If you own a Bambu Lab A1 or A1 Mini, you've probably noticed that the built-in lighting isn't exactly spectacular.
While these printers are excellent machines, trying to monitor your prints through the side panels or camera feed can be challenging when you can't see the details clearly.
Today, I'm sharing one of the best budget upgrades you can make to your A1: an LED light strip upgrade that costs less than $10 but makes a huge difference.
Why Better Lighting Matters
Good lighting on your 3D printer isn't just about aesthetics—though it does make your printer look pretty cool. Here are the practical reasons why this upgrade is worth it:
1. Better Camera Performance
If you're monitoring your prints remotely through the Bambu Handy app or your computer, improved lighting makes a massive difference in camera quality. The A1's built-in camera performs much better when the print bed is well-lit, giving you clearer views of your prints in progress.
2. Monitor Print Quality in Real-Time
With better lighting, you can actually see layer lines, first layer adhesion, and potential issues as they develop. This is especially important for longer prints where catching a problem early can save hours time and wasted filament.
3. Easier Maintenance and Setup
Whether you're loading new filament, adjusting your build plate, or cleaning the nozzle, having bright, even lighting makes these routine tasks significantly easier and faster.
The Upgrade: Imdinnogo LED Light Strip
The lighting solution I'm using is the Imdinnogo LED Strip Lights. While there are many LED strips on the market, I chose this one for several reasons:
- Powered from the printer: No need for separate power supplies or modifications. Just plug it into the extra port on the back of the printer by the AMS Lite connector.
- No individual led diodes: Other light kits have a dozen or so LEDs which don't put off a even glow and cash weird shadows.
- On/Off Switch: You can turn the light on and off with the included power switch.
- Easy Installation: The adhesive backing makes installation quick and clean.
- Affordable: At $10, this is one of the cheapest upgrades with the biggest impact.
Installation
Installing the LED strip is incredibly straightforward:
- Clean the surface where you'll mount the strip on the bottom side of the X-axis rail.
- Test fit the strip to see where it starts and ends on the rail then move the extruder all the way to the right-hand side of the printer.
- Peel and stick the strip the bottom side of the X-axis, moving the extruder to the left after you have attached the left half of the light.
- Route the cable neatly over to the wire loom and down towards the rear of the printer.
- Zip tie the cable to the loom and add one additional zip tie to the far right side of the X-axis for added stability and cable strain relief.
- Plug it in to the extra power port on the rear of the printer.
The whole process takes about 10 minutes, and you don't need any special tools or technical knowledge.
Before and After Results
The difference is immediately noticeable. Before the upgrade, I often found myself using my phone's flashlight to check on prints or squinting at the camera feed trying to see if everything looked good. Now, I can clearly see:
- First layer adhesion quality
- Surface finish and layer consistency
- Whether supports are printing correctly
- Filament flow and extrusion quality
- Small details that would have been invisible before
The improved lighting also makes time-lapse videos look significantly better if you're into sharing your prints on social media.
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. For less than $10 and 10 minutes of your time, this is probably the best value-for-money upgrade you can make to your Bambu Lab A1.
This lighting upgrade is perfect for:
- New A1 owners looking for easy first modifications
- Anyone who monitors prints remotely
- Makers who run prints overnight and want to check status easily
- Content creators who photograph or film their prints
Other A1 Upgrades to Consider
Once you've improved your lighting, you might want to explore other enhancements for your printer. Check out my other articles about 3D printing upgrades and modifications to get the most out of your Bambu Lab A1.