Hey everyone!

The Bambuddy Community Forum is now live — but it's still in beta. Things might break, layouts might shift, and features are still being polished. That's where you come in.

What is this place?

This forum is the new home for the Bambuddy community. It replaces the old Discourse setup and runs on NodeBB, heavily customized for our needs.

Forum

The forum side works like any classic forum — categories, topics, replies, search. Use it for:

• In-depth discussions and questions
• Installation help and troubleshooting
• Feature ideas and suggestions
• Announcements and release notes
• Sharing your setups and prints

Posts are searchable and persistent — unlike chat, nothing disappears.

Chat Channels

The chat channels in the left sidebar are live-synced with our Discord server. Messages flow both ways:

• Post in Discord → appears here
• Post here → appears in Discord

Images, edits, and deletes all sync. So whether you prefer Discord or the forum, you're in the same conversation.

Available channels: General / Help, Development, Off Topic, Share & Tell, and private channels for Contributors and Moderators.

Slash Commands in Chat

Type / in any chat room to see available commands:

• /issue — Step-by-step guide to report a bug
• /feature — How to request a feature
• /topic <category-id> — Export chat conversation to a forum topic
• /pin / /unpin — Pin messages
• /members — List room members
• /help — Show all commands

Reactions

You can react to both forum posts and chat messages with emoji. On forum posts, click the + button below the post. In chat, hover over a message and click the smiley icon in the controls.

Login

You can register with email, or log in with Discord or GitHub — same accounts you already use.

What's still being worked on

• UI tweaks and dark theme polish
• Mobile responsiveness
• Notification fine-tuning
• Link previews for some sites (Cloudflare-protected URLs won't preview)
• Search currently covers forum only, not chat

Found a bug? Something looks weird?

Please report it in Comments & Feedback. Include:

• What you did
• What happened
• What you expected
• A screenshot if possible

This helps us fix things fast.

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Thanks for being part of the beta! Your feedback shapes how this community grows.

— Martin

SpoolBuddy is the companion hardware project for Bambuddy, bringing physical spool management with NFC tags.

What is SpoolBuddy?

SpoolBuddy is a small device that sits next to your printer and communicates with Bambuddy. It features:

• NFC tag writing — Write spool information to NFC tags attached to your spools
• LCD display — Show current spool info, printer status, or custom messages
• Quick menu — Navigate through common actions with physical buttons
• Power/restart functions — Control your printer power remotely

How It Works

1. Assign a spool in Bambuddy's Spool Inventory
2. Tap the spool's NFC tag on SpoolBuddy
3. SpoolBuddy reads the tag and pulls the spool data from Bambuddy
4. The LCD shows material type, color, remaining weight, and cost

When you load a tagged spool into your AMS, Bambuddy automatically knows which spool is in which slot — no manual assignment needed.

Current Status

SpoolBuddy is in official beta as of v0.2.3b3. The hardware design and firmware are open source.

Learn more: https://bambuddy.cool (SpoolBuddy section)

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Interested in building one? Join the Contributors Only channel in chat!

Bambuddy integrates with a wide ecosystem of tools. Here's an overview of the most popular integrations.

Spoolman

Spoolman is a standalone filament manager. Bambuddy can sync with it:

• Bi-directional spool inventory sync
• Per-filament usage tracking
• Fill level display in Bambuddy UI

Setup: Settings > Integrations > Enter your Spoolman URL

MQTT (Home Assistant, Node-RED)

Bambuddy publishes printer telemetry to an MQTT broker, making it easy to build automations:

• Printer status (idle, printing, paused, error)
• Current print progress, temperature, speed
• Filament usage, AMS status
• Print completion events

Setup: Settings > MQTT > Enter your broker address

Example HA automation: Turn on lights when a print finishes, send a mobile notification, or trigger a camera snapshot.

