Auto reload question

Bambu Lab AMS
1

I understand how auto reload works in general. The print head detects that there’s no filament coming into it, and the AMS switches to another identical spool if loaded, or waits for a manual reload.

But as I watched this happening once, it occurred to me that there’s a significant chance of a failure mode. There’s almost 3 feet of PTFE tubing from the AMS to the print head. That equates to a fair amount of printing.

So let’s say the spool runs out, and the end of the filament is working its way down that tubing as printing continues. Halfway down, the print job requires a color change. So what happens now? I’m thinking the printer doesn’t even know that the spool is empty at this point. Even if it does, how does it get rid of the remaining filament in the tube? The AMS certainly can’t rewind the filament out of the tube.

Anyone seen this happen or know how to recover if it does?

2

Once the end of your filament string passed the motors of the AMS, there is no option to pull it back.
In the event of a necessary color change, the extruder simply purges all that is left in the pipe.
It at least does that in intervalls to not overfill the poop chute.
Only option to save that material is manual intervention atm.

1 Like
3

Good to know! Thanks for the explanation.

4

It doesn’t really matter. Auto Reload doesn’t even work for me. I have a short roll in A2 and a new roll in A4. (Same color and type) The AMS constantly tries to load A4 even though A2 is specified as the filament to use. I had to pull the filament out of A4. I guess I’ll have to use the manual method too.