I just got a Bambu Labs P2S and ran into setup problems right away. The printer is not behaving like I expected, and I am not sure if I missed a step, have a hardware issue, or need different settings. I need help figuring out what went wrong so I can get it printing properly.
Start with the basics. The P2S should be close to plug-and-run, so if it is acting weird right away, check the dumb stuff first.
-
Remove all shipping screws, foam, zip ties, and bed clips.
A lot of first boot issues come from missed transport parts. -
Run full calibration from the printer menu.
Do bed leveling, vibration, and flow calibration. If one fails, note which step. -
Update firmware on the printer and Bambu Studio.
Old firmware causes odd behavior. -
Check AMS and filament path.
Make sure filament feeds cleanly. No sharp bend, no broken piece stuck in the extruder. -
Wash the build plate with dish soap and hot water.
Dry it well. Finger oils cause bad first layers fast. -
Verify nozzle and plate in slicer.
If your slicer says wrong nozzle size or wrong plate type, prints go bad quick. -
Watch the first layer.
If nozzle is dragging, skipping, or printing in air, stop and inspect bed mesh and nozzle for debris. -
If you hear grinding or loud knocking, inspect belts and toolhead travel.
The head should move smooth. No binding. -
Print the built-in benchy or calibration cube with plain PLA.
No fancy filament yet. Keep variables low.
If you post what it is doing, like error code, noise, failed calibration step, or a pic of first layer, people here can narrow it down fast. Right now it sounds liek either missed packing material, firmware, or slicer mismatch.
I’d split it into mechanical issue vs slicer/profile issue vs defective unit. @espritlibre already covered the usual first-pass stuff, so I’d go one layer deeper.
A few things people miss on Bambu setup:
- Check the toolhead connector seating. Power off, remove the cover, make sure nothing got half-loose in shipping. A slightly unseated cable can cause super weird behavior without a clear error.
- Look at the nozzle tip closely. I’ve seen brand new printers arrive with a tiny blob of plastic or a slightly bent nozzle guard situation that messes with probing.
- Do not assume auto-calibration means perfect Z behavior. If first layer looks too high or too squished everywhere, try a simple single-layer square and watch it. That tells you more than a Benchy sometimes.
- Turn off “mystery variables.” No AMS, no custom filament profile, no imported old presets, no timelapse junk. Plain PLA, default profile, internal storage print if possible.
- Check ambient temp and airflow. If it’s under an AC vent or in a cold garage, the first layer can be trash and people start chasing fake hardware problems.
One place I kinda disagree with the usual advice: printing the built-in Benchy right away is not always the best diagnostic. Benchy hides first-layer issues for too long. A flat calibration patch is faster and tells you imediately if Z/probing is off.
Also, if the machine is making the same bad noise at the same X/Y position every time, that’s usually not settings. That’s alignment, obstruction, or a bad component. Settings don’t create repeatable clunks in one spot.
If you can post:
- exact behavior
- any error text
- whether calibration completes
- pic of first layer
- whether this is with AMS or spool holder
then it gets way easier to say “you missed a setup step” vs “RMA this thing.” Right now my guess is either a probing/nozzle issue or a connector/shipping-related problem, not some deep slicer setting you fat-fingered.