Good afternoon. I only have one AMS at the moment so I have two questions:
1). Is the FTS necessary with only one AMS unit? I’m looking at possibly getting an HT down the road, but right now, I guess I’m not sure the FTS is even needed with one AMS
I have been using the X2D with the AMS 2 Pro and an AMS HT since picking it up last week without the FTS. I’ve mostly been using it where the AMS HT goes to the right nozzle with the filament I’m using for support material. Though I have also used it as a secondary color in multi-color prints as well. Right now I need to switch out the filament in the AMS HT to the correct support material or color. If I’m printing PLA then I put PTEG in the AMS HT for support and vice versa. I have a FTS on order because want to be able to cut down on having to swap out whatever is in the AMS HT. It might slow printing down some but I’m thinking with the FTS I can just pull both the main material and support material out of the AMS 2 Pro if I don’t have the correct one in the HT. Or same if I’m doing multi-color.
I haven’t received it yet so I can’t speak to installation from personal experience but in reading the wiki about the FTS, I think installation is the same regardless of how many AMS units you have. What seems to change is if you are hooking up 3 or more AMS units then you need the 4-in one adapter. Before I decided to pull the trigger on the FTS, I found the wiki article and included video to be very helpful.
Hi, I definitely recommend buy FTS with X2D Combo (1 AMS 2 Pro) due those could feed the AMS 4 color to both head. I saved lot of printing time and filament change in the same head with the FTS.
As example like I have 3 color model (Gingerbread Dragon from Meyerhouse)
Primary color (brown on the model) on main head with the eye color also (black). The Aux head handle the white secondary color. Each of the color in the AMS.
When completed 2nd level the X2D pull back black and send white to the second head. From now on NOT need to clear print head just pull out black or white and send back to their dedicated head.
So you save the filament (white-black poops) and also time due not need to clear head from the old filament to the new one.
Of course when you reach the eye where the 3rd color getting used you dont have those benefit so perform the white-black and reverse filament change in the main head.
I think about buying an X2D too and I’m not sure if I should get the Switch.
With a print like you described, wouldn’t it be even better to put the white color on an external spool holder and feed it directly to the aux nozzle? That way, it does not even have to retract the white and black filament at all and should be even faster and less waste?
Another practical question: do you tell Bambu Studio tell somewhere if an FTS is installed? I assume that this would have an impact on the print time and waste, so for the estimated time and material used in the preview window, it would have to know if a FTS is installed for correct prediction.
That was my plan, too, but I’m returning my switch (unused) because the X2D seems to have enough issues with feeding filament through the PTFE tubes and system with the base configuration, let alone adding another in-line device hanging out the side of the unit.
My advise is to buy an AMS-HT and dedicate that to the aux hot-end. The AMS-HT is more money than the track switch ($140 vs $60), but more useful and avoids delays pulling filament into and out of the AMS just to switch things between hot ends.
Hi Alex,
I tried those AMS to Main head and external spool to AUX head scenario. My only problem was with that the external spool have higher temp issue so the printed filament get those “Stringing“ issue (see Bambu Academy/Intermediate Course 1st page) due missing drying of external pool. My room humidity was 30% so far from tropical/Florida weather, but still cause issue. I recommend to use any AMS for spools. Like I am planning to buy a standalone AMS HT for those next month (and I can use those for ASA/TPU printing/drying also). What you save in the loaded filament you loose on the humidity error. Of course those permanent loaded I think possible with AMS HT instead of External spool and dry issue solved (I can just test when ASM HT arrived).
FTS could be configured in the Spool menu ( Filament Track Switch User Guide | Bambu Lab Wiki where you see the Automatic and Manual Mode). In automatic mode simple push one of the filaments from AMS to determine where in FTS to arrive.
With one AMS2Pro and one AMS HT you can use both of the input of the FTS and because of pull back also possible send both material to both head (just one at the time). And YES you can see the time/material difference with or without FTS (just need to shutdown the X2D for remove or add FTS).
Keep in mind 2 point:
In ideal scenario you have two AMS 2 Pro both connected to 2 different FTS. And one side of those FTS to main and aux head. Then here is the trick you can cross connect the FTS outputs to the other FTS input (like circle loop) and in this case you can send any of the AMS color to any of the heads (pull back and push back each time included). But that is what the Dynamic mapping scenario what showed in the FTS shop page (https://store.bblcdn.eu/s8/default/6bbd062511fe40eda7ed557e973bdae1/new_SA016.jpg)
I already have one AMS HT and two AMS2pro. Then I will probably connect both AMS2pro to the main nozzle and the HT to the AUX nozzle.
Currently with the X1C, I have all AMS2pro slots loaded with fixed filament. When I want to print a filament that is not already in an AMS, I put it in the HT and pack it away afterwards. For TPU, I also have a 4in1 directly before the nozzle, so I can feed TPU from the HT without reconnecting any PTFE tubes. Seems like I loose that convenience with the X2D. But I can probably live with it. The drawbacks of the FTS aren’t worth it for me.
