¶ Location
- The Batcave
¶ Equipment Info
| Technology | FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) — CoreXY motion system |
| Build Volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm (10.1" cube) |
| Max Print Speed | 500 mm/s (typical quality prints: 100–250 mm/s) |
| Max Nozzle Temp | 300 °C (hardened steel 0.4 mm nozzle installed) |
| Max Bed Temp | 120 °C (mains-voltage heated bed) |
| Filament Diameter | 1.75 mm |
| AMS Capacity | 4 spools per AMS unit (up to 4 AMS units = 16 filaments) |
| Bed Surface | Magnetic spring-steel plate (textured PEI) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, LAN, SD card |
| Slicer Software | Bambu Studio (recommended) or Orca Slicer |
| Auto Calibration | Micro LiDAR bed leveling, vibration compensation, flow calibration |
| AI Features | Spaghetti detection, first-layer scanning, time-lapse camera |
¶ What Is the AMS?
The Automatic Material System (AMS) is a filament hub that sits on top of the printer. It holds up to 4 spools and feeds them automatically to the printer, enabling single-color prints with hands-free filament loading as well as multi-color prints. The AMS RFID reader can identify Bambu Lab-branded spools automatically, setting temperatures and speeds without any manual configuration.
When switching between filaments (either for multi-color prints or automatic spool swaps), the printer purges the previous material through the rear purge chute — sometimes called the "poop chute" by the community. This produces small waste blobs that collect in the chute tray and must be emptied regularly.
¶ Allowed Filaments
⚠ PLA and PETG only at the current space due to ventilation limitations. ABS will be permitted once we move to the new space.
- PLA — most common, easiest to print, good for general-purpose parts
- Includes PLA variants: silk, matte, dual-color, high-speed PLA
- PETG — tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA; good for functional parts
- TPU — flexible filament; NOT compatible with the AMS (bypasses AMS, must be loaded directly into extruder). Check with Logan before using
- Carbon-fiber reinforced filaments (PLA-CF, PETG-CF) — NOT compatible with the AMS; must be loaded directly. Abrasive — accelerates nozzle wear. Check with Logan before using
- Glow-in-the-dark filament — strongly discouraged; abrasive particles wear the nozzle and extruder components faster than standard filaments
ℹ When in doubt about a filament, check with Logan Brown before loading. Do not load filaments not on the approved list without lead approval.
¶ Safety
FDM printing with PLA and PETG is significantly lower-risk than resin printing, but there are still important safety rules to follow — primarily around fumes, the heated bed, and not leaving prints unattended.
¶ Fumes & Ventilation
- PLA and PETG both emit ultrafine particles (UFPs) and VOCs when printing, though at lower levels than materials like ABS
- Ensure the space's ventilation is active when the printer is running — do not print in a sealed room
- The X1C's enclosed chamber helps contain fumes. Keep the door and lid closed during printing
- ABS (when permitted) produces significantly more harmful fumes and will require additional ventilation — do not use until cleared by Logan
¶ Heated Components
- The nozzle reaches up to 300 °C and the bed up to 120 °C — both are capable of causing serious burns
- Never reach into the printer while it is homing, calibrating, or printing
- After printing, allow the nozzle and bed to cool before touching or doing any manual cleaning
- The X1C's bed uses mains voltage (120V AC) for rapid heating — do not attempt any electrical work on the bed or power system
¶ Fire Safety
- Never leave a print completely unattended for extended periods, especially with a new filament or slicer profile
- The AI spaghetti detection can catch failures automatically, but it is not 100% reliable — check the camera feed for long prints
- Fire extinguisher is located at [TODO: location near 3D printing area]
¶ Operating Procedure
¶ Before You Print
- Log into Bambu Studio (or check that you're connected to the correct machine — see Reference Material section)
- Check that the correct filament is loaded in the AMS slots and matches your slicer profile
- Clean the build plate with warm water and soap and dry it completely before placing it back in the printer
