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Panda Cooler A1

Revision Log

Version Date Update Notes
v1.00 Sept 8, 2025 Initial Release

Introduction

Panda Cooler A1 is the ultimate printhead upgrade for the Bambu Lab A1/A1 mini, combining active cooling (15-25°C lower stepper temps) with customizable RGB fan and nozzle lighting. This plug-and-play accessory boosts performance during long prints while allowing you to personalize your machine's look – functionality and flair in one sleek package.

Feature Highlights

  • Smart Cooling System: Powered by an integrated ESP32 chip with network connectivity, the Panda Cooler A1 intelligently monitors your printing status. It automatically turns on to cool stepper motors during printing and shuts off during standby for a quiet workspace.

  • H2D Style Status Color Indicator: Vibrant color cues display your print progress at a glance—30%, 60%, and 100% completion are highlighted in clear visual stages.

  • Multiple Lighting Effects: Choose from various dynamic lighting patterns with 16 million colors to perfectly complement your workspace aesthetic.

  • Independent Nozzle Lighting: Equipped with a dedicated lighting system that syncs with the fan's RGB effects or provides adjustable white light for clear visibility to monitor your print progress and first-layer adhesion.

  • Web UI Wireless Control: Customize your lighting effortlessly. Manage modes, effects, color, brightness, and speed via an intuitive web interface.

Specifications

  • Product Name: BIQU Panda Cooler A1

  • Shell Material: ABS

  • MCU: ESP32-C3-MINI-1-H4

  • Input Voltage: DCIN = DC24V

  • Logic Voltage: DC3.3V

  • Maximum Output Current: Rated: 0.25A

  • Compatibility: For Bambu Lab A1, A1 mini 3D Printer

Installation Guide

Package Contents

Please refer to the image below to verify the contents of your product package.

Installation Steps

  • Step 1: Preparation

    Apply the sticky back washer to the two mounting holes on the rear of the nozzle light PCB.

    ⚠️ Note: Ensure the gaskets are applied to the side without LED beads.

  • Step 2: Remove Original Screws

    Remove the four original mounting screws.

  • Step 3: Install Nozzle Light

    Mount and secure the nozzle light using the included M1.7×8 and M1.7×10 self-tapping screws.

    Important: The LED side must face toward the heated bed.

  • Step 4: Install RGB Fan Module

    Secure the RGB fan module to the bracket on the left side of the printhead. Ensure it is firmly attached.

  • Step 5: Install Controller Module

    • Separate the controller module into housing and control board PCB.
    • Insert the control board into the two slots located above the printhead.

  • Step 6: Connect Power Supply

    Insert the power tap into the USB port.

    Key Point: Ensure all 4 pins are fully inserted and properly seated.

  • Step 7: Secure Controller Module Housing

    Use the included M2.6×8 self-tapping screw to secure the controller module housing to its PCB.

  • Step 8: Secure Type-C Cable

    Use the included M2×25 self-tapping screw to secure the original Bambu Type-C cable.

  • Step 9: Connect Fan Power

    Connect the cooling fan’s 2-pin connector to the 2-pin port shown in the diagram.

  • Step 10: Connect RGB Light Connector

    Insert the fan RGB light connector into the corresponding 3-pin interface at the rear.

    ⚠️ Warning: Carefully verify the interface to avoid incorrect connections. Do not connect the bottom nozzle light connector at this time.

  • Step 11: Organize Wiring

    Route the nozzle light wires into the cable guide slot.

  • Step 12: Complete Installation

    • Secure the cable guide to the right-side bracket, ensuring it is firmly attached.

    • Connect the nozzle light connector to complete the installation.

First Connection

When you power up for the first time or restore factory settings, you'll see a blue flowing light, indicating that Panda Cooler A1 is not yet bound to the printer.

WiFi Connection Guide

  • Connecting to the Panda Cooler A1's WiFi_AP Hotspot

    Panda Cooler A1 AP hotspot: Panda_Cooler_A1_XXXXXXXXXX.

    The default password is 987654321.

  • Accessing the WebUI

    After connecting to the AP, open a browser on your computer and enter the default IP address: 192.168.254.1. On mobile devices, the Panda Cooler A1 Web UI will automatically appear, or you can manually enter the IP address in the browser: 192.168.254.1 (factory default IP).

  • Select Language (Default: English)

    After selecting a language, tap Next.

  • WiFi Connection Page

    • Scan WiFi

      After the initial setup or a factory reset, this page will automatically scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, or you can manually tap the scan button.

      Once the scan is complete, a pop-up will appear notifying you that the scan is finished.

      Select the WiFi network you want to connect to.

    • Connect to WiFi

      Type your password and tap the eye icon if you'd like to see the password you've entered.

      tap Connect, and the interface will switch to the WiFi connection page, showing Connecting to WiFi.

      Wait a moment, and a WiFi connection status pop-up will appear.

      Connection Failed:

      Connection Successful: You can either bind the printer and proceed to the printer interface or tap Cancel to stay on the WiFi page.

Printer Binding Page

  • Feature Introduction

    • ① Printer Page Selection: When you tap the icon, it will turn red to indicate that you are on the Printer page.