Prometheus Metrics

Export printer telemetry for Grafana dashboards:

• Print time, filament usage, temperatures
• Queue status, print success rates
• Per-printer and per-filament breakdowns

Endpoint: http://your-bambuddy:5000/metrics

Smart Plugs

Control printer power automatically:

• Tasmota — Direct HTTP API control
• Home Assistant — Control any HA switch entity
• MQTT — Zigbee2MQTT, Shelly, or any MQTT-controlled plug

Features:

• Auto power-on before scheduled prints
• Auto power-off after bed cooldown
• Energy consumption tracking (per-print kWh and cost)

OrcaSlicer / Bambu Studio Presets

Import filament presets from your slicer (.orca_filament, .bbscfg, .bbsflmt, .zip, .json) without needing Bambu Cloud.

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For detailed setup instructions, check the Documentation.

We'd love to see how everyone is using Bambuddy!

Post a screenshot or photo of:

• Your Bambuddy dashboard
• Your printer setup / print farm
• Your favorite prints managed through Bambuddy
• Creative uses of the scheduling, automation, or notification features

Bonus points for:

• Multi-printer setups
• Raspberry Pi deployments
• Custom Grafana dashboards using Bambuddy's Prometheus metrics
• Smart plug automation setups

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Don't be shy — whether you have one A1 Mini or a farm of X1 Carbons, we want to see it!

Bambuddy is a community-driven project and we're actively looking for contributors in several areas:

Documentation Writers

Help improve the wiki, guides, and feature docs so new users have a smooth onboarding experience. You don't need to be a developer — just someone who enjoys writing clear instructions.

Forum Moderators

We need people to welcome newcomers, answer questions, and keep discussions healthy. If you're active in the community and enjoy helping others, this is for you.

Translators

Bambuddy currently supports English, German, Japanese, and Italian. Help us add more languages or improve existing translations.

Developers

Check out the codebase on GitHub. We welcome pull requests for bug fixes, features, and improvements. The stack is Python (backend) and TypeScript/React (frontend).

How to Get Involved

• Join the conversation in the Contributors Only chat channel
• Check open issues on GitHub — look for good first issue labels
• Email Martin directly: martin@bambuddy.cool

Every contribution matters, no matter how small!

Bambuddy can emulate a Bambu Lab printer on your network and even relay prints remotely. Here's how the Virtual Printer and Proxy Mode work.

Virtual Printer

The Virtual Printer makes Bambuddy appear as a real Bambu Lab printer in your slicer (Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer). When you send a print to the virtual printer, Bambuddy can:

• Archive mode — Save the file to your archive without printing
• Review mode — Stage the file for review before printing
• Queue mode — Add to the print queue automatically
• Proxy mode — Relay the print to an actual printer (even remotely)

Setup

1. Go to Settings > Virtual Printer in Bambuddy
2. Enable the virtual printer
3. Choose your emulated printer model (X1C, P1S, A1, H2D, etc.)
4. The virtual printer will appear in your slicer via SSDP discovery (same LAN) or add it manually by IP

Proxy Mode — Print From Anywhere

Proxy Mode is the game-changer. It acts as a secure relay between your slicer and your actual printer:

• End-to-end TLS encryption — FTP, file transfer, and camera are transparently proxied
• No cloud dependency — Direct connection through your own Bambuddy server
• Uses printer's access code — No additional credentials needed
• Full-speed printing — Transparent TCP proxy, minimal overhead

Recommended: Use a VPN

For remote printing, combine Proxy Mode with Tailscale or WireGuard for full data encryption. This gives you secure access to your printer from anywhere.

Use Cases

• Remote print farms
• Printing from work to your home printer
• Traveling makers who want to start prints remotely

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Detailed setup guide: https://wiki.bambuddy.cool/features/virtual-printer/

Welcome! This forum is the place for in-depth discussions, support, and sharing around Bambuddy.

How This Community Works

We have three main spaces:

• Forum (you're here) — For discussions, guides, help requests, and announcements. Posts are searchable and persistent.
• Chat (left sidebar) — Real-time conversation synced with our Discord server. Quick questions, off-topic chat, and hanging out.
• GitHub — Bug reports and feature requests go on GitHub Issues.

