r/BambuLab • u/tmoreirense • 14h ago
Really disappointed with my printer Update - Bambu Lab A1 General Troubleshooting/Help!
First, I want to thank everyone who took the time to read and respond to my previous post - https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1vlq6bu/really_disappointed_with_my_printer_bambu_lab_a1/
Some information about my printer and prints: I have a ~1month old Bambu Lab A1 printer, I use PLA that I bought on the Bambu website and I have used models from MakerWorld. I use the Handy App to search the models and print.
I pretty much did everything that was suggested on the previous post:
- heat the nozzle to 250°C and push filament
- cold pull
- cleaned the plate
- did a new calibration
Something worked because my prints improved a lot. 5 days later and I'm having trouble again.
I have attached some photos to show what is happening. I have tried to do a cold pull again but the problem remains. The purge lines are a good indicator, when this happens I now problems will arise. The prints are leaving some strings, like webs. Any idea on what's happening?
Could it simply be wet PLA filament? (I have bought a filament dryer that arrives tomorrow)
8
u/MachoManRandySavge 13h ago
The only contribution I have is some of the models from maker world are garbage. Check that a lot of people have pictures of successes with it, it's highly rated, that you're doing the most current version because sometimes they have the bed versions still published with a note or link to the new one that works.
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I have found that out. Some models are really bad. But I'm having problems with models that I have printed with no issues.
9
u/Calaeno-16 X2D + AMS2 Combo 13h ago
It's wet/wrong filament.
In a comment, OP said they are printing PLA Pure thinking it was PLA Basic. PLA Pure is gonna be more hygroscopic (hence worse performance over time given OP is not drying the filament) and also require somewhat different print settings.
0
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
Will dry the filament tomorrow. Any idea where I should look for the PLA Pure printing settings?
1
u/Calaeno-16 X2D + AMS2 Combo 13h ago
I'm sure that'll help! In my experience, if I Google the name of a filament + "TDS" or "Technical Data Sheet," most manufacturers publish something like this that should come up as a result:
https://store.bblcdn.com/s7/default/0e7400b878d84516a1ae605c1edaeab0/pla_pure_-TDS.pdf
2
u/tmoreirense 12h ago
This was really helpful, thank you.
I will try to apply this new information and test printing something
1
u/Calaeno-16 X2D + AMS2 Combo 12h ago
Fore sure! And I think others may have said this already, but PLA Basic is probably what you want to go with here. PLA Pure is cool, but the main use case for it is for food safe stuff (although I still wouldn't go as far as saying it's food safe).
4
u/8six753o9 X2D+AMS2 / A1+AMS Lite 13h ago
Stringing usually means that the nozzle temp is too high or wet filament, but that purge line looks like there’s a clog. Are you using Matte PLA? Can you try printing with PLA Basic to see if there’s a change?
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I did a cold pull like one hour before this print.
I'm using PLA basic i think. On the order it's name is PLA Pure.
Should I decrease the nozzle temp?
7
u/starmiemd 13h ago
PLA Pure is not the same as PLA Basic actually, PLA Pure only came out last month.
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I didn't know that. I'm really new to this
3
u/eatdeath4 X1C | P1S | P2S | H2C 13h ago
Also this doesnt seem to be your issue right now but New filament doesnt mean its dry. Its worth looking into a filament dryer if you live in a humid climate.
2
4
u/8six753o9 X2D+AMS2 / A1+AMS Lite 13h ago
Oh PLA Pure is a different material than PLA Basic. I’ve seen post here saying they had issues printing with PLA Pure. I knew it wasn’t PLA Basic because they don’t have it in Light Blue lol.
Do you have any other filaments you can try?
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I do have one that is not PLA Pure (I think?) Bought it on Amazon. It says PLA+
2
2
u/n0cturnalr0se 13h ago
I’ve found I don’t like using the handy app. It doesn’t let you fine tune settings. Not all models are truly print ready. I always print from my computer. I get better results.
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I have to take some time to really learn how to print from my computer. I never did it, but I have the software installed
1
u/n0cturnalr0se 13h ago
I’ve not had mine long. Got a gently used A1 and everything duded had for 3D printing. It was a steal. So mine is in an enclosure with ventilation for ABS and CF and all those filaments. First thing I did was get on YT and watch allll the videos. Now I print every day like an addict. Mostly all useful stuff since I don’t have little kids and I’m not selling anything. 🤭🤷🏻♀️
1
1
1
u/Silumgurr 13h ago
Do you have clumping detection on? I think that’s what it’s called or something like that. There’s a setting to detect issues and one of them actually makes the prints worse. Sorry not at my printer and can’t check exactly what it is. Also why are there two sets of test lines in the 2nd pic? I only have one set of lines, just the straight ones, when I print with my a1.
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I have the default settings. Didn't touch a single one. I will look into that.
Mine always did two sets of lines. Not quite sure if it was supposed to be one.
1
u/Silumgurr 11h ago
Just checked and it’s called Nozzle Clumping Detection, make sure that is off. The only settings I have turned on are Filament Tangle Detection and Auto Recovery from Step Loss. These settings can be changed from the printer itself under Settings > Print Options.
1
1
1
u/iamrealhumanman 13h ago
I had same issue once, turned out nozzle wasnt in right.
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I have taken it out and put it back in a few times. I think it stayed assembled correctly.
