Cardboard Spools in Bambu Labs AMS: Risks and Remedies

[@FedeHippo]

I tried respooling quite a few rolls of filament, and alot of them ended up breaking the filament. Not during the respooling process itself, but after a few days. Reason being that the innermost filament on the cardboard-spool is wound tighter than the outer layers. When you respool ie. bringing the outer layers to the inside and vice versa. You introduce unwanted stress into the filament. And in my case having to deal with a alot of filament breaking mid-prints. I also tried using tires, but getting the exact size was tricky, and sometimes the tiny bump created by the seam when printing the tire, caused the spool not to spin properly I ended up just using all my cardboard spools that i had in stock, and then buying filament directly from Bambu instead. They are actually quite pricecompetitive as long as you buy more than 4 rolls at the time

[@3DRevolution]

Very interesting point about the varyence in applied pressure depending on how deep the filament is wound. Agreed, if you buy in bulk from Bambu they are as cheap if not cheaper than many competitors.

[@FedeHippo]

@@3DRevolution I love the idea and the concept of the respooler. But for me it just didnt work out 😕

[@Suchtzocker]

maybe you can break the cardboard spool print a conical adapter and push it over onto a splittable spool and reassemble it ? sounds like way less work but i dont know never did try it.

[@peters7413]

🤗 I use tape on the edge of the cadbord spool, it works for me.....

[@BooshikiDikki]

What kind?

[@smazerolle]

@@BooshikiDikkielectrical tape is what I use.

[@ovity0ns]

I have been using a lot of Elegoo filament that comes on cardboard spools, they have the edges sealed so the cardboard should not loose particles when used directly in the AMS. Unfortunately, their perfectly wound spools that look so nice and neat only work for up to about 2/3 of a spool for me before the filament can't be pulled from the spool, not because of a tangle but because it is just too tight on the spool. This has happened to me several times in both of my AMS units. I have even had a spool being fed from my S2 filament dryer directly to the printer without the AMS and I found the spool stuck to the top of the dryer and the print head moving around without extruding any filament, The extruder just could not pull hard enough to get the filament off of the spool, I had to pull very hard to get the filament loose from the spool. After so many issues, I now re-spool every spool that I get from Elegoo. I have a re-spooler with an attached motor so I set up the spools, turn on the motor and I can walk away and do other things while it's re-spooling. I find not having to stand there with a drill to do the re-spool so much more convenient. The re-spooled filament may not look as neat as the Elegoo spools but they work so much better, I have not had any issues related to re-spooled filament, they have been very reliable in the AMS.

[@3DRevolution]

That's great to hear. May I ask which respooler design you've gone for, or have you designed your own custom one?

[@ovity0ns]

@@3DRevolution Sure, I started back in July of 2023 with the "Bambu Lab P1 / X1 / X1C / X1CC Filament Spool Switcher & Winder if you use AMS" found on Printables designed by Miklos Kiszely. Unfortunately, I had a lot of trouble with parts breaking, In September of 2023 I upgraded many of the parts using "Awesome Filament Spool Rewinder - Upgraded" which also included the electric motor drive as an option. That was also from Printables Designed by Diplomator. I think it was the double bearings on the gears that made the difference. So I guess it's a bit of a Frankenstein but it has been very reliable for me, Once the spools are installed and the filament attached to the new spool, re-spool of 1kg takes less than 3 minutes. I use both Bambu Labs spools and the printed "*V3* Bambu Spool - HoneyComb Edition - With Filament Markers". Lately I have been re-spooling 1 to 4 spools a day.

[@3DRevolution]

@@ovity0ns Really appreciate the feedback, thanks very much and really glad it's working out for you. Happy printing!

[@mururoa7024]

I've been using them in the AMS for 2 years now, about 200 spools/year (eSun and others), zero problems. YMMV

[@3DRevolution]

Very good to hear! Thanks for sharing!

[@cheizaguirre5494]

Is elegoo brand okay?

[@mururoa7024]

@@cheizaguirre5494 IDK, never used it because my suppliers don't carry that brand and AFAIK Elegoo doesn't sell in bulk, and doesn't make ABS (I know they make ASA but my customers require specific blends of ABS).

[@mururoa7024]

@@3DRevolution Indeed my problems with the AMS aren't from the carboard spools but from the flimsy first stage (they fail on some of my AMS who only see plastic spools) and Bambu treating those like consumables you need to keep replacing. Unacceptable. I've started buying my printers from a EU reseller so at least now the 2 year warranty applies (it doesn't if you buy from Bambu's own website in China).

[@GeezerGramps]

I’ve been using cardboard spools in my AMS since day one, over a year ago without any of the issues mentioned. I put a layer of electrical tape on the edges. Takes less than 2 minutes.

[@3DRevolution]

Really good to hear. As I mention in the video these problems aren't a guarantee, but they are the concerns that are generally discussed resulting from Bambu's statement about not using cardboard spools. However, it does seem that for most people these issues don't become problematic. Happy printing!

