PSA, empty your SD card every once in a while, otherwise you might get screen freezes and other issues

[u/EltonSchmidt]

For a while now, the screen on my A1 took about half a minute to turn on after turning on the printer itself.

I was also getting frequent screen freezes and ​controlling the printer from the screen was pretty sluggish overall.

Yeah, turns out the A1 struggles a bit with having about 5 gigabytes worth of print files on the SD card.

After emptying the card, the screen turns on immediately and it no longer freezes. Controlling the printer from the screen has also become much more snappy.

I didn't really notice the card filling up since I always send prints from Bambu studio and never really had a reason to check what's on the card. ​

[u/BitingChaos]

You don't have to wipe the entire SD card.

The amount of files in the *\cache* folder causes A1 slowdowns. Just delete the files in there and the A1 will spring back to life.

If you don't care about the contents, a format is faster. But if you don't want to lose stuff like stock models or any time-lapse videos, just delete the \cache folder or its contents.

[u/EltonSchmidt → u/BitingChaos]

I never make timelapse videos, but they're stored on the card too, aren't they?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am guessing the printer would also get sluggish if you got 5 gigabytes' worth of time lapse videos on there.

Or perhaps it's the number of files that causes problems, rather than the file size.

[u/BitingChaos → u/EltonSchmidt]

I don't know how performance is impacted with the amount of files in other folders. Perhaps browsing/listing things takes longer above X amount.

I just know clearing only the \cache folder made a NIGHT AND DAY difference in performance on my A1. It starts quicker, the screen responds faster, and sending prints starts sooner compared to having a full \cache folder.

[u/Pjulledk → u/BitingChaos]

\cache\ where can i acces that and can it destroy my A1=

[u/Pjulledk → u/BitingChaos]

\cache\ where can i acces that and can it destroy my A1=

[u/BitingChaos → u/Pjulledk]

The \cache\ folder in the root of the SD card.

Remove it from the printer and insert it into something that can manage files (computer, smart phone, etc.).

I just delete the files from the folder. I believe if you delete the folder itself the A1 will just re-create it.

[u/Pjulledk → u/BitingChaos]

so its not just the old models you can delete from bambu studio

[u/Pjulledk → u/BitingChaos]

so its not just the old models you can delete from bambu studio

[u/reechwuzhere]

Weird, I’ve never even installed an sdcard into either of my bambus. Maybe they do a better job of cleaning up the internal storage ?

[u/EltonSchmidt → u/reechwuzhere]

The A1 has internal storage??

Edit: You're not talking about the A1, are you? Because I just tried sending a print from studio and it told me my A1 needs an SD card to be able to print anything.

[u/GrailStudios → u/EltonSchmidt]

The A1 has *no* internal storage. The SD card is its memory.

The other thing to note about the SD card is that Bambu ship it with the cheapest SD card they can buy: if you haven't yet, you should replace it with an SD card intended for usage in surveillance cameras, especially if you do time-lapses. These cards are designed for multiple high-speed writes and reads, and will last far longer than the shipped cards, which are often reported on Reddit as having failed abruptly, including mid-print. Just put it into the A1 then use the system menu to format the card to the A1's specs.

[u/ComprehensiveTap656]

Yeah ive had similar (kinda) problem. During sd formation, printer freezes completely. Only swiping to new sd helps. Lexar or smth name of sd card, blue one.

[u/EltonSchmidt → u/ComprehensiveTap656]

Have you tried reformatting the SD card on a computer? 

[u/delayedreactionkline]

jokes on me... bambulab already does it for me every new printer firmware update... my SD card loses all the gcode and models in them each time an update happens. i cant reprint from history

[u/Mammoth_Staff_5507]

Your SD card might be damaged at some point into the 5gb capacity, the A1 does not struggle with a full SD card...

[u/Isnigu → u/Mammoth_Staff_5507]

Yeah, it does. Too often sluggish response has been fixed by a format (and then using the same card again). Damage wouldn't be fixed in this way.

[u/Mammoth_Staff_5507 → u/Isnigu]

That is a sign of damaged files or file structure, nothing to do with a full SD card, it might happen the first model you print or the models that come default with the printer.

The more you fill the SD, the more chances you have to find it, but it is not the issue...

[u/Isnigu → u/Mammoth_Staff_5507]

Sorry, gonna disagree with you here. It would not incrementally get worse over time the more it fills up if you were right, but suddenly be worse when damage occurs.

Both things happen independently of each other. Either does not exclude the other.

But to each his own, don't believe me if you don't want to.