Fully Automatic Hot End Bed Leveling

For this release, Biqu upgraded their bed leveling to include fixed bed leveling with hot end probing for truly automatic and fully integrated bed leveling.

Pre-print automated leveling helps to eliminate print failures caused by uneven print surfaces with no effort and minimal delays. This is, by far, our preferred leveling setup. It’s nice to see Biqu do away with the knobs and springs, but it’s especially lovely at the sub $400 prince point – though it’s true we’re seeing this more.

Large Build Volume

For the (special edition) plus, Biqu added some print volume: up to 310 x 310 x 340 mm. It’s a solid build volume that inches above the Ender 3 Max by 10 mm on the X and Y axes.

Something good to see in this larger-than-average build volume is thoughtful Z-axis brackets. Many printers, even those with seriously tall Z-axes, stick with horizontally aligned screws that lend themselves to serious wobble. The Biqu B1 SE Plus has the same metal brackets as the original B1 to sturdily attach to the printer’s base from the side rather than the top.

Expansion Interfaces

During review, we were really impressed with the Biqu B1’s easy path to printer upgrades. Connections for common upgrades like a BLTouch auto bed leveling probe were present on the printer’s exterior for simple installations that felt plug-and-play. The B1 SE Plus is touting that same “expandible interface,” but it doesn’t seem to go quite as far as its predecessor.

For example, the simple print head USB-C connection is replaced by a heftier cable, and we can’t see any backports like the original B1 on any of Biqu’s (limited) SE Plus marketing material. Though we can see the printer has ready slots to add a second Z-axis lead screw and stepper motor on the right side, we can’t see ports for upgrades they suggest, like RGB lighting or a Wi-Fi module to be installed so simply. The original B1 left mainboard ports open, and we expect it’s the same here. All3DP reached out for more clarity here but received no response.

The company does say it will be offering upgrade kits for both dual and direct drive extrusion – so upgradability is certainly still in mind.

Touchscreen & Knob UI Switching

The Biqu B1 SE Plus uniquely includes both a touchscreen UI and a rotary knob. We loved this feature on the original B1 and are pleased to see it make a return on this iteration. The redundancy might seem odd, but if that touchscreen happens to go out of whack, it’s great to have a ready second interface. Otherwise, your only option might be working around with a Raspberry Pi. Extra? Yes. Appreciated? Also yes.

Other Features

32-Bit Mainboard

If you’re going to release an “expandable” printer, a 32-bit mainboard is a must-have. The original B1 had this, so of course, the new edition does too.

Filament Sensor & Power Loss Recovery

Two nice to have features, the B1 SE Plus includes both a filament sensor and power loss recovery to maximize the chances of a successful print.

“Noiseless” Printing

Stepper motors have come a long way in terms of volume. We were happy with the original B1’s noise levels, clocking it just below a library’s ambient noise, so we expect the B1 SE Plus will have a similar volume.

Carborundum Glass Print Bed

Our favorite print surface. Heats up face, parts adhere easily and pop off once it’s cooled down. Biqu has gone with the typical clip system, which is also great.