Bambu has made a name for itself in the 3D printer scene for its speedy, high-quality 3D printers. However, one of its more affordable models, the A1, has significant problems, prompting a total product recall.
If you have a Bambu A1 mini, this recall doesn't apply to you, thankfully. But if you own a full-sized A1 3D printer, you should stop using it immediately. The problem first began when A1 owners complained about a damaged cable connecting the heatbed. Excessive bending led to visible wear and tear to the cable at the thickest point where it connected to the heatbed.
While Bambu pointed out that the heatbed's fuse would prevent overheating or meltdowns, short circuits and bad temperature reads were still possible. So, the company started with a limited callback to address that issue. But as Bambu continued to investigate, it realized the problem is worse than first thought. The company hasn't been able to determine every cause that led to the damaged cable, and out of an abundance of caution, it's recalling all A1 3D printers.
Bambu is offering A1 owners two options. The first entails packaging up the 3D printer and shipping it back, just like a return. With that route, the owner will get a full refund plus an $80 voucher to buy a different Bambu 3D printer model.
Alternatively, if self-repair is legal in your country, you can keep the A1 and temporarily shut it down. Bambu will keep investigating, and when it determines the actual cause of the problem (hopefully by March), it will provide instructions and parts to correct it. The repair will entail replacing the heatbed, and Bambu provided a video on how to do that to help with the decision. In this route, Bambu will offer a $120 voucher toward the purchase of a new 3D printer when it determines the root cause of the problem.
Bambu set up a registration page so A1 owners can let it know what route they pick, and the company can order parts accordingly.