¶ What is the AP board?
AP Board refers to the Application board, it is a circuit board that controls the interaction of information within the unit. It provides a self-contained operating environment that delivers all system capabilities needed to support the printer's applications, including memory management, system firmware, graphics processing and multimedia decoding.
¶ Information for the AP Board replacement
Please note that replacing the AP board will require help from our Customer Support team. Each AP board has a serial number which will need to be bound to the original SN of the printer.
The following information is required to be provided in your ticket, so the new board can be activated:
- Picture of the new SN displayed on the printer screen after the new AP board is installed
- Picture of the QR code located on the printer frame
The new serial number of the AP board is displayed on the X1 printer screen under Settings→ General→ Device Info as shown in the image below:
The QR code containing the SN of the printer can be located on the top right side of the printer, in the opposite side of the AP board location
This is a sticker applied on the internal top frame of the unit, as shown in the image below:
Please note that the printer cannot be bound to your account until the operation mentioned above is completed.
¶ Connectors on the AP board
| NO. | Connect object | NO. | Connect object | NO. | Connect object |
| 1 | The chamber camera | 4 | Button PCBA | 7 | USB-C cable to Toolhead |
| 2 | The chamber LED | 5 | MC board (Power) | ||
| 3 | WIFI antenna | 6 | MC board (Communication) |
¶ When to use this guide
The AP board might need replacement in cases of abnormal voltages, components abnormally hot, burnt out, unrecoverable system failure, or firmware upgrade failure. Some of these can be detected through the log file which is sent to customer support.
¶ Tools and materials needed
- New AP board
- H2.0 Allen key
- Hair dryer
- Fixing tape or UV glue, UV lamp (to further stabilize the plug connector, not mandatory)
- Silicone glue
Only for reference
¶ Safety warning and Machine state before starting operation
Prior to commencing with the process in this guide, please make sure the machine is switched off
¶ Operation guide
¶ Step 1 - (Disassembly) Power off
Power off the printer, unplug the power cord, and remove the top glass cover plate.
¶ Step 2 - Opening the AP board cover
Open the AP board cover as shown in the pictures below which is located at the upper left part of the machine.
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¶ Step 3 - Disconnecting the USB-C cable
Undo the single screw located on the cable retainer, and disconnect the USB-C cable and the two other cables next to it which are all connected to the AP board.
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¶ Step 4 - Disconnecting the rest of the cables
Use the hair dryer to soften up the silicone glue securing the connectors, then disconnect the camera cable, the chamber LED cable, and the button board cable. Finally remove the WIFI antenna cable.
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¶ Step 5 - Releasing the AP board
Undo the 4 screws holding the AP board in place and release the board carefully as there is still a ribbon cable attached to the end of it.
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¶ Step 6 - Disconnecting the (FPC) ribbon cable
Heat up the UV glue holding the ribbon cable in place with a hair dryer. Unlock the connector holding the ribbon cable secured by very gently lifting up the little black flat marked in the below image with a red square. Once done, clean up the UV glue if any of it remains on the pins of the FPC ribbon cable.
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¶ Step 7 - (Assembly) Connecting the FPC ribbon cable
Prepare the replacement AP board, and slide the FPC ribbon cable in the connector on AP board. Secure the ribbon cable by pressing on the little black plastic flap on the connector.
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¶ Step 8 - Applying glue to FPC ribbon cable connector
Apply some UV glue on the connector and expose the glue to UV light to harden. Alternatively, apply silicone glue instead, however, let the silicone glue stand for 60 minutes after applying before proceeding.
¶ Step 9 - Installing the AP board
Once the glue has solidified, align the holes of the AP board to the frame and secure it in place using 4 screws.
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¶ Step 10 - Connecting the cables
Start by connecting the cables to the left of the AP board (same side as the ribbon cable), apply some silicone glue to the WIFI cable, the LED cable, the camera cable, and the button board cable, let them stand for at lease 30 mintues.
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¶ Step 11 - Connecting the rest of the cables
Connect the 2 standard cables first, followed by the USB-C cable to the AP board, and then secure the cable retainer with a screw.
Pay attention that the letter A should face outward.
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¶ Step 12 - Closing the AP cover
Press fit the AP cover back in place securely and finally place the glass top cover back on.
¶ How to verify completion/success
Precautions:
1. When the AP board is replaced, the step of binding the machine should be skipped when it is turned on for the first time.
Since the new SN is not activated, the printer cannot be bound to your account. You can do it once the SN is activated.
2. After confirming that the replacement is completed, the printer SN needs to be replaced.
So please contact the service team and provide both the new SN and the old SN to complete the SN replacement. (Begins with 00M or 00W)
Connect the power cord and turn on the power. Run a Device self-test operation as shown below and if no errors occur, the replacement was successful.
¶ End Notes
We hope that the detailed guide we shared with you was helpful and informative.
We want to ensure that you can perform it safely and effectively. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the process described in this article, we encourage you to reach out to our friendly customer service team before starting the operation. Our team is always ready to help you and answer any questions you may have.
Click here to open a new ticket in our Support Page.
We will do our best to respond promptly and provide you with the assistance you need.