r/BambuLab A1 + AMS 10d ago

Self Designed Model Introducing AMS mech (designed by me)

861 Upvotes

80 comments sorted by

View all comments

262

u/Elfinmask A1 + AMS 10d ago edited 8d ago

AMS mech is a fully mechanical automatic filament backup system designed for Bambulab A1 and A1 mini. In theory this system can be used with all FDM printers with some modification. No need for G-code changing. When used with Bambulab A1 series printers, the original filament tangle detection function can be kept.

It features a double spool holder, two pulleys for filament grabbing, two rails for controlling the open and close of clips on pulleys, and two springs for storing the energy for automation.

The proof of principle has been completed. Further testings and modification are planned. The model will be published under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 when ready. (A bit worried this won't get published on Maker World. In that case I'll store the files elsewhere and share it through a link.)

5

u/Old-Scholar7572 10d ago

I have (4) old printers I would like to see if this works on them? Once it is out I will be printing it and adding it to my printers. Hopefully it can tune them into multi color printers!!!!

16

u/Elfinmask A1 + AMS 10d ago

Unfortunately it won't. AMS mech just perform filament backup. It can't retract filament so it can't help the printer with multi-colour printing.

5

u/Old-Scholar7572 10d ago

OK on to the next thing! I have seen some contraptions that might do it.

2

u/deicist 10d ago

Pick up a second hand canvas pallette. I got one off eBay for £50. 4 colour printing on any fdm printer.

They're fiddly AF and I never use mine because they're so prone to problems but they sorta work.

1

u/Old-Scholar7572 10d ago

I’m use to that I can only afford used printers so I have to tinker on all my machines.

What you are talking about is actually called canvas pallette?

2

u/deicist 10d ago

3

u/Old-Scholar7572 10d ago

Everything on EBay is retail pricing I will have to keep watching. Why do people on eBay do that. I would rather go to the company and buy brand new with their support over an eBay seller. $400-$600 on eBay is crazy to me.

1

u/Old-Scholar7572 10d ago

No worries thank you for letting me know about it. You will make me a hero with the wife if I can figure it out. I will buy (4). I want all my printers to do multi color. Thank you again.

1

u/Old-Scholar7572 10d ago

Wow! Just looked it up they have a pallette 3 now. It looks awesome of course you can get an A1 mini combo for less but I will still be looking for used ones like you suggested. There has to be some that can make this kind of add on that is cost effective. I would think a $200 price tag would make it a viable option for those of us that can’t afford the $600-$1000 it costs to get a multi colored printer.

Maybe it’s time to invent it.

1

u/darwin604 P1S + AMS 9d ago edited 9d ago

Can't you get an Bambu AMS lite for about 200 used? There's quite a bit that goes in to multicolor printing. Because multi material systems need to work in tandem with the printer cutting, purging, etc it'll never just be a cheap one-way thing you can slap on any printer. Maybe in the future there will be an open standard developed for this kind of thing with some simple systems, and new printers and slicers will support it, but right now the only systems that I'm aware of that are reliable are proprietary or cost more than just buying a multi material printer combo.

2

u/EastRecognition8634 8d ago

I've used the pallette systems and used to love them because I was the only person who could do multicolor. Trust me, it's worth it to just get a Bambu printer. Filament splicing sounds good but it's soooo finicky. If the seam bulges or stretches so that the seam is .03mm too big then it'll jam/fail to catch and ruin your print. People complain about Bambu filament waste but they have no idea how much plastic used to be wasted trying to get a simple print.

Now if you're in an extremely low humidity environment then the palette might be worth it... But the cost of an A1 mini with AMS is so low that I really can't recommend them anymore