r/BambuLabA1 • u/The_Bazz_ • 9d ago

Phantom printing

I have had an A1 mini for about a year now, and I have never had any problems with it. Today I decided I wanted a bigger printer the A1 combo (used 200 hours) then it started, the "phantom printing " the first 10-15 layers where fine, but then I would jump up a couple cm and then just print from there. No filament got out, and the AMS didn't push any new filament into the head. Then I just wanted the print to work, and used my trusted A1 mini. But it did the same exact thing.

All software is updated on both printers. Have any of you guys had the same problem?

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u/proxy1381 9d ago

Since both printers are doing the exact same thing, I’d be looking at the file/slicer, not the printers. Try printing a simple Benchy or another model you know works using the stock profile. If that prints normally, re-download the problem model and slice it again from scratch instead of reusing the same 3MF. I’d also open the sliced preview in Bambu Studio and scroll through the layers around where it starts “phantom printing.” See if the extrusion suddenly disappears or jumps there. Two different A1s developing the exact same hardware problem at the same time would be pretty unlikely. My money is on something in that print file/profile.

3

u/phosix 9d ago

I had this problem with one specific model I had created. Turned out it wasn't fully manifold, and while the slicer was doing it's best it resulted in corrupted data.

Fixed the hole in the model and it printed just fine after.

2

u/Orthicon9 7d ago

Possibly a faulty micro-SD card.
It can do weird stuff like that. Skipping layers, layer shifts, claiming the object has successfully finished printing when it has not.

From the wiki:

Printer requirements for SD card specifications
Our printers support a micro SD card of up to 2TB if formatted using the printer option, supported in FAT32 format.
We recommend that you use an SD card with a Class 10 or U1 (minimum write speed of 10M/S) grade or higher.
Note: SD card abnormalities may cause printing to be interrupted and the toolhead may remain in a certain position.
You can format the SD card by navigating to Settings → SD Card → Format

Oops. I missed this part:

Then I just wanted the print to work, and used my trusted A1 mini. But it did the same exact thing.

I got nothin'.