Noise or friction on the axes: cleaning and lubricating rods, lead screws and pulleys (X1, P1 and A1)

Symptom

The printer squeaks or makes noise when the toolhead or bed moves, the Z axis moves jerkily, marks or vibration appear on the walls after a lot of ABS or ASA printing, or the toolhead resists when moved by hand.

Likely causes, from most to least likely

1. X axis carbon rods (X1 and P1) with deposits, especially after printing ABS or ASA, increasing friction.
2. Dry or dusty Z lead screws.
3. Idler pulleys squeaking between their flange and the plastic holder.
4. Dirty or rusty Y and Z rods (X1 and P1), or unlubricated rails on the A1.
5. Grease where it does not belong: on the carbon rods or on the A1 X linear rail.

Checks to tell which one it is

• With the printer off, move the toolhead and bed by hand and listen for where the friction is.
• Wipe the rods with a white cloth: if it comes away black, they need cleaning.
• Notice whether the squeak comes from the pulleys when the toolhead moves.

Before you start

Before taking anything apart, cleaning or adjusting it, switch the printer off and unplug it, unless a step says otherwise, and do not touch the nozzle, the heater block or the bed until they have cooled down. If in any doubt about electricity, heat or moving parts, stop and ask a professional.

Step-by-step fix

1. Clean the carbon rods (X1 and P1)

   Switch the printer off and unplug it. Loosen the four rear tensioner screws, soak the rods with isopropyl alcohol and move the toolhead side to side until it evaporates; wipe with a microfibre cloth and repeat until it comes away clean. Move the toolhead 10-20 times dry, centre it, tighten the tensioners without overdoing it and recalibrate. Never put oil or grease on these rods.

   Check: The toolhead moves smoothly and the white cloth no longer gets dirty.

   If that does not fix it: If print quality does not improve after cleaning, contact Bambu Lab support.

2. Grease the Z lead screws (X1 and P1)

   Clean the dust off the three lead screws, apply a thin coat of grease with the bed at the top, lower it, apply another coat and home the printer several times; wipe off grease that builds up near the nuts.

   Check: The bed moves up and down quietly.

   If that does not fix it: Check the Y and Z rods (next step).

3. Y and Z rods (X1 and P1)

   Clean them with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth and protect them from rust with a thin film of oil or grease, keeping the alcohol away from the X and Y bearings and without excess that drips.

   Check: The rods are clean and free of rust.

   If that does not fix it: If a bearing makes a rattling ball noise, a little grease can be applied to it; according to Bambu Lab, that noise does not affect printing.

4. Squeaking pulleys (X1 and P1)

   Only if they squeak, put a drop of lubricating oil above and below the pulley, between its flange and the plastic holder. If there is no noise, do not lubricate: it attracts dust. Never grease the belts.

   Check: The squeak is gone.

   If that does not fix it: If the noise continues, check the belt tension.

5. A1: rails and lead screws

   Clean the X and Y rails with tweezers and a cloth and lubricate them with oil, never grease (it is forbidden on the A1 X rail), moving the toolhead and bed to spread it. Grease the two Z lead screws with the toolhead over the purge wiper, raising and lowering the X axis to cover their whole travel.

   Check: The axes move without noise or jerks.

   If that does not fix it: If the noise comes from the pulleys, lubricate them (next step).

6. A1: X and Y pulleys

   For the X pulley the purge wiper and the left X axis cover have to come off: keep the toolhead to the right the whole time, ideally held with a cable tie, because if it slides off the rail the carriage balls can fall out. Put a drop of oil where the belt leaves the pulley. For Y, remove the axis top cover and oil between the belt and the pulley.

   Check: The noise is gone.

   If that does not fix it: Contact Bambu Lab support.

Prevention

• X1 and P1: check the carbon rods monthly, clean them every 5 spools if you print ABS or ASA and grease the Z lead screws every three months. Do not clean the rods before every print: it removes their self-lubricating film.
• A1: clean and lubricate the X and Y rails monthly, and the lead screws and pulleys every three months.
• Use oil on rails and pulleys and grease only on lead screws and gears, as Bambu Lab specifies for your model.

Still not fixed?

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Printers it applies to

Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, X1, X1E, P1S, P1P and A1.

Official sources

This guide summarises the official documentation linked here:

• How to clean the carbon rods for Bambu Lab Printers · Bambu Lab
• Bambu Lab X1 Maintenance Recommendation · Bambu Lab
• Bambu Lab P1 series printer Maintenance Recommendation · Bambu Lab
• A1 Maintenance Guidelines · Bambu Lab