It's crucial to power off the printer before conducting any maintenance work, including work on the printer's electronics and tool head wires. Performing tasks with the printer on can result in a short circuit, leading to electronic damage and safety hazards.
During maintenance or troubleshooting, you may need to disassemble parts, including the hotend. This exposes wires and electrical components that could short circuit if they contact each other, other metal, or electronic components while the printer is still on. This can result in damage to the printer's electronics and additional issues.
Therefore, it's crucial to turn off the printer and disconnect it from the power source before conducting any maintenance. This prevents short circuits or damage to the printer's electronics, ensuring safe and effective maintenance. For any concerns or questions about following this guide, open a new ticket in our Support Page and we will do our best to respond promptly and provide the assistance you need.
Next, remove the four screws holding the USB C cable secure on the tool head of the A1 mini. After removing the screws, the USB C cable can be pulled upwards to remove it.
Next, remove the four cables attached to the Toolhead Board. Carefully pull them out by the connector, and avoid pulling the wires from the connectors. We recommend using a flat tool to gently pry them out to avoid any potential damage.
Don't forget to also remove the Eddy sensor wires which are held in place by two screws.
¶ 5. Remove the Toolhead board and disconnect the filament sensor
You can now remove the Tollhead Board from the plastic housing. Be careful when pulling it out, as you will need to carefully disconnect the filament sensor ribbon cable.
Remove the 2 screws holding the 4-in-1 buffer attached to the extruder. Then, gently raise it upwards and place it on the top of the print head as shown in the image.
You can now remove the filament sensor from the filament buffer. Simply remove the two screws shown in the image below, then you can completely pull out the filament sensor and its ribbon cable.
During the filament sensor replacement, it's a good idea to check if the magnet located inside the filament buffer is in good condition The picture below shows how it's supposed to look like.
The new filament sensor can be easily attached to the buffer using the two screws. Simply align it as shown in the image below, then tighten the screws.
Please note that the sensor includes a small adhesive section. You need to remove the blue protection from the ribbon cable, then push the flex cable against the filament sensor to route it in place. The ribbon cable needs to be aligned with the small slot between the two holes ilustrated in the image below.
Gently put the filament buffer back in place, while making sure to route the ribbon cable towards the back of the print head. Then, tighten the two screws on top.
Open the clip on the TH board for the ribbon cable. Then, gently push the cable in the connector, and close the clip.
Carefully route the Extruder Motor cable next to the ribbon cable as shown in the image below. After this step is done, you can gently push the Toolhead Board back in its position.
Re-install the USB cable using the four screws we removed in the first step, while being careful about the orientation.
Important!
Do not over-tighten these screws, as the threads can damage the plastic. Take note of the USB cable orientation and the small groove from the back that aligns it. The USB C cable only fits in one position, with the correct orientation having the line in the cable connector aligned to the back of the printer and tool head.
Finally, install the back cover of the A1 mini print head. The back cover clips in place. Simply align the two brackets on the back cover towards the top, then push it until you hear a few clicks.
Check the Ribbon Cable and confirm it is correctly installed on the back of the Toolhead Board, as shown in Step 3. Attach the Toolhead Board to the housing Also confirm the magnet inside the buffer is moving as expected, and it's free from any debris, as shown in the Optional step If the ribbon cable is damaged, you will need to replace the Filament Sensor.
Check the Hotend Heating Assembly connector and confirm it is correctly inserted, as shown in Step 5. Re-connect all the cables It is important to carefully align the connector pins to the Toolhead Board. If the issue persists, the thermistor wires might have been damaged (white wires)
Check the Hotend Heating Assembly connector and confirm it is correctly inserted, as shown in Step 5. Re-connect all the cables It is important to carefully align the connector pins to the Toolhead Board. If the issue persists, the heater wires might have been damaged (Translucent wires)
Check the Eddy Sensor wires (5 and 6) and confirm they are correctly installed on the back of the Toolhead Board, as shown in Step 5. Re-connect all the cables
We hope the detailed guide provided has been helpful and informative.
To ensure a safe and effective execution, if you have any concerns or questions about the process described in this article, we recommend reaching out to technical support team before initiating the operation. We will do our best to respond promptly and provide the assistance you need. Click here to open a new ticket in our Support Page.
