Bambu Automatic Material Management System (AMS) allows the Bambu printers to autonomously change the filament during the printing process. It is designed to work seamlessly with the highly integrated Bambu Lab Studio slicer.
Avoid Flexible Filaments like TPU
The AMS is capable of handling most filaments but is not suitable for flexible ones like TPU filamento and TPE. Print TPU through AMS can lead to filament jams. While you could bypass the AMS and manually inserting TPU filament from the back of the printer as a workaround, acknowledging that it can be a cumbersome process. While the issue can be solved by external spools.
"Y" Splitter for External Spools
Bambu AMS may not accommodate to all filament types. Bambu Lab advises against placing TPU filament in the AMS due to its flexibility. Moreover, cardboard spools and certain other filament manufacturer spools may not fit into the AMS. Ed Johnson's ingenious design on Printables, a wide splitter, allows the feeding of filament from an external spool without the need to disconnect the tubing from the AMS.
Rist Innovations implemented a small improvement in his design to enhance the smooth movement of filament through the Y splitter.
AMS Filament Spool Compatibility
Many users prefer not to spend over $30 per kilogram for original filaments from Bambu Lab, and may have preferences for other vendor filaments. When inserting filaments into the AMS system, users may encounter the issue of some filaments not fitting due to the narrow slots. Most filament brands fit well with AMS. However, some exceptions exist, primarily related to the width of the filament roll or the diameter of the paper roll.
| Kingroon Filament Spool | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Content [g] | Width [mm] | Outer diameter [mm] | Material |
| 1000 | 60 | 200 | Cardboard / Plastic |
| Elego Filament Spool | |||
| Content [g] | Width [mm] | Outer diameter [mm] | Material |
| 1000 | 59 | 200 | Cardboard |
| eSun Filament Spool | |||
| Content [g] | Width [mm] | Outer diameter [mm] | Material |
| 1000 | 59 | 200 | Cardboard |
| GEEETCH Filament Spool | |||
| Content [g] | Width [mm] | Outer diameter [mm] | Material |
| 1000 | 60 | 197 | Plastic |
| Polymaker Filament Spool | |||
| Content [g] | Width [mm] | Outer diameter [mm] | Material |
| 500 | 65 | 200 | Cardboard |
| 750 | 50 | 200 | Cardboard |
| 1000 | 65 | 200 | Cardboard |
| R3D Filament Spool | |||
| Content [g] | Width [mm] | Outer diameter [mm] | Material |
| 800 | 64.8 | 200 | Plastic |
| 1000 | 64.8 | 200 | Plastic |
While for paper spools, it tends to have more issues. There are some printable adapter for paper spools on Printables to help your cardboard spools print more consistently by reducing friction adding a structured rolling surface.
Polymaker Cardboard Spool Adapter for Bambu AMS, designed by Polymaker.
Overture Cardboard Spool Adapter (New V2! Update) for Bambu Lab AMS, designed by JamKo Design.
Failing to Pull Back Filament
There are various possible causes for the problem of failing to pull back filament, including wet filament, filament snapping within the system, TPU filament jamming, and poorly lubricated gears. When the issue is detected through the slicer notification or indicated by a red light, do not forcefully pulling the filament out, to avoid damaging the gears within the AMS system. Instead, carefully opening the device and pulling the filament out.
It's better not to use TPU on the AMS system, especially if the filament is wet. Bend your filament to check if it breaks easily, and if it does, it should be dried before use. Additionally, sharp angle bend above extruder might also cause filament clogging issues.
AMS Feeding Tunnel Wear
The wear of the AMS feeding tunnel happens over time due to the filament rubbing against the feeding tunnel at a sharp angle. The extent of wear depends on factors such as how often the printer is used and the type of filament being printed. To prevent this issue, you could print a simple upgrade on top of the device.
There are some simple printable upgrades on Printables that can help to avoid the filament sharp bend above the extruder.
More Printable Upgrades for Bambu AMS
Silica Dry Box for Bambu Lab AMS Hydra and Stock Version
There are some printable upgrades that can enhance your Bambu AMS system. The filament dryer system designed by Thomas_63847 on Printables is a potential first upgrade. adding a filament dryer to the system allows users to keep their filament dry by placing it in a box. This setup also enables users to incorporate a hydrometer to monitor the humidity level within the box. It's easy monitoring of both humidity and temperature within the AMS without the need to open it.
X3D-v3 Riser | Bambu Lab X1/P1 AMS Stand
A printer top drawer is recommended for maximizing space utilization. Various styles are available online.
Hydra AMS - Enhanced Bambu Lab AMS
Additionally, there are dedicated models designed to increase the maximum filament width. It increases the max allowed diameter of the spools without having to use a lid spacer by moving the rearmost roller back and down as much as possible.
Bambu Lab Poop Bucket for X1 or X1 Carbon
Various designs exist for Bambu filament poop buckets, aimed at capturing the filament waste generated during the bambu lab printing process. Each time the printer initiates a print or undergoes a color change in a multi-color print, it purges filament, resulting in substantial waste production.
What stands out about this design from @cleberlop available at Printables, is its size – it can hold a significant amount of filament waste. The top cutout is larger so it doesn't block the vent area. Additionally, it wraps around the side of the printer, providing easy visibility from the front to check if it's nearing full capacity.
AMS Disconnect Tool
Bambu AMS disconnect tool with a well-crafted design by Jody, available on Printables. The tool serves a dual purpose – firstly, it efficiently disconnects tubing from the back of the printer, and secondly, it depresses the latch to the cable connector, facilitating easy unplugging. Typically, polarized connectors allow for manual disconnection using fingers, but this specific design choice by bambu lab appears to have a small flaw.