recently, Bambu Lab launched a loyalty program for creators publishing designs on Makerworld, offering financial rewards and guaranteeing copyright protection. There’s only one requirement in return – models must be published exclusively on Bambu Lab’s platform.
User Iconic FAB reported on X that after he uploaded a duplicate of one of his models from Printables to Makerworld, he received a message saying that he would need to remove it from Prusa’s platform, or his model would be excluded from the program. Generally, there’s nothing unusual here – after all, it’s called the “Exclusive Model Program.” However, Iconic FAB noted that there was a suggestion to consider removing the model from Printables first.
And it got me thinking – this is a very subtle yet potentially effective long-term strategy to attract users. Bambu Lab is literally paying creators to bring them over, which is not necessarily a bad thing; after all, Prusa did the same with points redeemable for Prusament to lure users away from Thingiverse. I’m simply noticing a pattern and assuming that Bambu Lab has more resources to attract Prusa’s users than Prusa does to keep them on Printables.
Atomic Layer from the Past:
Atomic News & Gossips:
And speaking of Printables, yesterday the awards for the best projects and designers were given out. Model of the Year was won by lucky13, whose “unlucky” story I wrote about a few weeks ago.
Steve Madden partnered with HILOS for on-demand footwear.
And another previously announced news came into fruition - Siemens officially acquired Altair Engineering.