The First 10 Things to Print on Your New Bambu A1 mini
You just unboxed your A1 mini — congratulations. Before you dive into the 100,000+ models out there and waste a spool on something that fails, print these ten first. They’re all free, they go in order from “build your confidence” to “show off what this little printer can do,” and every one is picked to actually succeed on the A1 mini’s bed. Let’s go.
A note: I print on Bambu Lab hardware and test the models I recommend. These picks are chosen specifically for the A1 mini’s size and features — so you get wins that fit your printer, not generic filler.
1. Bed Level Test — run this before anything else
A 10-minute first-layer check across the whole plate. If this comes out clean, everything after it sticks. Don’t skip it.
🔗 Link: A1 Mini Easy Bed Level Test on MakerWorld
2. 3D Boaty — the friendly Benchy alternative
The classic torture-test boat, but a free, open-licensed version. It stress-tests overhangs and fine detail with ~16g of filament, so it’s a cheap way to see what your printer can do.
🔗 Link: 3D Boaty by depep1 on MakerWorld
3. Poop Collector — your first real upgrade
The A1 mini flicks little purge “poops” out during printing. This catch-basket corrals them and is the single highest-value quality-of-life print for a new owner.
🔗 Link: Bambu A1 / A1 mini Poop Collector on MakerWorld
A community favorite — tens of thousands of A1 mini owners have printed this. Highly recommended as one of your first quality-of-life upgrades.
4. Compact Scraper — print your own tool
Turns the included blade into a handy bed scraper. A satisfying “the printer makes its own tools” moment.
🔗 Link: A1/A1 mini Compact Scraper on MakerWorld
5. Snap Cable Clip (print-in-place) — your first moving part
Your first print-in-place model: it comes off the bed already working, with a satisfying snap. Comes in three sizes for different cables.
🔗 Link: Cable Organizer Snap Cable Clip on MakerWorld
6. A1 mini Spool Holder Clip — print a spare part
Recreates the small grey slider clip that’s easy to lose. A great intro to “I can just print replacement parts.”
🔗 Link: A1 mini Spool Holder Slider Clip on MakerWorld
A popular, practical pick for A1 mini owners — exactly the kind of small part worth printing early.
7. Wave Coasters — your first color, no AMS needed
A first taste of multicolor using guided manual filament swaps — no AMS lite required. Eases you into color printing.
🔗 Link: Wave Coasters by Bamingo Design on MakerWorld
8. Floppy Dragon — the free articulated flexi
The crowd-pleaser: a fully articulated, print-in-place dragon that comes off the bed wiggling, no assembly. A genuinely free alternative to the popular paid dragons.
🔗 Link: Floppy Dragon Flexi Articulated Monster on MakerWorld
9. Build Plate Coaster — show off the AMS lite
If you have the AMS lite, this multicolor coaster fills much of the bed and is a clean way to flex multi-material printing.
🔗 Link: A1 mini Build Plate Coaster on MakerWorld
A favorite among A1 mini owners for showing off the AMS lite — a great early multicolor project.
10. Flexi Toothless Keychain — the giftable finale
End on something fun: an articulated flexi keychain that combines everything you’ve learned — print-in-place, small detail, and a result people actually want.
🔗 Link: Flexi Toothless Dragon Keychain on MakerWorld
What you’ll need
- PLA filament — the only material you need for all ten of these
- A1 mini (if you’re still deciding)
- A glue stick for stubborn first layers
Got a printer but not sure what to grab next?
Drop your email and I’ll send the prints worth your filament.