- Never use IPA, glue sticks, or any adhesives on the build plate — warm water and soap only
- Do not touch the print surface with bare hands after cleaning — skin oils reduce adhesion
- Slice your model in Bambu Studio with the correct filament and printer profile; send to printer via Wi-Fi, LAN, or SD card
- Initiate the print from the touchscreen or Bambu Studio and wait through the auto-leveling and calibration sequence before leaving
¶ AMS Loading & Filament Management
- Open the AMS top cover and insert spools — the AMS reads Bambu RFID spools automatically
- For non-RFID spools, manually select the filament type and color in Bambu Studio before printing
- Always confirm in Bambu Studio that each AMS slot is mapped to the correct filament type in your print profile — a mismatch (e.g., printing a PLA profile with PETG loaded) is the most common cause of failed prints and jams
- Do not leave partial spools loose after your session — reseal in a zip-lock bag or airtight container to prevent moisture absorption, which causes brittle filament and poor print quality
- Label your spools with your name if storing at the space
- Unlabeled spools left for more than [TODO: time period] may be considered communal
- Communal/shared spools are stored at [TODO: designated location]
¶ During Printing
- Monitor the first few layers in person to confirm good adhesion before leaving the machine
- Remote monitoring: use the Bambu Handy app (iOS/Android) or Bambu Studio desktop — log in with the space credentials (see Reference Material)
- If the AI spaghetti detection triggers, the print pauses automatically — check the camera feed before resuming or canceling
- For multi-color prints, the printer will purge filament between color changes into the rear purge chute — this is normal
¶ After Your Print — Cleanup
- Wait for the bed to cool slightly before removing the print — flex the magnetic plate to pop prints off cleanly
- Use the plastic scraper if needed; do not use metal tools on the PEI surface
- Empty the purge chute (the small tray at the rear of the printer) into the [TODO: filament recycling bin or trash — confirm with Logan]. PLA poop can typically go in a filament recycling bin; PETG and other materials go in regular trash
- Check the AMS for tangled or partially-loaded filament and reseat as needed
- Return communal spools to their designated location; take personal spools with you or reseal and label them
- Log your print on the sign-in sheet or in [TODO: Slack/Discord channel]
¶ Bed Care
⚠ Clean all plates with warm water and soap before each print. Never use IPA, glue sticks, or any other adhesives or cleaning agents.
- Make sure the plate is completely dry before placing back in the printer and starting a print
- Never touch the print surface with bare hands after cleaning — skin oils create invisible contamination that reduces adhesion
- The spring-steel plates are double-sided — if one side develops wear or adhesion issues, flip it
- If a plate is cracked, warped, or the PEI coating is peeling, report it to Logan — do not continue printing on a damaged plate
¶ Multi-Color Printing Notes
- Multi-color prints generate significant purge waste from the nozzle-cleaning cycle between color swaps — this is expected
- In Bambu Studio you can enable "Flush into infill" and "Flush into support" to reduce purge tower waste — useful for dense models
- Check the purge chute before starting a long multi-color print — a full chute can clog and cause a print failure mid-job
- Purge waste from PLA-only prints can go in the filament recycling bin. Mixed materials or PETG/other go in regular trash
¶ Nozzle & Hardware Rules
- Do not swap nozzles for a different diameter or material — machines are configured for their installed 0.4 mm hardened steel nozzles
- If a nozzle appears clogged or damaged, do not attempt to fix it yourself — contact Logan Brown
¶ Clearing Machines Between Users
- If you arrive and find a completed or failed print on a machine, remove it carefully and place it in [TODO: designated shelf/area near printers] with a note if possible
- Do not discard another member's print without checking with a lead or posting in [TODO: Slack/Discord channel]
¶ Maintenance
¶ Member-Performed Maintenance
Members are authorized to perform the following tasks without lead involvement:
