Welcome back, Makers! In episode three of Shop Upgrades, we’ve got two brand-new additions to the MakerBuildIt workshop — one that makes the shop cooler, and another that makes it smarter. Today, we’re talking RGB lighting for the Bambu Lab A1 and a manual force test stand that’s about to level up all of our 3D-printing experiments.
Once a month, we highlight the newest tools, gadgets, and upgrades we’re adding to the makerspace — and today’s lineup is equal parts shiny and scientific.
⭐ Upgrade #1: The Panda Aura RGB Lighting Kit for the Bambu Lab A1
If you want your printer to look like a tiny futuristic command center, this is the way. The BQ Panda Aura Kit for the A1 nails its tagline: “Light up a new frontier.”
This lighting kit comes with everything you need — the light bar, wiring, mounting hardware, stickies, and screws — and instantly transforms your A1 into a glowing piece of sci-fi maker tech.
And honestly?
It’s a full vibe upgrade. Your A1 doesn’t just print… it glows with scientific ambition.
Whether you film your prints, showcase projects, or just like working in a colorful workshop, RGB lighting brings an extra layer of personality to your machine.
🔧 Upgrade #2: The MXMoonFree Manual Force Test Stand
Now let’s get nerdy — in the best way.
This beast of a tool is the MXMoonFree Manual Force Test Stand, and it’s about to become a core part of all our filament, glue, and material testing videos.
The stand allows you to mount a digital force meter and perform controlled:
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Pull tests
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Compression tests
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Snap-fit testing
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Filament strength comparisons
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Glue testing (including the Glue Olympics!)
Instead of relying on hand-powered snap tests, this stand gives us:
🔬 Repeatability + measurable, scientific data
This means cleaner results, better comparison videos, and more answers to the questions makers ask every day:
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Which glue is actually strongest?
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Does filament A outperform filament B?
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How strong are your 3D-printed parts really?
It’s basically turning our workshop into a mini materials lab, and we’ve already got some special tests planned for it.
🧪 Why These Upgrades Matter
These two upgrades hit both sides of the maker brain:
Cool Factor (Aesthetic Upgrade)
RGB lighting makes your workspace look great, helps with filming projects, and gives your printer major personality.
Smart Factor (Scientific Upgrade)
The force stand lets us run real, repeatable, measurable tests — perfect for:
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Glue reviews
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Filament comparisons
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Snap-fit evaluations
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Strength experiments
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Maker myth-busting videos
A little style + a lot of science = the perfect maker combo.
🎥 What’s Coming Next?
We’ve got new glue tests, filament strength comparisons, and some special MakerBuildIt experiments coming soon using the new force test stand.
Make sure you follow so you don’t miss:
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The next round of the Glue Olympics
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Strength testing with real numbers
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Upcoming A1 mods and slicer tricks
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Everything we break… or make… in the process
One upgrade makes the shop cooler.
The other makes it smarter.
Together, they make the MakerBuildIt workshop an even more powerful place to create.
“Progress doesn’t happen by accident — it happens in your workshop.”