Forum Categories

• Announcements — Release notes, project updates, community news
• General Discussion > Help — Installation issues, configuration questions, troubleshooting
• General Discussion > Ideas — Feature ideas and improvement suggestions
• Development — For contributors and developers
• Languages — Discussions in German, Italian, French, and Dutch
• Off-Topic > Share & Tell — Show off your prints, setups, and projects!

Community Guidelines

1. Be kind and respectful — We're all here to learn and share
2. Search before posting — Your question might already be answered
3. Provide context — When asking for help, include your Bambuddy version, printer model, and a support package
4. Bugs go to GitHub — Use the /issue command in chat for the step-by-step guide
5. Have fun — Share your prints, ideas, and experiences!

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If you're new to Bambuddy, start with the Installation Guide and the Overview.

Here's a roundup of the most popular feature requests from GitHub. Feel free to discuss them here or add your own ideas!

Under Consideration

Spool Label Printing

Generate and print labels for your spools with QR codes linking to spool details.
GitHub #809

Tag System for Filament

Organize filaments with custom tags for easier filtering and management.
GitHub #729

Print vs Send Behavior in Proxy Mode

More control over whether Proxy Mode immediately starts a print or stages it.
GitHub #708

Loading/Unloading External Filament Button

Dedicated button for loading/unloading filament on the external spool holder.
GitHub #891

Liveview Snapshots in Home Assistant Notifications

Include a camera snapshot directly in HA notification cards.
GitHub #910

Obico AI Print Failure Detection

Integrate Obico's ML-based print failure detection for automatic monitoring.
Mentioned in latest daily builds

Recently Implemented

• SpoolBuddy NFC integration
• Scheduled GitHub backups
• PostgreSQL support
• LDAP authentication
• Queue timeline view

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Have an idea? Create a new topic here in the Ideas category!

Bambuddy supports a wide range of notification providers. Here's how to set them up.

Supported Providers

Provider	Type	Setup Difficulty
Telegram	Bot message	Easy
Discord	Webhook	Easy
WhatsApp	Via CallMeBot	Medium
Email	SMTP	Medium
Pushover	Push notification	Easy
ntfy	Push notification	Easy
Home Assistant	Persistent notification	Easy
Custom Webhook	HTTP POST	Advanced

What You Get Notified About

• Print started / completed / failed / cancelled
• First layer complete (with camera snapshot)
• Bed cooled down (configurable threshold)
• HMS errors (AMS jams, nozzle issues, etc.)
• Build plate detection alerts
• Queue events (waiting, skipped, failed)
• Missing spool assignment warnings

Configuration

1. Go to Settings > Notifications in Bambuddy
2. Enable your preferred provider(s)
3. Enter the required credentials (bot token, webhook URL, etc.)
4. Test the connection with the Test button
5. Configure quiet hours if you don't want notifications at night

Customizable Templates

You can customize the notification message format, including:

• Per-filament usage details
• Print finish photo URL
• Filament usage and progress for failed/cancelled prints

Daily Digest

Enable the daily digest to receive a summary of all print activity instead of individual notifications.

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For detailed setup instructions per provider, check the Documentation.

A collection of frequently reported issues and their solutions.

Printer Shows as Offline

Cause: Network connectivity or Developer Mode not enabled.

Fix:

1. Verify Developer Mode is enabled on the printer
2. Confirm the printer and Bambuddy are on the same network/VLAN
3. Check the IP address in Settings > Printers
4. Restart the printer if it was recently updated

Camera Not Showing Preview

Cause: Camera stream not accessible or blocked.

Fix:

1. Make sure the camera is enabled in your printer's settings
2. Check that port 6000 (RTSP) is not blocked by a firewall
3. For X1C/P1S: camera works over LAN only with Developer Mode
4. Try refreshing the browser or clearing cache

Print Won't Start from Queue/Archive

Cause: Filament mismatch, printer busy, or file transfer issue.

