As a long-time enthusiast in the 3D printing world, with experience ranging from MakerBot Replicator 5th Gen to Creality printers and now managing a print farm of 20 P1S printers, I’ve encountered my fair share of printer quirks. My current operation involves full-time sales on platforms like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay, relying heavily on reliable equipment. Recently, my experience with the Bambu Lab A1 series 3D printers has been overwhelmingly frustrating, prompting me to share my detailed account.
Initially drawn to the Bambu Lab A1 Mini, I invested in four units last year. Disappointingly, within just three weeks of operation, all four printers began exhibiting severe extrusion problems. These issues ranged from persistently clogged nozzles to various extruder malfunctions. Hoping the regular A1 model would offer improved performance, I acquired two of them. Unfortunately, these too succumbed to identical extrusion problems after approximately 10 hours of use. Compounding the issues, the heat bed recall further solidified my decision to cut my losses, leading to the sale of all six A1 series printers.
Despite the previous setbacks, I decided to give the Bambu Lab A1 another chance. I purchased eight more A1 units (this time without the AMS Lite system), speculating that the wall-mounted AMS Lite setup might have been contributing to the problems. My intention was to dedicate these new machines exclusively to printing PETG filament. Regrettably, within just ten days, the reliability issues resurfaced. Out of the eight new printers, three have already failed. One unit didn’t even manage to load filament upon unboxing – the extruder gear simply clicked without engaging. A support ticket has been open since the 10th, but a response is still pending.
The core issue appears to be consistent nozzle clogging and inadequate filament extrusion. These problems emerge after a relatively short period of operation. Even after meticulous cleaning procedures and performing cold pulls, a persistent obstruction seems to remain within the system. It’s perplexing that this pattern of failure has now affected 9 out of the 14 Bambu Lab A1 series printers I have used.
Clogged nozzle and extrusion issue on Bambu Lab A1 3D printer
My printing environment is carefully controlled; humidity is consistently low in my print room, averaging around 30%. Filament consumption is high, typically using a new roll of Sunlu PETG every two days, indicating sufficient material throughput. I have experimented with printing temperatures, starting at 250°C and reducing to 220°C, but the clogging issue persists regardless of temperature adjustments. Interestingly, my earlier A1 Minis, which also experienced similar problems with AMS Lite, used the same PLA filament that runs flawlessly through my X1 Carbon and P1S printers. This comparison further isolates the A1 series as the source of the problem.
The frustration culminated today after spending eight hours laboriously removing PETG filament that had fused to a textured plate. The Bambu Lab A1 had extruded just enough filament to create an incredibly strong bond, making removal exceptionally difficult. This incident feels like the breaking point with these machines.
PETG adhesion issue on textured plate with Bambu Lab A1 3D printer
As demonstrated in the attached video, the setup is standard, utilizing the included filament stand without any joint issues. All eight printers are configured identically, eliminating setup discrepancies as a potential cause.
At this juncture, I am seeking feedback from the 3D printing community. Has anyone else encountered similar persistent issues with their Bambu Lab A1 series 3D printers? I am now seriously contemplating returning the eight A1 units and investing in more reliable P1S printers, a decision I perhaps should have made initially. Despite initial enthusiasm for the Bambu Lab A1, the repeated and unresolved problems have led to significant operational disruptions and considerable frustration.