- Bed leveling — trigger from the touchscreen (Calibration → Bed Leveling) or from Bambu Studio before any print
- Flow calibration — run before printing with a new filament brand or after any nozzle service (Calibration → Flow Rate)
- Vibration compensation — can be re-run from Calibration menu if prints show ringing or artifacts
- Lubricating Z-axis lead screws and linear rods — only when prompted by the machine. Lubricant is located at [TODO: where lubricant lives]. Use only the recommended Bambu lubricant or equivalent — do not substitute with WD-40, 3-in-1 oil, or cooking oils
- Clearing jammed filament from the AMS or extruder — follow the unload/unjam procedure on the touchscreen. Do not force filament; if the jam doesn't clear with the standard procedure, call Logan
- Emptying the purge chute — do this after every session and before any long print
- Cleaning the build plate — warm water and soap, fully dry before reinstalling
¶ Printer-Lead-Only Maintenance
The following tasks require Logan Brown or another authorized lead:
- Nozzle replacement
- Hotend or extruder servicing
- Belt tension adjustment (the printer's Belt Tension Monitor will alert when needed — report this to Logan rather than adjusting yourself)
- Firmware updates
- AMS hub servicing or PTFE tube replacement
- Any issue requiring opening the electronics enclosure
- Carbon-fiber or TPU print setup (first-time or if issues arise)
- [TODO: any additional lead-only tasks]
¶ Troubleshooting
| Issue | What to do |
| Print not sticking to bed | Ensure bed is clean (soap + water), fully dry, and not touched after cleaning. Re-run bed leveling. Check first layer height in slicer. |
| Filament not loading into AMS | Check spool is seated correctly, filament end is cut cleanly at 45°, and PTFE tubes are not kinked. Try re-loading via touchscreen Filament menu. |
| AMS jam / filament tangle | Use the AMS unload procedure on the touchscreen. Do not pull filament by force. If unresolved, contact Logan. |
| Spaghetti detection triggered | Print pauses automatically. Check camera feed. If print is clearly failed, cancel and remove debris. If a false alarm, resume from touchscreen. |
| Nozzle clog / under-extrusion | Do not attempt a cold pull or nozzle swap yourself — report to Logan. |
| Purge chute overflowing | Empty the chute tray. For long multi-color prints, check and empty before starting. |
| Poor layer adhesion / warping | Check filament type matches slicer profile. Ensure bed is clean. PLA rarely warps in an enclosed printer; PETG is more prone — confirm profile. |
| Printer shows offline in app | Check Wi-Fi connection on the printer touchscreen. Reconnect if needed. If persistent, contact Logan. |
| Belt tension warning on screen | Report to Logan — do not adjust belts yourself. |
¶ Access Requirements
- Completion of in-person training with Logan Brown (3D Printing Lead) is required before using the printers independently
- Training covers: slicing in Bambu Studio, loading/unloading filament via AMS and direct, bed prep, print monitoring, and post-print cleanup
- Training sign-off is recorded at [TODO: location or link]
¶ Members With Access
- Hardik Patel — space-wide lead
- Logan Brown — 3D printing lead
- TODO — additional trained members
¶ Reference Material
¶ Software & Accounts
- Bambu Studio login credentials: [TODO — e.g., shared password manager, binder near printers]
- 2FA codes go to Logan's phone — reach him on Discord for the code if needed
- Once logged in, printers appear under Device in Bambu Studio — select by name and confirm it shows as Online
- Bambu Handy (mobile): same login; printers listed on home screen
¶ Key Links
- Bambu Lab X1C Wiki (official): https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/x1/manual
- Bambu Studio download: https://bambulab.com/en/download/studio
- Bambu Handy app: search "Bambu Handy" on iOS or Android
- MakerWorld (free models): https://makerworld.com
- Printables (free models): https://www.printables.com
- Bambu filament guide (compatible materials): https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/x1/manual/filament-guide
¶ Helpful Videos
- [TODO: link to Bambu's official getting-started video or recommended YouTube tutorial]
- [TODO: space-specific walkthrough recording from training session, if recorded]
Last updated: [TODO] · Maintained by Logan Brown · Questions? Contact Logan or Hardik