Fix:

1. Check that the printer has the required filaments loaded
2. Make sure the printer isn't already printing or in error state
3. Check the queue status — it might be in "Queue Only" mode
4. Verify the 3MF file isn't corrupted (try downloading and opening in slicer)

Large File Upload Fails

Cause: Timeout or proxy configuration.

Fix:

1. If using a reverse proxy, increase client_max_body_size and timeouts
2. For direct access, check available disk space
3. Try a wired connection instead of WiFi

AMS Mapping Shows Wrong Colors

Cause: AMS slot configuration out of sync.

Fix:

1. Go to the Printers page and click on the AMS slots to refresh
2. Try the RFID re-read button for affected slots
3. Ensure spools are properly assigned in the Spool Inventory

Docker on Windows: Network Issues

Cause: Docker Desktop doesn't support host networking.

Fix:

1. Enter your printer's IP address manually in Bambuddy settings
2. Don't rely on auto-discovery (SSDP) — it won't work through Docker Desktop's NAT

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Still stuck? Create a new topic in the Help category with:

• Your Bambuddy version
• Printer model
• A Support Package

Bambuddy requires Developer Mode to communicate directly with your printer over the local network, bypassing Bambu Cloud.

Why Developer Mode?

By default, Bambu Lab printers route everything through Bambu Cloud. Developer Mode enables local MQTT/FTP access, which Bambuddy uses for:

• Real-time status monitoring
• Sending print jobs directly
• Camera streaming
• Printer control (pause, resume, stop)

How to Enable It

1. On your printer's touchscreen, go to Settings
2. Navigate to Network or General (varies by model)
3. Find Developer Mode or LAN Only Mode
4. Enable it
5. Note the Access Code displayed — you'll need this in Bambuddy

Also Required: Store Sent Files on External Storage

In Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer:

1. Go to your printer settings
2. Enable "Store sent files on external storage"

This ensures 3MF files are saved to the printer's SD card, which Bambuddy archives automatically.

Important Notes

• Developer Mode works alongside Cloud connectivity — you don't lose cloud features
• The Access Code changes if you reset it on the printer
• Your printer and Bambuddy server must be on the same local network

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Once enabled, add your printer in Bambuddy: Settings > Printers > Add Printer — enter the IP address and access code.

If you want to access Bambuddy over HTTPS or via a domain name, you'll need a reverse proxy. Here's a working Nginx configuration.

Nginx Configuration

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name bambuddy.yourdomain.com;
    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name bambuddy.yourdomain.com;

    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/bambuddy.yourdomain.com/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/bambuddy.yourdomain.com/privkey.pem;

    client_max_body_size 500M;
    proxy_read_timeout 300;
    proxy_connect_timeout 300;
    proxy_send_timeout 300;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:5000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}

Important Notes

• WebSocket support is required — The Upgrade and Connection headers are essential for real-time printer status updates and camera streaming.
• Increase client_max_body_size — 3MF files can be large. 500M is a safe value for print farms.
• Increase timeouts — Some operations (firmware updates, large uploads) take time.

SSL Certificate with Let's Encrypt

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
sudo certbot --nginx -d bambuddy.yourdomain.com

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For more details, check the Documentation.

This guide walks you through installing Bambuddy using Docker — the recommended method.

Prerequisites

• Docker and Docker Compose installed on your system
• A Bambu Lab printer with Developer Mode enabled
• "Store sent files on external storage" enabled in Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer
• Printer and server on the same local network

Installation

Option A: Pre-built Image (Fastest)

mkdir bambuddy && cd bambuddy
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/maziggy/bambuddy/main/docker-compose.yml
docker compose up -d

That's it! Open http://your-server-ip:5000 in your browser.

