This week’s selection is the Autoswap Bambu Lab A1 Plate Changer by Cults contributor EVRENOT.
Bambu Lab’s A1 bedslinger FFF 3D printer is a hugely popular device, and that’s not a surprise: it produces high-quality objects and is available at a low (lowish, after tariffs in the US) price.
One thing it does not do is continuous printing. In fact, very few 3D printers can perform continuous printing. I’ve used a couple of machines that do this, and it is a transformative step: the 3D printer changes into a small factor capable of producing low volumes of prints with little effort.
That’s what this design is all about. It is a complex set of modifications to the A1 3D printer that automatically swaps print plates when jobs complete.
The design includes a method of pulling a plate off the machine and depositing it in a bin, while at the back there is a store of fresh plates that are mounted for the next job.
There are a fair number of parts for this project, some of which are large. However, they can all be 3D printed on the A1, making it convenient for operators.
The Autoswap system works by means of a fishing line that connects the upgrade parts to the motion system. In other words, the Autoswap system does not require external power; it leverages the existing mechanics.
This video shows how the system is put together:
There are a few non-printed parts required for this project, mostly M3 bolts and a number of magnets.
EVRENOT explained that the Autoswap system can accommodate up to ten plates, with one more on the print bed. This means that in theory, one could run eleven jobs in a row. This is so much print capacity that I presume you’d have to do something with the input filament spools to have enough material for that many jobs in some cases.
There are some small changes to the G-Code to provoke the motions necessary to activate the Autoswap system, but it’s all explained in the video.
EVRENOT wrote:
“I will publish a mini application where you can print multiple models by combining your 3mf files. I am working on it for multiple prints via Bambu Studio. For now, you can send them in order via BambuStudio.”
That will be quite interesting because it means you could dispatch a series of jobs all at once, making the A1 truly a small factory.
The Autoswap design is available on Cults for US$35. That’s a bit high as 3D model prices go, but this item could double or triple your print throughput. It should be of particular interest to anyone doing low-volume production with the A1 3D printer.
Via Cults
