How to Create Stunning Timelapses with the Bambu Lab A1 Printer

Dec 30

Hey Everyone, I’m back! If you’ve ever wondered how to create smooth timelapses with the Bambu Lab A1 Printer, you’re in the right place. Let me guide you through the process, step by step.

(Show time-lapse while talking to the camera.)

It took me ages to figure out the best workflow, but the truth is, it’s not complicated. The secret? A simple 3D-printed bracket.

(Take off the print bed to show the bracket)

This little piece houses my Sony remote shutter button, which triggers whenever the print head completes a layer. It’s a small addition, but it makes all the difference.

The Magic of Timelapse

Let’s take a moment to appreciate how cool these timelapses are. (Cue a short montage of amazing timelapse footage.) Pretty neat, right?

Troubleshooting Infrared Issues

Now, let’s talk about a common problem: If your camera isn’t in the line of sight of the infrared receiver, it won’t take a picture.

(Top-down shot looking up to illustrate the issue)

This can be frustrating, especially after an 8-hour print, only to find half your shots missing. The solution? Reflect the infrared signal using bright surfaces or mirrors.

(Show setup with a light-colored board and a mirror)

While this works most of the time, the best approach is to test the remote up and down the Z-axis to ensure successful captures. If you have a better idea, drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Editing Your Timelapse

Once you have your collection of photos, the fun begins. Here’s my editing workflow:

Export to Lightroom: Adjust exposure, saturation, or any other tweaks you need.
Export to Sequential JPEGs: Save them in order to a separate folder.
Import to Premiere Pro:
- Open Premiere Pro, click File > Import, and navigate to your folder.
- Select the first numbered JPEG and make sure to check the Image Sequence box.
- Click Open, and Premiere will interpret the images as a video clip.
Adjust Speed/Duration: Right-click the footage, select Speed/Duration, and tweak the timing. Trial and error will help you find the perfect balance.

(To the camera) Sometimes I want the timelapse to be faster or slower. With Premiere, it’s easy to experiment until it looks just right.

Preparing Your Printer for Timelapse

Before you start printing, there are a few crucial steps to ensure your timelapse turns out smooth and professional:

Enable Timelapse in Bambu Studio:
- In the Prepare tab, go to Others and scroll down to Timelapse.
- From the dropdown, select Smooth. This keeps the print bed in the same position for every snapshot, thanks to the Prime Tower.
(Helpful tone) This will use a little extra filament, but trust me, the seamless results are worth it.
Set Up Your Print Plate:
- In the Preview tab, arrange your plate as usual.
- Don’t forget to tick the Timelapse box before sending your print job.

(Excited tone) And yes, I even printed a second timelapse module in black just so I could make a timelapse of the timelapse module. It’s timelapse inception, and honestly, I couldn’t resist.