On January 16th, 2025, Bambu Lab announced a new firmware update designed to enhance the security of their machines by introducing a new authentication and authorization mechanism. While this is a positive step for security, it unfortunately comes with the drawback of limiting compatibility with many third-party software solutions, as they will no longer have access to the necessary APIs.

This decision has sparked significant frustration within the 3D printing community. Many users rely on third-party tools for their workflows, finding them more suitable than the official options.

For instance, Orca Slicer is a popular alternative to Bambu Studio due to its features and ease of use. However, following the update, Orca Slicer will no longer be able to send print jobs directly to Bambu Lab machines. This change has raised concerns among enthusiasts and professionals alike, who value the flexibility third-party tools provide.

It remains to be seen how Bambu Lab will address the community’s feedback, but it’s clear this update has prompted an important discussion about balancing security and user freedom.

You can find the official announcement on their website:

https://blog.bambulab.com/firmware-update-introducing-new-authorization-control-system-2