Option B: Build from Source

git clone https://github.com/maziggy/bambuddy.git
cd bambuddy
docker compose up -d --build

Multi-Architecture Support

Bambuddy runs on both AMD64 and ARM64 (Raspberry Pi 4/5). Docker will automatically pull the correct image.

macOS / Windows (Docker Desktop)

Docker Desktop doesn't support host networking. You'll need to enter your printer's IP address manually in Bambuddy settings instead of relying on auto-discovery.

Updating

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Daily Beta Builds

Want to try the latest features? Use the daily build tag:

image: ghcr.io/maziggy/bambuddy:daily

Note: Daily builds are never tagged as latest — you need to explicitly opt in.

First Steps After Install

1. Open Bambuddy in your browser
2. Go to Settings > Printers and add your printer's IP and access code
3. Your printer should appear on the dashboard within seconds
4. Start a print from your slicer — it will be automatically archived!

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Having trouble? Check the Documentation or ask in the Help category.

Bambuddy is a self-hosted print archive and management system for Bambu Lab 3D printers. It gives you full control over your printing workflow — no cloud dependency, no subscriptions, all your data stays on your own hardware.

Why Bambuddy?

• Own your data — All print history stored locally
• Works offline — Uses Developer Mode for direct printer control via local network
• Full automation — Schedule prints, auto power-off, get notified when done
• Multi-printer support — Manage your entire print farm from one interface

Key Features

Print Archive

Every print is automatically archived with its 3MF file, metadata, 3D preview, and photos. Search, tag, compare, and re-print any past job with a single click — complete with AMS filament mapping.

Real-Time Monitoring

Watch your printers live with camera streaming, status updates, fan monitoring, AMS status, and HMS error alerts. Control print speed, chamber lights, pause/resume, and even skip objects mid-print.

Print Queue & Scheduling

Drag-and-drop queue with multi-printer support. Schedule prints for specific times, use model-based routing for load balancing across your farm, and let smart plugs handle power management automatically.

Notifications

Get alerts via WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Email, Pushover, ntfy, or Home Assistant. Customize templates, set quiet hours, and receive per-filament usage details.

Spool Inventory

Track every spool with automatic consumption tracking, per-spool cost calculation, AMS slot assignment, and low-stock alerts. Bulk add up to 100 spools at once.

Virtual Printer & Remote Printing

Bambuddy can emulate a Bambu Lab printer on your network, letting you send prints directly from Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer. The new Proxy Mode enables remote printing from anywhere via secure TLS relay.

Integrations

Spoolman sync, MQTT for Home Assistant/Node-RED, Prometheus metrics for Grafana, OrcaSlicer preset import, GitHub backup scheduling, and a comprehensive REST API.

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Get started: https://github.com/maziggy/bambuddy
Documentation: https://wiki.bambuddy.cool
Discord: https://discord.gg/aFS3ZfScHM

We're excited to announce Bambuddy v0.2.3b3, packed with new features and improvements!

Highlights

SpoolBuddy Official Beta

SpoolBuddy integration is now in official beta. Write NFC tags, control the LCD display, and manage your spools with the companion hardware project.

Scheduled GitHub Backups

Automatically back up your cloud profiles, K-profiles, and settings to a GitHub repository on a schedule. Never lose your configuration again.

PostgreSQL Support

In addition to the built-in SQLite database, Bambuddy now supports PostgreSQL for larger deployments and print farms.

LDAP Authentication

Enterprise users can now connect Bambuddy to their existing LDAP/Active Directory for user management.

Queue Improvements

• SJF Scheduling — Shortest Job First scheduling for optimized queue throughput
• Auto G-code injection — Automatically inject custom G-code before/after prints
• Queue timeline view — Visual timeline of scheduled prints
• Staggered batch printing — Send prints to multiple printers with configurable delays

Other Notable Changes

• Bulk printer actions
• Improved AMS mapping for H2D dual-nozzle printers
• Better error handling across the board

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Update now:

docker compose pull && docker compose up -d

Full changelog: https://github.com/maziggy/bambuddy/releases/tag/v0.2.3b3

Bambuddy already supports the new X2D