[@cheizaguirre5494]

Can i just put tape around the whole diameter of the spool?

[@3DRevolution]

@@cheizaguirre5494 You absolutely can, and some people have great luck with that, but depending on the quality of the spool, and the tape, in some cases it can become unstuck and wrap around filament etc and cause problems mid-print. But no harm in trying it out with your setup :)

[@viorelgheorghe5655]

I've ended up putting a Polymaker PolyTerra PLA+ on a used Bambulab spool. I've practically ripped the Polymaker spool, and fitted onto the other spool using an adapter printed before. I've tried to use the tyre solution for cardboard spools, but the friction was too much

[@babylonfive]

Thanks for this info on the spool desicant holder hubs... i hadnt seen these and they def solve a problem im having!

[@3DRevolution]

No problem 👍 These are the ones I tend to use but there's loads of designs out there. www.printables.com/model/402087

[@EarlsPearls]

On my AMS esun, polymaker, polyterra and inland all fit with the lid shut using most spool rings that just got along the rim. Have never had any issues with it.

[@davidharle952]

I printed the eSun rings but they stop the lid from closing. Where did you get yours from, thanks.

[@DaveEtchells]

I’ve found just painting the rims of the spools with clear nail polish is quick and works really well. I’ve used printed rims but the exact size is very fussy. (I haven’t done any printing in TPU yet, a slightly stretchy tire could make them more adaptable. Nail polish works great :-)

[@3DRevolution]

Nail polish is a nice suggestion and not one I'd heard discussed before, thanks for sharing Dave!

[@designgears]

Ripping the sides off and replacing it with a bambu spool has been working great for me. Just do one side at a time and tape the filament down before hand.

[@3DRevolution]

Slow and steady wins the race!

[@Daveyk021]

Hey, the Creality encourages one to use cardboard rolls in their new K2-MAX (have one on order) in their version of the AMS. I got tired of waiting for Bambu labs to come out with a large bed.

[@crooker2]

I've had issues with Elegoo black filament on cardboard spools in my AMS Lite. This is the only one that has been problematic for me... To the point where I have to baby sit the print and unbind the print every 20 minutes or so. Looks like I'm going to need to print a respooler.

[@landonmartin9211]

Just stumbled on your channel, sooo helpful, thanks allot. you rock

[@MrGsking12]

Won’t lie I’ve been printing with cardboard for the last past two months 😮😮😮 I usually just put a strip of tape around the cardboard and that keeps it going long enough till it runs out

[@Suchtzocker]

So the main problem is that the cardboard spools edges that roll off have wear and cause flocks to go everywhere ? So why dont we just print 2 rings with a L profile and glue them on the cardboard spools edges ? Or if you want to go overboard 2 oversized disc wich will be glued of clipped to the outside to the spools so plastic runs on the rollers instead of paper ? Edit: Wow, already invented hahaha

[@3D-PrintTherapy]

You could try using Gorilla tape on the outside.

[@3DRevolution]

This is a good potential solution and one I did mean to mention in this video. I think one of the concerns here is that the tape can (especially with some brands) wear just as much as the cardboard and still produce potentially problematic particle residue. Either that or it can become partially unstuck from the spool and cause issues that way. However, with the right spools and the right tape, this is absolutely as good a solution as the spool tyres in many cases. Thanks for posting though, always encourage the community to get involved here and share suggestions to help each other out!

[@Daveyk021]

Pissed me off. I ordered new filament from Amazon. The pictures, showed plastic spools. That is why I selected them. They show up with %$$$#@$% cardboard spools. F-It! I'm using the carboard spools directly in the AMS. Multicolor prints soon will be switched to the K2 anyway. Bambu should make available new AMS roller that are cardboard spool compatible. I made plastic tires before and they just pop off and jam the AMS up. I swore I would not order any filament on cardboard spools. I did not, yet they showed up with cardboard spools.

[@ordinarystuff]

take a shot everytime he points too and says AMS!

[@3DRevolution]

😂 'Become a drinking game' bucket list, tick!

[@anthonylong5870]

I have ZERO issues with carboard spools just as they are. Bambu doesnt want you too just so you buy their stupid chipped filament spools

[@3DRevolution]

I absolutely get the marketing benefits for them. That said, I also quite like the chiped spools and considering they are pretty price competitive and a lot of the time cheaper than alternatives, I think it's a nice feature to have. However, I agree that a lot of the time cardboard spools are not a problem at all. It largely comes down to the quality of the spools. Some brands just use terrible quality that can bend or crumble just sat in my hand, let alone rolling aorund in an AMS and I have no problem seeing that wearing down and clogging up the system with cardboard particles if it even held it's shape long enough to get to that point. But with well mads cardboard spools they can absolutely work perfectly with no issues.

[@Lifelin3]

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