BambuLab P1S/Zephyrus
Members must complete the Intro to Filament 3D Printing Class before using this tool
⚠️ Engineering Materials Station — Read Before Use
Zephyrus requires different procedures than the other P1S machines. Filament must be pre-dried. The Panda Breath chamber heater must be running during engineering material prints. Do not use this machine for PLA — use Athena, Bastet, Chantico, or Hanuman instead.
Overview
Zephyrus is Asmbly's dedicated high-temperature engineering filament 3D printer. It is a Bambu Lab P1S upgraded with:
- All-metal hotend — eliminates the PTFE temperature ceiling; supports nozzle temps up to 320°C
- Hardened steel 0.4mm nozzle — required for abrasive carbon fiber and glass fiber composites
- BIQU Panda CryoGrip Pro build plate — engineered for adhesion with nylon, CF, and high-temp materials
- BIQU Panda Breath — active 300W chamber heater, HEPA + activated carbon air filter, and filament dryer
- Sovol SH02 filament dryer — dedicated inline dryer for keeping hygroscopic filaments print-ready
Zephyrus does not have an AMS. It uses a single external spool via the rear spool holder, fed through the Sovol SH02.
Supported Materials
The following materials are authorized on Zephyrus. They are not permitted on the other P1S machines.
| Material | Nozzle Temp | Bed Temp | Chamber Heat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPA-CF (e.g. Siraya Tech Fibreheart) | 280–320°C | 100–120°C | Required | Primary engineering material; must be dry |
| PPA (unfilled nylon) | 270–300°C | 90–110°C | Recommended | Highly hygroscopic; dry 6–12h before printing |
| PA6-CF / PA12-CF | 270–300°C | 90–110°C | Required | Similar to PPA-CF; warp-prone without chamber heat |
| ABS / ASA | 240–260°C | 90–100°C | Strongly recommended | Dry thoroughly |
| ABS-CF / ABS-GF | 250–270°C | 100–110°C | Required | Abrasive; hardened nozzle mandatory |
| PC (Polycarbonate) | 260–280°C | 100–110°C | Strongly recommended | Very warp-prone; dry thoroughly |
| PET-CF / PETG-CF | 250–270°C | 70–90°C | Recommended | Less warp-prone than nylons; still dry first |
| TPU (shore 95A+) | 230–240°C | 30–50°C | Not needed | Dry thoroughly |
| PLA | 190–220°C | 35–65°C | Not needed | Avoid on Zephyrus — use Athena/Bastet/Chantico/Hanuman for PLA. Brass nozzles on those machines give better PLA results. |
Equipment: BIQU Panda Breath
The Panda Breath is mounted inside Zephyrus and serves two functions: active chamber heating and air filtration.
Startup
- The Panda Breath should already be on. If needed, power on the unit using the switch inside the printer.
- The default mode is Auto — it will activate heating and filtration automatically when the printer's bed temperature exceeds the configured threshold (set to 80°C).
- You do not need to manually start it for a normal print. Confirm the indicator light shows Auto mode is active.
- If you need to force it on immediately (e.g. for a long chamber preheat), press the On button to enter Forced On mode.
During a Print
- The Panda Breath will maintain chamber temperature and filter VOCs and particulate continuously throughout the print.
- For engineering filaments like PPA-CF and PC, allow the chamber to reach at least 45–50°C before the first layer begins. You can monitor chamber temp on the Panda Breath's display or via its web UI.
- Do not open the printer door during a print with engineering filaments — this will cause a thermal shock and risk delamination or warping.
Shutdown
- The Panda Breath will stop automatically when the bed cools below the configured threshold.
- You may also press Off to stop it manually. Leave the unit in Auto mode when you are finished printing.
- Leave the unit powered on at the switch between sessions — it draws no meaningful standby power.
Equipment: Sovol SH02 Filament Dryer
The Sovol SH02 is a dedicated filament dryer mounted adjacent to Zephyrus and should always be used when printing hygroscopic filaments (all nylons, PPA, PPA-CF, PC, and CF composites). You will have a much better time printing with dry filament!
Loading Filament
- Place your spool into the SH02's spool holder.
- Thread the filament out of the SH02's PTFE exit tube and into the Zephyrus rear spool port as normal.
- Set the temperature on the SH02 screen:
- PPA-CF, PA6-CF, PA12-CF: 70–80°C
- ABS-CF, PC, ABS: 60–70°C
- PETG-CF, PET-CF: 55–65°C
- TPU: 45–50°C
- Power on the SH02 and allow it to pre-dry the filament for at least 2 hours before printing if the filament has been stored after opening. If freshly opened from a sealed bag with desiccant, 30 minutes is sufficient.
- Leave the SH02 running throughout the entire print to maintain filament dryness.
Signs of Wet Filament
If you hear popping, crackling, or hissing from the nozzle area, the filament is too wet. Stop the print, remove the filament, and dry it for 6–12 hours before continuing.
After Printing
- Return filament to a sealed bag with fresh desiccant, or leave it in the SH02 at reduced temperature if you plan to continue printing the next day.
- Power off the SH02 when not in use for extended periods.
Pre-Print Checklist
Before starting any engineering material print on Zephyrus, confirm:
- ☐ Filament is dry — pre-dried per SH02 temperature/time chart above, or freshly opened from sealed packaging
- ☐ SH02 is running — set to the correct temperature for your filament, threaded into the rear spool port
- ☐ Panda Breath is in Auto mode — confirm indicator shows active; it will start when bed heats
- ☐ Correct build plate selected in BambuStudio — use the Engineering Plate or Textured PEI profile
- ☐ Attend the first 10–15 minutes — stay at the machine until first layer adhesion is confirmed before leaving unattended
Bed Adhesion for Engineering Filaments
The BIQU CryoGrip Pro plate provides mechanical adhesion through its textured surface. This is the BLUE build plate, and should only be used on Zephyrus.
- Clean the plate with IPA between sessions as normal.
Cleanup
In addition to the standard P1S cleanup procedures:
- Wipe the build plate with IPA after each engineering material print. Nylon residue left on the plate can cause bonding issues on the next print.
- Check the Panda Breath filter — if you notice reduced airflow or persistent odor, the filter cartridge may need replacement. Report this to a steward.
- Do not leave filament loaded in the hotend at temperature — if you pause a print and leave, unload the filament or start the print before the hotend cools and plugs.
- Return your filament spool to a sealed bag if you are done printing and do not intend to return within a day.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Popping / crackling at nozzle | Wet filament | Stop print; dry filament 6–12h at 70–80°C; restart |
| First layer not sticking | Insufficient adhesion | Let bed cool; clean with IPA; restart |
| Warping / corners lifting | Insufficient chamber heat or no brim | Confirm Panda Breath is running; add brim in slicer; increase bed temp |
| Layer delamination mid-print | Door opened during print, or chamber too cold | Restart with Panda Breath confirmed active; do not open door |
| Grinding / extruder clicking | Clog or filament too wet | Abort print; load filament at a high temperature (300°C); dry filament; try again |
| Nozzle clog (won't extrude) | Filament degraded in nozzle, or wrong temp | Abort print; load filament at a high temperature (300°C); if persistent, notify a steward — nozzle may need replacement |
| Panda Breath not starting | Bed temp threshold not reached, or unit in Off mode | Manually press On; confirm Auto threshold is set below your bed target |
For issues not covered here, contact a steward or post on Discourse.
