FarmLoop Stage 2 assembly, Bambu A1

This guide covers installing FarmLoop Stage 2 on the Bambu Lab A1. A1 Mini has its own guide at FarmLoop Stage 2 assembly, Bambu A1 Mini.

Read through the whole guide before you start. Lay out every part so you don’t have to stop mid-install.

Prerequisites

• Bambu Lab A1 with latest firmware installed
• Printed parts from MakerWorld — FarmLoop Stage 2 for A1
• FarmLoop Pro subscription, sign up at app.3d-farmers.com
• Superglue for the scraper assembly, plus gloves, safety glasses, and a paper towel
• A clean, flat work surface

Before you start

• Power off and unplug the printer before installing any hardware.
• Parts are designed to slide into place — if a component needs excessive force, stop and check orientation.
• When gluing the scraper, wear gloves and safety glasses, work on a non-stick surface, and keep a paper towel nearby for excess glue.

Hardware assembly

1. Assemble the printed parts

Start by assembling the 3D-printed parts per the orientations shown above.

2. Snap in the linear actuator

• Black side to the front, sticker side to the back.
• Hide the cable in the cutout channel.

3. Insert the fan

• Insert the fan with the sticker facing the front.
• Feed the cable through the opening for clean cable management.

4. Insert the PCB and plug in cables

Seat the PCB in its housing, then connect each cable to its labelled port:

• AMS cable
• Linear actuator
• Limit-switch extension
• Fan

5. Add the printer

Seat the printer on the tilted base. Make sure the printer sits tightly on the base, wobble here will cause issues later.

6. Install the limit switch

1. Remove the grey lid, then remove the two screws underneath.
2. Insert the limit switch into the printed holder and connect it to the limit-switch extension cable.
3. Mount the assembly using the same two screws you just removed.

7. Insert the fan duct and connect the AMS cable

• Slide the fan duct into the slits from above.
• Connect the AMS cable to either of the two ports on the back of the printer.

8. Assemble and install the scraper

Start by laying out everything you’ll need:

Then glue the TPU and PETG pieces together and let them set:

1. Glue the TPU part to the PETG scraper part as shown. We recommend superglue.
2. Apply glue to the recessed area of the PETG part.
3. Press the two parts together on a non-stick surface to prevent them from adhering to the table.
4. Wipe away any excess or overflow glue.
5. Remove the original cover and the two marked screws.
6. Hook the FarmLoop scraper into the top hinges first, then fold it downward.

Once the glue has set and the scraper is hooked in, secure it with the screws. The final result should look like this:

We recommend the slightly longer black BT3×8 SHCS (self-tapping) screws for increased strength.

Operation

Limit-switch controls

The LIMIT SWITCH on the FarmLoop module is the manual control input. Its function depends on the current system state:

System state	Action	Result
Idle	Long press (4-6 seconds)	Fan ON (waits for triple tap)
Fan running	Triple tap (3× within 8 s)	Fan OFF + bending cycles start
Idle	Double tap (2× within 4 s)	Test mode (fan 2 s + actuator cycle)
Any state	Hold > 8 seconds	EMERGENCY STOP, all outputs OFF immediately, returns to idle

OTA configuration mode (optional)

You don’t need OTA mode for normal operation. Defaults are tuned out of the box. Enter OTA only if you want to adjust bend cycles, actuator travel time, or push a firmware update.

Entering OTA mode: Tap the LIMIT SWITCH five times quickly within 3 seconds, each tap shorter than 0.8 seconds. The board prints confirmation to the serial monitor and starts a Wi-Fi access point.

Connect to the board:

• Wi-Fi network: FarmLoop
• Password: 3D-Farmers
• Open a browser and go to: http://farmloop.local or http://192.168.4.1

OTA timeout

OTA mode times out after 5 minutes and the board reboots automatically. Save your changes before the timeout.

OTA page sections

• Dashboard (top card): device ID, build date, diagnostic counters (total cycles, bend operations, boot count, errors).
• Configuration card: adjust default bend cycles, max bend cycles, and actuator travel time. Settings persist permanently.
• Firmware Update card: upload a new .bin file. The board reboots automatically after a successful upload.

Exiting OTA mode: click Exit OTA Mode on the dashboard, or wait for the 5-minute timeout.

Configuration parameters

Settings are saved permanently and persist across reboots.

Parameter	Description	Range
Default Bend Cycles	Number of bending cycles per run	1 – 10
Max Bend Cycles	Maximum allowed bend cycles	5 – 20
Actuator Travel Time	Time for one full extend or retract	2000 – 10 000 ms
Fan Safety Timeout	Auto-shutoff (built-in)	2 hours (fixed)
Triple-Tap Window	Time window for triple tap	8 seconds (fixed)

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
Board does not respond to LIMIT SWITCH	Check limit-switch wiring. Try emergency stop (hold >8 s). If still unresponsive, power-cycle the board.
Test mode triggered accidentally	Test mode requires a double tap (2 presses within 4 s). A single tap is ignored. Wait ~12 s for the test to finish and the board returns to idle.
Bending starts unexpectedly	Triple tap (3 quick taps within 8 s) starts bending. Hold >8 s for emergency stop.
Fan stays on too long	Fan auto-shuts off after 2 hours as a safety measure. To stop earlier, triple-tap to start bending or hold >8 s for emergency stop.
OTA mode does not start	OTA needs 5 quick taps (each shorter than 0.8 s) within 3 seconds. Slow taps are not counted. Watch the serial monitor for tap-count feedback.
Cannot access OTA page	Ensure you’re connected to the FarmLoop Wi-Fi (password 3D-Farmers). Try http://192.168.4.1 if farmloop.local doesn’t resolve.
OTA times out	OTA mode has a 5-minute timeout. Re-enter OTA mode (5 quick taps) and save changes promptly.
Settings reset after reboot	Click Save Configuration on the OTA page after changing values. Use Exit OTA Mode (or wait for the timeout) to apply.

Support

• Email: contact@3d-farmers.com
• Skool community: skool.com/3dfarmers
• Community (Pro members): log in at app.3d-farmers.com to access the Discord server