Routine Maintenance Checklist

Do these every week.

• Clean build plate: Wash with warm water and dish soap whenever adhesion drops and at least weekly; a 90%+ IPA wipe between washes is fine but does not replace the wash. Bambu recommends the wash because alcohol can spread finger oils on the textured plate (Bambu).
• Inspect nozzle: Look for filament buildup or wear on the tip. Clean exterior with a brass brush while at printing temperature. Never steel brushes.
• Empty waste bin: Clear purge material from the waste chute before it overflows into the print area.
• Vacuum chamber: Remove loose filament strands and dust from the chamber floor. Debris can get caught in the motion system.
• Check PTFE tubes (AMS): Inspect for kinks, cuts, or debris. A kinked tube causes feed errors that look like sensor problems.
• Check extruder gear: Look for filament dust on the extruder gear and blow or brush it clean when you see any; clogged teeth cause inconsistent extrusion. Bambu: check weekly on the X1, clean when dust shows on the yellow gear on the P1; on the A1 / A1 mini clean the extruder gear every 5 spools, every 2 spools with carbon fiber filaments.

• Check carbon rods (X1/P1 series): Look for dust and buildup on the X-axis rods. Clean them with IPA after every 5 kg of ABS/ASA or when ribbing appears, never with oil or grease.
• Clean and oil the rails (A1 / A1 mini): Clean the X linear rail and the Y guide rails (A1 mini also the Z rail) with tweezers and a lint-free cloth, then re-lubricate them with lubricant oil and slide the toolhead or bed back and forth to spread it. Never put grease on the X linear rail (Bambu: A1, A1 mini).
• Clean Lidar / camera lens (X1 series, as needed): Bambu sets no monthly interval: clean it when the printer reports a Lidar error or the laser looks abnormal, and every 3–5 days if you print ABS regularly, because ABS particles build up on the lens (Bambu). Gently wipe with a microfiber cloth and a little IPA (a cotton swab helps). Filament dust on the Lidar causes failed first-layer scans.
• Inspect belts: Look for fraying or debris in belt teeth. The printer flags a loose belt during calibration (HMS 0300-1000/1100-0002-0001); then retension as described in the belt tensioning guide.
• Check connectors: Reseat toolhead cable and any connectors that see movement. A loose thermistor connector causes thermal runaway errors.

• Z axis (every three months on X1/P1): Clean the three Z lead screws and apply a thin coat of grease; wipe the Y and Z linear rods with IPA and a little anti-rust oil. No oil or grease on the X1/P1 X-axis carbon rods. P2S, X2D and H2 series: Bambu oils the X and Y shafts or rails too.
• Lead screws (A1 / A1 mini, every three months): Apply lubricant grease to the working area of the Z lead screws (two on the A1, one on the A1 mini) and move the X-axis up and down so the whole working area is coated.
• Full mechanical inspection: Check all visible screws for tightness, bed mounting, gantry, and motion system bolts. Printers vibrate continuously and screws work loose.
• Deep clean AMS: Disassemble the AMS hub, clean feeder gears, inspect hall effect sensors. Blow out each slot with compressed air.
• Hotend inspection: Check nozzle for wear, especially if printing abrasive filaments. Replace the hotend when the tip is worn or damaged or extrusion stays inconsistent after cleaning; with CF/GF and particle-filled filaments check the nozzle and extruder gears more often (Bambu).
• Review firmware: Check for updates. Bambu releases updates that fix bugs and improve calibration. Update during a period without urgent prints, updates can change print behavior and may require recalibration.

• IPA spray bottle (90%+)
• Microfiber cloths
• Brass brush
• Tweezers
• Compressed air
• Lubricating grease (Z lead screws) and light lubricating oil (linear rods and A1 rails)
• H2.0 and H2.5 hex keys

Maintenance is much easier when you don't have to hunt for supplies each time.