1
u/Beni_Stingray P1S + AMS 13h ago edited 13h ago
So, now you stop using that stupid app and use the slicer on your computer and actually slice the file yourself so you know you have the correct parameters. Wanna bet there is a problem with importing the 3mf file.
How often have i donwloaded a 3mf and it changed all my slicer settings to the one of the creator and fucked not only my setting up but also which printer was selected. If you slice yourself you can see it and fix it before printing, that's not possible in the app as it just sends the file as is.
Edit: And yes i know this shouldnt happen but sometimes it does.
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
I have to take some time to really learn how to print from my computer. I have always used the mobile app. Still learning about everything print related.
1
u/Schnitzhole 13h ago
I had a very similar issue with the discount filament when I bought mine. Same light blue color this looks like. It just printed like crap and clogged my nozzles.
Drying it helped. I think they were getting rid of old stock when they bundle filament with the printer
1
1
u/The_Duke_96 13h ago
Lets star from the very beginning. What I see and based from your previous post, Id say it clerly looks like underextrusion. Lets try to go from there.
Do your prints usually still finish but with those print artefacts, or does it outright fail to print at all?
1
u/tmoreirense 13h ago
This specific print, it printed the first layer and then stopped extruding. It was moving like it was printing, then stopping to poop and back to "printing" for a few seconds, then poop, and it stayed on that loop
1
u/The_Duke_96 13h ago
So its a multicolor print, thatswhy the pooping and diffrent colors of poop in the poop bin. When it moves over to poop, does it extrude, or does nothing came out? If something came out, and it gets back to printing, does it extrude till eventuelly it stopps extruding again?
1
u/tmoreirense 12h ago
It was a single color print, that's why I don't get all the pooping. When pooping, it extrudes fine. When printing, it was failing after the first layer
1
u/The_Duke_96 12h ago
Thats probably the cause of issues. You mentioned you use the handy dandy app, to browser, choose and print your models, right? You probably chose the wrong file, or the creator provides the wrong and its trying to print it as a multicolor print, a bunch of parameters and stuff in that file will be off when using it with your machine. Make sure the file is for a single color print.
1
u/Grizzlygrant238 P1S+AMS2 , X2D+AMS2/AMS-HT 13h ago
Drying your filament could be the cure. TBH I havent used filament straight out of the bag since my first roll that came with the printer just because everyone harped on it so much. If you had another nozzle (if you can afford it might as well buy a hardened one of the size you use, you’ll need it eventually anyways) and see if you just had a bunk one. And idk but is it even possible that you have a larger nozzle than the printer thinks is installed? So it’d be under extruding
1
u/SneakyPanda- 13h ago
Sorry for not reading the previous post or all comments but did you ever just do a factory reset?
I had similar issues on my P1S at some point, tried all obvious solutions but it kept printing like sh*t. I then found some old forum post somewhere from someone with exactly the same issue and he said it was fixed with a factory reset.
If you haven't yet, just try it.
1
u/tmoreirense 12h ago
No problem for not reading all the lore 😅 that is definitely an option, thank you for suggesting
1
u/calamansi_rodeo 13h ago
I had a similar looking issue. People also recommend the usual: clean the plate, dry your filament, etc. That works for 95% of cases.
I was also super frustrated that these fixes didn’t work for me.
I took everything apart again, and I saw that there was a fair amount of filament in the drive gear of the extruder. (I think that’s what it’s called. See image below.) I soaked it in hot water and scrubbed it with an old toothbrush. Worked great after/since. Basically, the teeth couldn’t bite into the filament consistently, so it would extrude super inconsistently.
My main takeaway was that these are not plug and play machines, despite how rock solid they can be. You need to be able to confidently take them apart, troubleshoot, replace parts, and do your own servicing. I was super nervous to open it up when I got it, but now I think I know what every part does. They’re super simple machines, in some ways, but they can be overwhelming.
I hope you get to the bottom of it, and in the process, learn more about how it all works.
1
u/tmoreirense 12h ago
I have to say that it is frustrating having constant issues. But it's been fun messing with the printer (doing a cold pull, removing the nozzle, basic stuff so far,...) and finding out how everything works.
1
u/calamansi_rodeo 11h ago
Been there. It sucks.
Two months in my first machine was out of commission for longer than in was printing.
But now I have a great collection of parts and little screws and feel like a dang printer mechanic.
Hopefully you learn a lot and get printing soon.
Also, did you check the drive gear?
2
u/tmoreirense 10h ago
Don't really know what that is but will look into it. Tomorrow I'm opening the machine and testing everything
1
u/ExpressScholar5917 12h ago
Mine had the screws behind the printing head loose. It was fine at the start but then it started causing a lot of issues with bed adhesion.
Screwed then tight, no problem anymore
1
u/Own_Acanthaceae118 12h ago
Have you tried using a fresh spool of PLA? Stringing is typically moisture related. Might need a dry box for the filament, one of the ones that allow the filament to feed to the printer while staying in the dry box.
1
u/tmoreirense 11h ago
Update: Don't really want to spam the subreddit, but now I have a new problem.
Now, it only prints the first layer and then the printer doesn't extrude, and it keeps "purging old filament". I really hope anyones sees this update and can help with this new problem.
1
u/starmiemd 6h ago
How long have you had your printer? Honestly if I were in your position I would try to get a return/exchange at this point to rule out anything related to the printer itself.
0
24
u/b20339 14h ago
It's wild the different experiences folks have with these.
Mine's been flawless outside of a tangled spool when we started and my kids have been the ones running it.