About a month ago, I purchased a new A1 because I needed a larger build volume (prev: A1 Mini). I purchased it in person at my almost-local Microcenter store.
I’ve noticed that I don’t get very consistent bottom or top shell layers, and that often they are quite bad. Way out of the realm of normal (my A1 Mini did not have this problem).
Have gone back and forth with Bambu support. They are helping, but the 3-day cadence is just awful. If I had just gone back to Microcenter within the first month of ownership, I could have swapped out the printer and called it a day. But now the return window has closed.
I’ve attached a photo of a recent print. This was printed at .12 Fine layer height with a .04 Hardened Steel nozzle. Printing official Bambu Matte PLA filament using Bambu’s settings. Usually via an AMS Lite sitting on the left side of the printer.
Here are some things that have already been tried:
-Ensured nozzle was properly seated and clasped.
-Ran machine calibration (several times).
-Manual flow rate calibration. Improved gaps but causes raised surfaces where extrusions meet. Also, this should not be necessary when using Bambu-brand filament (this is clearly stated in the Bambu Wiki).
-Tightening screws in and around the hotend.
(Added since posting:)
-Bypassing AMS Lite, using external spool instead
-Tramming build plate
Does anyone have some ideas?
Note: I am operating under the assumption that this is not expected behavior from the printer. As such, suggestions to change settings such as temperature, flow rate, etc.—while helpful for getting a decent-looking print—aren’t what I am seeking. I am instead looking for some help troubleshooting, because I suspect something is wrong.
Did you made a test run without AMS Lite, manually feeding the filament directly into the printer?
Are the PTFE Tubes all sitting firmly in right position?
Still need help! Bambu support has stopped being helpful. Their “solution” is to increase flow rate and reduce print speed, both Band-Aid solutions to what I think is a machine problem.
Hi I sometimes have this issue too but it usually happens on prints that are really thin that doesn’t have infills. Which side is facing the print bed?
That’s what this post is about. If you have something specific in mind, I’m all ears. Do please check what I’ve done above in case I’ve already covered it.
Yes, and I adjusted flow rate as mentioned above. But manual flow rate calibration should not be necessary while using Bambu brand filament. Bambu is clear about that in their wiki.
The point of this post is to figure out if something is wrong with my machine.
If anyone out there also has Bambu matte PLA in Bone White and an A1, I would love to send you my file to do a test print to compare!
Marketing says one thing and reality on the spool sitting next to you says another, imo you need to adjust your flow rate or some other combination of settings that hasn’t been discussed. Sometimes filament can get ragged like that at max extrusion rate right before it fails, so it could be speed/temp too. My guess is flow rate. In the range of 2-6%
Make sure you aren’t conflating words with flow dynamics. Rate and dynamics, two diff things.
Thanks, Bullocks. Future readers will appreciate the flow rate / dynamics clarification, but I am already aware of it.
On your point about filament at its maximum extrusion rate: I get a similar result even if I set printer speed to 50%, so it does not appear to be an issue of teetering on a max extrusion rate. Unless I am misunderstanding your point?
Bumping up the flow rate 2-6% as you suggest reduces the gaps but causes over-extrusion in other places.
My suspicion remains the printer itself. I previously owned an A1 Mini and never had it this bad. And I did all sorts of wild stuff on that old machine, including a lot of custom g-code.
At this point, my question is whether my machine behaves the same as any other A1. If anyone reading has an A1 and Bambu Matte PLA in Bone White are you willing to run the same print for me to compare?
