Hello all! I wanted to type something up about my experience with the A1. It is not my first printer, but it is my first Bambu printer, and I have had(and have seen others report) several issues thus far, I just wanted to share the issues and solutions/workarounds I have discovered, in hopes of helping others have the same problems, also, any insight from those more experienced are appreciated.
Introduction: Having moved on from an Ender 3, I chose the Bambu Lab A1 for its potential for superior quality, speed, and color printing capabilities with the AMS. Despite high hopes based on glowing online reviews, my experience has been a mix of frustration and problem-solving.
Detailed Challenges and Solutions:
- AMS Lite with Top Mount - Filament Loading Issue: The first major issue was with the AMS Lite’s filament loading, particularly with Sunlu Matte PLA. The filament would halt mid-way in the Bowden tube, triggering a motor overload error. Upon closer inspection, I identified that the #4 position’s bowden tube had a sharper curve compared to others, exacerbated by the matte filament’s friction. The solution was reordering the tube braces included with the top mount kit, placing longer ones in front and shorter ones in the back. This adjustment relieved the sharp curve, resolving the issue. Additionally, for smooth filament transitions during color prints, I manually load each filament via the touchscreen, which has effectively prevented further loading problems.
- Bed Adhesion Troubles: Persistent bed adhesion issues were a significant hurdle. After experimenting with various recommended techniques, including washing the plate with soap, the most effective solution turned out to be a light coat of hairspray, similar to what I used on my Ender 3’s glass bed. This simple fix, along with removing the plate for application, has been consistently successful.
- Nozzle Smacking Infill: Some prints displayed the nozzle aggressively dragging across the infill, occasionally causing layer shifts. This was specifically noticeable with cubic or adaptive cubic infill patterns. Switching to Gyroid infill (and reportedly Honeycomb) eliminated this problem, offering a smoother printing process.
Conclusion: This post aims to share the hurdles and solutions I encountered with my Bambu Lab A1. While my experience might not mirror every user’s, it’s vital for both community support and manufacturer awareness. I hope this serves as a resource for others, especially those new to 3D printing, and encourages Bambu Lab to address these issues more promptly and effectively.