    • ② Scan for Printers on the Same Local Network

    • ③ Select the Detected Printer

    • ④ Enter Printer's SN Code

    • ⑤ Enter Printer's Access Code

    • ⑥ Enter Printer's IP Address

    • ⑦ Confirm to Bind This Printer

  • How to Bind a Printer

    • Tap Scan button. After a short wait, a pop-up will appear confirming that the scan was successful.

    • Select the printer from the list. The printer's SN code and IP address will automatically fill in.

    • Enter the printer's Access Code

      • Find the Access Code in the printer (Using A1 series printer as an Example)

        • ① Settings

        • ② -> ③ LAN Only Mode

        • ④ Access Code

      • Enter Access Code in the input box, and tap Bind to bind the printer.

Introduction to Each Page

WiFi Page

  • ① WiFi Page Selection: When you tap the icon, it will turn red to indicate that you are on the WiFi page.

  • ② Current WiFi Connection Status

  • ③ IP Address Icon: tap the icon to display a pop-up. If the IP field is blank, ensure Panda Cooler A1 shows "Connected." If it says, "Not Connected," check your network settings.

  • ④ IP Address Display: Entering this IP in your browser will take you to the Web page, as long as you're on the same local network.

  • ⑤ WiFi Network Configuration Button: tap to go to the WiFi connection page

  • ⑥ Host Name: The default hostname is "PandaCooler." If you forget the IP, you can use the hostname followed by "local" in the browser (e.g., http://PandaCooler.local). To modify the hostname, tap the text box to edit it, then tap "Set Hostname" to confirm.

  • ⑦ Confirm Hostname Modification

AP Page

  • ① AP Page Selection: When you tap the icon, it will turn red to indicate that you are on the AP page.

  • ② AP Hotspot Switch

  • ③ AP Name: Default is Panda_Cooler_A1_XXXXXXXXXX

  • ④ AP Password: Default is 987654321

  • ⑤ Hotspot IP: Default Hotspot IP is "192.168.254.1." If your router's IP range is "192.168.254.xxx," an IP conflict will prevent the device from binding to the printer. Change the Panda Cooler A1 hotspot IP to a different range.

  • ⑥ Confirm Button: taping this will restart the device. After the restart, you can connect to the AP hotspot.(How to connect to the AP hotspot)

Settings Page

  • ① Settings Page Selection: When you tap the icon, it will turn red to indicate that you are on the Settings page.

  • ② Choose Language (Default: English)

  • ③ Show Current Firmware Version

  • ④ Firmware OTA Update:

    • Tap the 'Select .bin File' button to choose the bin file that requires OTA.

    • Wait for the progress to complete, and the device will automatically restart once the update is finished.

  • ⑤ Tap to Confirm Restore Factory Settings

Control Page

  • ① Current Device Name

  • ② Turn on and off the RGB Light effects.

  • ③ Automatically turns RGB effect ON and OFF following the printers stock light.

  • ④ Override Red flashing warning light when printer is in error state.

  • ⑤ Select the lighting effect and the current effect.

  • ⑥ Light color setting.

  • ⑦ Brightness.

  • ⑧ Speed.

  • ⑨ Nozzle Light Effect

Follow Printer Lighting

  • When this switch is enabled, under conditions of bound printer, normal network connection, and main switch activated, the Panda_Cooler_A1 will automatically turn on when the printer (XE1 used as example) lighting is activated, and turn off when the printer lighting is deactivated.

Warning Switch

  • When this switch is enabled, under conditions of bound printer, normal network connection, and main switch activated, the Panda_Cooler_A1 will automatically activate fault lighting effects (red flashing) when the printer encounters an error. This will override any other custom lighting effects.

Lighting Effects

  • The Panda_Cooler_A1 offers 9 lighting modes as shown in the image below: Static, Breathing, Strobing, Wave, Marquee, Color Cycle, Rainbow, Warning: Hot, and H2D Style Status Indicator. Note: Rainbow and Color Cycle modes do not support custom colors, and Static mode speed cannot be adjusted

High Temperature Warning (Warning: Hot)

  • ①: Indicates the Panda_Cooler_A1 colors for safe and high temperature printer conditions.

  • ②: Controls the brightness speed in high temperature mode.

  • ③: Allows selection of lighting effects (solid or flashing) for Safety Effect and Danger Effect respectively.

H2D Style Status Indicator

  • ①: Indicates the lighting effect colors for specific printer status. Tap the info button next to each color for details.

  • ②: Controls brightness in high temperature mode (speed cannot be customized)

Nozzle Lighting Effects

  • Taping on nozzle lighting effects reveals two options (Follow Fan Lighting and White Light Always On)

Custom Lighting Effect Colors

  • Setting Colors (using Static mode as example, Static mode speed cannot be adjusted)

In the control interface, select Static mode and tap the box under Color

Navigate to the color setting interface. You can select from the preset color blocks above or customize your own. Here's a brief introduction to customization - click the white color block below.

Enter the color picker interface and select your desired color (sky blue used as example)

Tap Confirm

Setting successful!

  • Factory default brightness and speed are both set to 50% (some modes do not support color or speed adjustment)

Firmware History

V1.0.0

  • First-release factory firmware.

Feature Requests

If you'd like to see certain features in the upcoming firmware release, please submit a feature request on the official GitHub repository. Feature Requests