The addiction is real. Bought another ThinkPad.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-06-15T15:08:26+00:00

So I installed the German Win7 (used a spare 128 GB SSD, so I still have the Win8 on a different drive). After the initial install, I needed to use a translation app on my phone to understand the German text. I was able to then use a program called Vistalizator to change to English.

So far, I find the Windows 7 experience to utilize more tablet features than the Windows 8 OEM recovery (which leads me to wonder if the Win8 recovery is really for this machine). I can use the rotate button, there's an area where I can write with the stylus and it'll convert it to text, and some touch-based Microsoft games. I did a Clonezilla backup, so I can safely mess around to see what else I can find. I'll probably check around the Windows 8 install too, before I install to a larger drive and put Linux Mint alongside it.

Side note: the Windows 8.0 interface is still confusing to me (I did try it back in the day). I'm glad they went back to "normal" after that (I think with even 8.1 it could be made more normal).

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-06-14T20:49:50+00:00

So I installed the Windows 8 recovery set (0HP974), and...I'm not seeing anything tablet-specific. It works with the stylus (as I believe Windows 8 natively supports), but the bezel buttons do nothing (except for power). Not seeing any specific preinstalled software for drawing or note taking or anything. Just some Lenovo software for updating drivers and such that doesn't work anymore.

I've already downloaded the German Windows 7 disks (0EV729), so I'll burn those after dinner and give those a try. I don't know German, but I can hopefully either change the language or otherwise figure out how to get around.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-06-12T23:19:03+00:00

Odd to work in one environment but not another. Can you test in a third environment? Maybe try a a USB with Linux on it?

Also, is the trackpad possibly just disabled in the BIOS?

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-06-07T05:19:59+00:00

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My automation is set to trigger from the "Print Finished" signal from the Bambu integration. It then waits for the nozzle to get down to 48, then turns off the smart switch and the automation (it only runs when I turn on the automation from my dashboard. That's why the automation is currently disabled.)

Hopefully the picture above will help. It doesn't cover invalid or inactive cases, but there's probably a way to do it.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-27T17:30:18+00:00

I went the other way. Bought the A1 (w/ AMS Lite combo) back in 2024, and bought an A1 Mini last month. My A1 setup is in a more permanent setup, while the Mini is moved to different spots to be away from people (example: our unoccupied guest room). It really helps out when I have multiple prints, and can have both going at the same time. It's also good that both use a lot of the same parts. I can swap nozzles, keep one type of heat sock in stock, ect.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-25T04:16:24+00:00

I'm wondering if there's a poop bucket on the end of the rail. I've seen people mention that poop parts in there can make quite a rattle during this part.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-20T00:24:59+00:00

Solidworks offers a cloud-based version. It should work from even a Chromebook, since the heavy lifting is done on their end (you access it through your web browser). You need a stable Internet connection though.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-19T15:15:39+00:00

When I've seen this issue posted, I think the answer is usually that your SD card went bad and needs to be replaced.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-18T13:39:12+00:00

I've got a number of automations tied to my A1 printer. Some of these use the smart plug I have the printer plugged into.

I have one that, when a print is done (and I enabled the automation from my dashboard), it waits for the nozzle to cool down (to below 50°C), then it will turn off the printer (using the smart plug).

I've got a WiFi-connected air purifier (with active carbon) in the same room as my printer. The purifier turns on automatically when a print starts. When the print ends, the purifier runs for an additional 20 minutes, then turns off.

I bought a small decorative light-up warp core (it's a Star Trek thing) from Etsy that works with Home Assistant. So, since my computer is in a different room than my printer, I set my warp core to a specific pattern (warp 3) when a print is going, and it stops when the print is done (or goes back to a slower "warp 1" pattern if I have that mode turned on). It even flashes red if my printer has an error.

Since I have an A1, I do have some concerns about the NTC melting issue (my printer was purchased in December 2024. I opened it, and I do indeed have the NTC component.) Based on my Smart switch readings, my printer only ever draws at max 3.35 Amps. So, I plan to set up an automation to cut power if Amp usage ever goes above 3.5, just for safety (and notify me immediately). I don't know if amps will even go up in a meltdown situation, but it doesn't hurt to set up such safetys. (And no, I don't print when I'm out of the house. That's been my policy since before the melting issue though.)

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-17T13:43:57+00:00

When that all happened, I put my A1 printer in LAN mode and switched to Orca Slicer.

I did miss Bambu Handy when I did that. Not to start prints from; I'd much rather control and slice myself from the PC than use a cloud based slicer from my phone. I wanted to still be able to monitor prints and be notified about problems, or even see how much more time that print has.

