I’ve been enjoying my Bambu Lab A1 3D printer. Bambu Lab has done a great job of improving usability of the entire 3D printing process--this includes its MakerWorld model repository, its dedicated Bambu Studio slicer, its calibrated filaments, the Bambu Handy mobile app, and of course the speedy 3D printer itself. Everything just works the way a 3D printer SHOULD work. That is, until it doesn’t.
A couple weeks ago I started to see “Heatbed temperature malfunction” error messages as pictured above. Initially these errors would appear after successful completion of 1 print job and upon the initiation of the next print job without turning the printer off. After pressing the “Confirm” button in Bambu Studio or dismissing the error message on the touchscreen, I would see that the newly initiated print job was suspended in a paused state. After pressing the resume button on the touchscreen, the heatbed would proceed to warm up to the specified temperature (usually 65 Celsius), and a successful print would ensue. I was hoping that this error message was due to a firmware or Bambu Studio software glitch, as I had recently updated both.
However, after several days of encountering intermittent “Heatbed temperature malfunction” error messages in between print jobs, I experienced this error message in the middle of an 8-hour print job, and upon dismissing the error message and resuming the print, the heatbed remained at room temperature. I was concerned about the print falling off the build plate (because warmer temperatures help the printed materials stick to the build plate) but fortunately I had excellent bed adhesion, and to my pleasant surprise, the print successfully completed anyway.
Upon reporting this issue to Bambu Lab Support, I was asked to troubleshoot the heatbed issue by following these instructions on the Bambu Lab Wiki. After purchasing a multimeter and asking ChatGPT how to use one, I was able to confirm that the resistance measurements of the temperature sensor connector and the heatbed power supply connector were both abnormal. According to the wiki, “replacing the heatbed assembly is necessary if both resistance values are abnormal.” So I thought Bambu Lab was going to ship me a new heatbed assembly and I’d have to follow these instructions to replace the heatbed.
Instead, Bambu Lab Support offered to continue troubleshooting the issue by first sending me a new AC board, which contradicts the recommendation from the wiki, or to return and replace the printer because I was (barely) within the 30-day time window after receipt of the 3D printer. Since I am not knowledgeable about electronics, I decided to return and replace the 3D printer and had to follow these instructions to pack my printer. Because I bought the A1 combo which included the AMS Lite unit, I had to return the whole set—this seemed wasteful because the AMS Lite unit was working fine. Anyway, the photos and videos were helpful, but if there was one thing I learned from the experience of packing the printer and accessories, it is that it was extremely important to have saved the original box and all of its packing materials, including the plastic bags and protective foam pads and cardboard inserts.
Bambu Lab provided a UPS shipping label and informed me that “the return process can take around 2-3 weeks, depending on the shipping conditions” and “the replacement will be arranged within 7 business days after the warehouse receives and inspects the package.”
Overall I wish it was a little easier to troubleshoot 3D printer malfunctions, but the Bambu Lab Wiki made the process as simple as it could possibly be. Perhaps a better approach to support average everyday mainstream users would be to have dedicated Bambu Lab service centers, but of course there would have to be a business model to make that happen. Because I purchased my 3D printer from the online store, I had no choice but to work through the online support process. Had I purchased the printer from an authorized reseller, I assume that I could have returned and replaced the printer in the physical store, and I wonder if I could have avoided all the troubleshooting and packing steps. Unfortunately the nearest reseller is about 50 miles away from where I live, but if you live near a reseller and are thinking of buying a Bambu Lab 3D printer, that option may make more sense.
Anyway, I hope my replacement A1 Combo will arrive soon and that there will be no malfunctions with my replacement device.
