In this guide, we will show how to replace the Hotend Heating Assembly on the A1 mini
¶ When to use?
This guide is intended for use if there is a problem with the Hotend Heating Assembly
Common issues that may indicate the need for replacement of the A1 mini Hotend Heating Assembly include:
- The Hotend Heating Assembly is wrapped in plastic due to a print failure
- The heater or thermistor is not working anymore
- The hotend metal latch is not working anymore
- Recommended by Bambu Lab Technical Support
¶ Tools and materials needed
- Bambu Lab Hotend Heating Assembly for A1
- H2.0 Allen key
- H1.5 Allen key
- 25 minutes of your time
¶ Safety Warning
IMPORTANT!
It's crucial to power off the printer before conducting any maintenance work, including work on the printer's electronics and tool head wires. Performing tasks with the printer on can result in a short circuit, leading to electronic damage and safety hazards.
During maintenance or troubleshooting, you may need to disassemble parts, including the hotend. This exposes wires and electrical components that could short circuit if they contact each other, other metal, or electronic components while the printer is still on. This can result in damage to the printer's electronics and additional issues.
Therefore, it's crucial to turn off the printer and disconnect it from the power source before conducting any maintenance. This prevents short circuits or damage to the printer's electronics, ensuring safe and effective maintenance. For any concerns or questions about following this guide, open a new ticket in our Support Page and we will do our best to respond promptly and provide the assistance you need.
¶ Remove the Old Hotend Heating Assembly
¶ 1. Remove the toolhead rear housing
We start by removing the toolhead rear housing.
Carefully pry open the toolhead rear housing by pulling on the bottom section as shown below.
¶ 2. Disconnect the cable
Remove the hotend heating assembly cable attached to the TH Board.
Carefully pull it out by the connector, and avoid pulling the cable from the connector.
We recommend using a flat tool to gently pry them out to avoid any potential damage.
¶ 3. Remove the toolhead front cover
Grab the base of the front cover and gently pull towards you.
The clips holding the cover in place will be released, allowing you to remove the front cover
¶ 4. Remove the hotend
Remove the silicone sock for hotend by gently pulling it towards you, then remove the hotend.
All the steps are labeled on the extruder sticker.
¶ 5. Remove the extruder screws and the right cable cover
Remove the screws as shown in the picture, and gently pull the extruder forward a little; push the right cable cover backward and remove it.
Note: Do not pull out the extruder with force, as it may easily break the motor wire.
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¶ 6. Remove the hotend heating cable
Remove the hotend heating cable carefully from the clip.
¶ 7. Remove the hot end heating assembly
Remove the hotend heating assembly by removing the 3 screws from the hotend heating assembly.
¶ Install the New Hotend Heating Assembly
¶ 1. Attach the Hotend Heating Assembly to the toolhead
Begin by carefully arranging the wires towards the right of the Heating Assembly. This is required to arrange the wires towards the right wire channel.
Rre-install the Hotend Heating Assembly back in its original location.
Carefully insert the 3 screws and start tightening them, while ensuring the top section of the Heating Assembly is pushed against the white alignment line of the toolhead.
¶ 2. Install the right cable cover and the extruder
Pass the hotend heating assembly cable through the right cable channel, and push the cable cover back.
Note: Be extremely careful when routing cables.
Secure the extruder to the toolhead using the 4 screws, as shown in the image below.
¶ 3. Re-connect the cable
Re-connect the hotend heating assembly cable as shown below.
¶ 4. Install the toolhead rear housing
Simply align the two brackets on the rear housing towards the top, then push it until you hear a few clicks.
¶ 5. Install the hotend and silicone sock for hotend
Follow the guidance available on the extruder sticker to re-attach the hotend to the toolhead
Then, lock it in place using the clip and install the silicone sock.
¶ 6. Install the toolhead front cover
Simply attach the toolhead front cover on the top of the toolhead by aligning the clips, then gently push on the bottom side. You will hear the clips when the installation is complete.
¶ Verify the functionality
To ensure everything runs smoothly, set the hot end temperature to 100°C. If successful, the screen will show the temperature.
¶ Calibration step after the operation
We recommend conducting a full calibration of the printer after this operation.
Additionally, it's strongly advised to wash the PEI textured plate before use, as it may have been contaminated during this process.
¶ Potential problems and solutions
If you encounter problems during the installation of a new Hotend Heating Assembly, please check the potential problems and solutions listed below:
¶ The hotend temperature is 0℃
Check the Hotend Heating Assembly connector and confirm it is correctly inserted, as shown in Step 3. Re-connect the cable
It is important to carefully align the connector pins to the TH Board.
If the issue persists, the thermistor wires might have been damaged (white wires)
¶ The hotend cannot be heated
Check the Hotend Heating Assembly connector and confirm it is correctly inserted, as shown in Re-connect the cable
It is important to carefully align the connector pins to the TH Board.
If the issue persists, the heater wires might have been damaged (Translucent wires)
¶ End Notes
We hope the detailed guide provided has been helpful and informative.
To ensure a safe and effective execution, if you have any concerns or questions about the process described in this article, we recommend reaching out to technical support team before initiating the operation. We will do our best to respond promptly and provide the assistance you need. Click here to open a new ticket in our Support Page.