Prints started to get all wonky about a week ago. I couldn’t figure out the problem. Changed the nozzle, tighten the belts, lubed the z screws, and cleaned the carbon fiber rods. Disassembled the extruder and I didn’t see any clogging, but when I disassembled the hall sensor, I noticed a lot of wear. Then I found a piece of metal inside the extruder that I suspect broke off from the hall sensor somehow. A new extruder arrived yesterday and the X1C is printing like a champ again.
At the risk of sounding like a shill, I think bambu components are fairly priced. Nozzles cost $15 a piece and I’ve replaced 2 of them in 3000 hours. The X1C also prints much faster than my old ender 3 so I got a lot of value out of the components.
I think a more valid argument is if there are few or no 3rd party parts available and Bambu goes out of business. It doesn’t look like we’re going down that road now, but it’s possible to stock up on spare parts to prepare.
I had a look too, and they seemed quite affordable. At the risk of sounding pessimistic, :) I think the biggest risk is that they lower quality and raise prices once they get big enough, but hopefully there will be high quality 3rd party parts available by then.