Step-by-Step Guide

Bambu Lab A1 Pen Plotter Setup Guide

Everything you need to go from unboxing to your first plot. Perfect for detailed artwork on your A1.

~30 minutes total

No experience required

Z-Draw: 14, Z-Lift: 20

Before You Start

Printed Pen Holder

Print the A1 pen holder STL on your printer (included with purchase)

SD Card

For transferring G-code files to your A1

Pen or Marker

Any pen with 8-12mm diameter (Stabilo, Sakura Pigma, Staedtler, Sharpie, etc.)

Paper

Secured to the bed with tape or clips (256×228mm max plotting area)

Login & Create Your Design

Start by logging into your 3DPlotter account. Once in the app, you can create designs using:

Text tool - Type with 50+ single-stroke Hershey fonts
Image upload - Convert photos to plottable vector paths
Drawing tools - Freehand drawing and shapes

Select Your Printer:

Choose A1 from the printer dropdown. This automatically sets the correct bed size (256×256mm) and attachment offsets.

3DPlotter printer selection dropdown showing Bambu Lab A1 selected with bed dimensions 256x256mm — Select A1 from the printer dropdown to set correct bed dimensions

Enable Pen Plotter Mode:

Make sure the Pen toggle is enabled in the top toolbar. This activates pen plotter mode with the correct settings for your printer.

3DPlotter app pen toggle switch enabled in the toolbar for Bambu Lab A1 pen plotting mode — Enable the Pen toggle to activate pen plotter mode

3DPlotter app canvas interface showing design ready for plotting on Bambu Lab A1 with 256x256mm bed area — The plotter canvas with A1 selected, showing the effective plotting area

Download the Pen Holder STL:

Go to the Printers page and navigate to 3D Pen Models. Download the Head Mount V1 - Series A which is designed specifically for A1 and A1 Mini printers.

3DPlotter 3D Pen Models page showing Head Mount V1 for Series A compatible with Bambu A1 and A1 Mini printers — Download the Head Mount V1 - Series A from the 3D Pen Models section

Configure Plotter Settings

Configure the Z-height settings for the A1. These values control how high the pen lifts and how low it draws.

Recommended Settings for Pen Holder

Z-Draw (pen down)

14 mm

Z-Lift (pen up)

20 mm

These values work for most pens with the A1 pen holder. You may need to adjust slightly based on your specific pen.

Configuration steps:

1Open the Settings panel in the app
2Select "Bambu Lab A1" from the printer dropdown
3Set Z-Draw to 14 and Z-Lift to 20

3DPlotter app plotter settings panel showing Z-Draw set to 14mm and Z-Lift set to 20mm for Bambu Lab A1 pen plotting — Plotter Settings panel with recommended Z-Draw and Z-Lift values for the A1

Generate & Download G-code

Once your design is ready and settings are configured, generate the G-code file that your A1 will execute.

1Click the "Download G-code" button at the bottom of the settings panel
2Review the export dialog showing path count, layers, and plotter settings
3Enter a filename and click "Download" to save the .gcode file

3DPlotter G-code download dialog showing pen attachment mode instructions, path count, and download button for Bambu Lab A1 — The Download G-code dialog shows your design stats and export options

Transfer to Your A1

Copy the G-code file to your A1 using an SD card.

1Copy the downloaded .gcode file to your SD card
2Insert the SD card into your Bambu Lab A1
3Secure your paper to the print bed using tape or clips (max 256×228mm)

Dry Run Test (Recommended)

Why Run a Dry Test First?

Verify the toolhead traces the correct paths before using ink
Ensure the design fits within your paper boundaries
Confirm the movement works correctly on the A1

Dry Run Steps:

1
Start WITHOUT the pen holder attached
Navigate to your G-code file on the A1 and start the print job. Do not attach the pen holder yet.
2
Observe the toolhead movement
Watch as the toolhead traces through all the paths. Verify it stays within your paper area and follows the expected design.
3
Verify the paths look correct
For the dry run, simply watch the movements. If everything looks good, you're ready for the real plot!

Attach Pen Holder & Plot

Now that you've verified the paths with a dry run, it's time to create your actual plot.

1
Attach the pen holder with pen
Clip the pen holder onto the A1 toolhead. Insert your pen with the tip extending to the correct position.
2
Start the G-code again
Run the print job with the pen holder attached.
3
Watch the magic happen!
Your A1 will now draw your design on the paper!

A1 with Pen Holder Attached

Bambu Lab A1 with pen holder attachment showing the pen holder clipped onto the toolhead

The pen holder clips onto the A1 toolhead. The spring mechanism keeps consistent pressure.

Correct Pen Position in the Holder

Important: Position your pen so the tip aligns with the offset point shown below. This ensures the plotting coordinates match the settings configured in the app.

Pen holder showing correct pen tip position and offset alignment for accurate plotting on Bambu Lab A1

Align the pen tip with the offset point on the pen holder for accurate plotting

See the A1 in Action

Watch the complete plotting process on a Bambu Lab A1.

Bambu Lab A1 pen plotter attachment in action

Troubleshooting Tips

Paths are offset from expected position

Check that you selected "Bambu Lab A1" in the printer dropdown. The attachment offset (28mm) is automatically calculated.

Pen doesn't touch the paper

Decrease the Z-Draw value (e.g., from 14 to 12). Each pen has slightly different dimensions.

Pen drags too hard on paper

Increase the Z-Draw value (e.g., from 14 to 16). The spring in the pen holder provides some flexibility.

Lines are broken or inconsistent

Ensure your pen has enough ink. Try a slower draw speed in the settings.

Ready to Start Plotting?

You now have everything you need to create amazing pen plots on your Bambu Lab A1.

Get 3DPlotter - €29.90 Back to A1 Overview

Related Resources

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