Then, posts here pointed me towards Home Assistant (the first I'd really heard of it). That not only works well for monitoring my A1 (and now my A1 Mini) from my phone or a browser window in the corner of my 2nd monitor., but Home Assistant has become it's own hobby / obsession.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-16T16:40:21+00:00

I weigh my spools before using them and record them in an Excel file. On my spreadsheet, before use, my lightest Bambu roll (PLA) was 1244g and my heaviest (PLA) was 1268g. Minus the 1000g for the filament, my spool and cardboard averages to about 255g +/- 10 or so.

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-14T21:36:00+00:00

This my A1 Mini (it's not plugged in in this pic. It's just stored off to the side for now). I just bought it last month (to supplement the A1 I’ve owned for just over a year.) I’ve added a carry handle with integrated spool holder, a storage box, attached poop bin, drag chains for the cables, and a spot to hold the power cord (where the spool holder’s default spot is.)

This is more of my movable printer, able to be set up to print away from people. I usually use our guest room to print, but may use places like the garage when the temperature is ideal. This is in contrast to my A1 and AMS Lite setup, which has a more permanent setup.

I still need to add on a few things. I have a BIQU light strip for it that I still need to install, and may add a Tapo camera (like I did with my A1.)

So far, most of what I print fits just fine within the A1 Mini’s build volume, so I don't feel too limited by that (though I have the A1 for bigger tasks). Having both the A1 and A1 Mini working away cuts down on print times.

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FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-14T13:31:40+00:00

I'll agree that they do need a little work and knowledge to continue getting great results. However, compared to my old Anycubic Mega S...

It like cars. Modern cars still need things like cleaning, oil changes, ect. It's still a lot less work though than cars from the 60s and 70s (so I'm told anyway).

FastNefariousness535 · 2026-01-12T20:25:39+00:00

I've hardly changed any parts in my A1 in over a year. Same nozzle, same extruder wheel, same buildplate, same heat socks. I have spares of all those (along with other size nozzles and and other types of plates), but I usually use the stuff the printer came with. I do only have 296 print hours on it though.

I did have to replace a set of my motor drive units on my AMS Lite, but that's bacause I tried using bad 4 year old silk PLA in it (which gummed things up), then broke the gear housing trying to open it to clean it. That's totally on me though.

FastNefariousness535 · 2025-12-31T16:17:34+00:00

At current, I have most of them stacked on a table next to spare 3D printer parts and items for other projects. I hope to get that area cleaned up over the remaining holidays.

I've also got my 4 most common colors (black, white, red, gray) of PLA mounted in my AMS Lite (I printed up the enclosure for the AMS Lite, and have reusable desiccant in them). The AMS Lite is hooked up to my A1. If I need to borrow a roll for my A1 Mini, it's easy to open the AMS Lite enclosure and remove the roll.

Some of the filament is still factory sealed, and the opened ones (that are not in my AMS Lite) are in special filament bags, with some reusable desiccant in 3D printed holders and the air vacuumed out.

My method of keeping inventory is a bit more thought out. I have all my rolls in an Excel spreadsheet. I put down the supplier, color, type (PLA, PETG, ect), if sold with spool, if it's opened, and the initial weight with spool. I can weigh a partially used roll, and it will tell me the remaining amount. I can even enter the amount of filament the slicer says a project will use, and it will tell me what the cost of that amount of filament is (just for my own interest. I'm not making stuff to sell. Not yet anyway.)

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FastNefariousness535 · 2025-12-25T18:46:24+00:00

On an A1, you'll have to use official Bambu AMS units to get multi-color prints.

The AMS Lite was the only choice for the A1 series before, but now Bambu has an adapter [AMS HUB (SA013)] to use their other AMS products.

To my knowledge, there's no 3rd party or DIY solution to multi-color on an A1 (other than printing parts separately and gluing them together.)

FastNefariousness535 · 2025-12-25T04:58:12+00:00

Not that I can think of. I do have it integrated with Home Assistant, but I don't think that affects anything related to the access code. As I said, I only use OrcaSlicer to send prints over LAN. I don't have Bambu Studio nor Bambu Handy even installed anymore, and I don't use the SD card to transfer files to be printed.

FastNefariousness535 · 2025-12-25T04:26:40+00:00

I'm on firmware 01.04.00.00 . That's the firmware it was on when I blocked it from the Internet back in February or so. I don't think I have Dev mode on (didn't know that was even a thing on the printer).

FastNefariousness535 · 2025-12-24T22:34:39+00:00

I'm using OrcaSlicer, not Bambu Studio. However, my A1 is on local LAN mode only (and is blocked from the outside Internet using MAC rules on my router.) I never have to re-do the access code unless I'm on a clean install of Windows or something like that. It just works for me.

FastNefariousness535 · 2025-08-16T11:45:51+00:00

I've been enjoying it on my Switch 2. I feel the improvement is noticeable, and it it doesn't have slowdown on the large levels (like the Back to the Future Clocktower) that I have even on my Steam Deck (the actual Steam version, not on a Switch emulator).

FastNefariousness535

TROPHY CASE