u/Pristine-Animal1376

I’m trying to print a car accessory in ASA because the same type of part deformed inside the car when I printed it in both PLA and PETG.

I found a MakerWorld model that shows an ASA print profile compatible with the A1 Mini. Bambu Handy allows me to start that profile directly, but Bambu Studio does not let me normally select ASA for the A1 Mini.
For my test print, I used the uploaded MakerWorld profile without changing its filament settings. The bed was at 80°C. Initially, the filament came out properly and the nozzle seemed fine, but the print did not stick well.

I then:
Washed the plate thoroughly with dish soap
Rinsed and dried it properly
Applied a thin layer of glue stick
Kept the printer away from direct airflow
On the next attempt, the first layer stuck well and the print started normally. However, during the print, the long middle section began lifting from the plate. It curled upward, became visibly bent, and eventually came loose when the nozzle reached it.

The part is long and thin, so it seems like the ASA contracted and warped while cooling, even though the initial adhesion was good.

Has anyone actually managed to print ASA successfully on an A1 Mini using a MakerWorld profile?
What helped you most?
A wider brim or mouse ears?
Different cooling settings?
A draft shield or temporary enclosure?
Slower printing?
A different build plate or adhesive?
Any changes that can still be used when starting the profile through Bambu Handy?

I understand that the A1 Mini is not officially recommended for ASA, but since MakerWorld allows this particular ASA profile to run through Bambu Handy, I’m looking for practical experience from people who have actually made it work.

I got my first Bambu printer recently, and I think I’ve already gone down the rabbit hole. 😅

So far I’ve ordered miltiple orders of PLA colors, PETG is on the way. Accumulated like 15 Filaments till now.

In just the first few days I’ve already:
● Had a filament jam in the hotend. Spent quite some time figuring out how to clean the nozzle.
● Had a couple of failed prints. Started learning about the hand oil on the plate can create big issue.
● Realized there’s a lot more to this hobby than just pressing “Print.”

Now I’m looking at buying ( sharing the links too):
● A patterned/design build plate: https://amzn.in/d/00mry0rh
● A third-party hotend with quick-change nozzles: https://amzn.in/d/0ceLbook
● A complete nozzle set (different sizes): https://amzn.in/d/0exmNSYt

My question is: Is this the right time to buy these, or should I spend more time learning with the stock setup first?
If you were starting over, at what point did you buy your first upgrades? Were they worth it, or do beginners tend to spend money too early?
I’d appreciate any advice before I hit the checkout button. 😄

I recently opted for the IBM-provided Pluxee meal card and had a few questions for those who are already using it.

Previously, I had an HDFC FoodPlus card through another employer, and it worked at most grocery stores and supermarkets without any issues. However, with Pluxee, I’m seeing transactions fail at grocery stores where I would expect a meal card to work.

Could current IBM employees please help with the following:
Does the IBM Pluxee meal card work at grocery stores/supermarkets?
Which merchants have you successfully used it at (Reliance Smart, DMart, local grocery stores, etc.)?
Does it work on Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Zepto, etc.?
Is the card restricted by IBM policy, or is it simply a merchant acceptance issue?
Has anyone experienced delays in meal balance loading or physical card delivery after activation?
Does IBM provide any alternative meal benefit options apart from Pluxee, or is Pluxee the only available option during benefits enrollment?
Trying to understand whether this is normal for IBM’s Pluxee setup, whether my account has an issue, and whether there are any alternative meal card options available.

Thanks in advance!