Hi everyone, I wanted an objective opinion from AMS owners. I own an A1 mini, purchased a year ago, without an AMS. Over the past year, I’ve constantly tried to find solutions to print with more colors when necessary, adopting pauses for filament changes and other more elaborate solutions. In all this time, I’ve never had an “essential” need for an AMS, but I admit it would have been very useful for some projects.
Black Friday starts today on the website, and the AMS Lite costs €179, a significantly lower price than its (in my opinion) list price, which is totally unjustified when considered as a separate purchase from the printer.
That said, my question to AMS owners is: Is it an essential accessory? Would you buy it again if you went back?
Thanks for your opinion.
100% agree.
The main question:
Having an AMS is a major time saver even if you only print with a single colour.
The loading and unloading is far easier and faster, no manual involvement required.
Main benefits
- If you print more than one colour in a single layer it is a necessity
- If you print more than one colour in a model (one per layer maximum) it is far easier and automated
- If you print big jobs that can span a spool, it can do this for you without your involvement and fully automated
Having donated an AMS Lite recently as I mostly use my A1 mini with TPU, going back to other filaments and manually loading and unloading is a real pain.
I will be connect it up to a spare AMS (not lite) with the A1 buffer as soon as they allow the U.K. to purchase it.
I truly can’t imagine using modern printers with an AMS (or equivalent on other brands).
An AMS is a necessary feature in my view.
Even if you only occasionally print models with more than one colour, all the other benefits are great.
If you can justify the cost, I would strongly recommend it.
It is possible to hook up to four AMS (not lite) units with the A1 buffer rather than an AMS Lite.
That is worth considering especially as you have no existing AMS Lite.
Even if you dont print multicolor that much, It is very nice to have 4 rolls of filament ready to go.
Absolutely I would buy an AMS again with a printer. I bought a combo deal with printer and AMS and in short order bought a second AMS for 8 color capability which has worked great for the things I print.
It really just depends on the stuff you plan to print. If you are into lithophanes or lightboxes or anything with multiple colors you’ll love the convenience. You may even want a couple or more since with more slots you can have dedicated and flexible slots too. There;s times when I have to swap almost all the colors in my units out. Not a big deal but leaving the commonly-used filaments in place would be nicer.
Just my opinion but I love the color possibilities in 3D printing and an AMS unit or two makes it easy.
Thanks everyone. I was worried about your replies. It’s probably one of those features you only appreciate after trying it out on a daily basis. In fact, today I finished a small multicolor project for a score counter to accompany the Lone Wolf game books, and while I’m very pleased with the end result (regardless of the actual outcome), I admit that the filament change was quite a lengthy process, and until today (until I read your comments) I had never considered AMS for multicolor printing done, let’s say, “in layers.”
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of not purchasing the bundle last year, and honestly, even though it’s on sale, €179 for AMS seems excessive.
I knew it after reading your comments, I have an orangutan pounding his fists against my chest.
The bill of materials does not justify it.
I always provide profiles for my models that include colour per layer so those that do not have an AMS can print them.
That is around 400 models.
Most do not.
Thanks everyone for the replies. You’ve almost convinced me…for a moment, my eye fell on the AMS 2 Pro. Instinctively, I headbutted the PC and ran out of the house screaming. Please, bring me to reason. 
From a “dollar-value” perspective, Bambu’s AMS units are very expensive and clearly one of their margin leaders. If you want to financially support bambu, buying AMS is probably the best way to accomplish that.
Aside from that, I really do like having them. Only about half of my printers have AMS, and for my usage pattern I still only print mostly single color or dual color prints. It’s VERY nice to have an AMS stocked with 2 filaments you use across many projects (black+white, example) and then kinda just manage the other 2 slots as you go. It feeds laziness more than it does “capabilities”
AMS is a tool that’s great to have. You don’t need it when you have it, and need it when you don’t.
Really it’s nice to do multicolor, but it’s nicer to have spools loaded and able to be used without having to unload and reload manually. Auto Refill is particularly nice to have. Our Mini doesn’t have an AMS, and I’ve toyed with getting one for it. We just don’t use it as much as the P1S or the H2S that’s on the way.
Bottom line is I think I’d pull the trigger now if there’s the remotest chance you’d use it while it’s on sale. $279 is a little easier to swallow than $349.
And I was looking for someone to tell me the reason… . no, the AMS 2 is too much… from what I understand, it works the same way, plus there’s the dryer, which personally I wouldn’t need much considering I print PLA and luckily my apartment is pretty dry. I still have some filament from last Black Friday and when I print, there are no problems. The real difference is in the decidedly more compact structure with a single PTFE cable, much cleaner and tidier. The AMS Lite, on the other hand, is much more messy, worthy of Professor Frankenstein.
You know the Black Friday sale is going on now, so if you want one buy soon than latter. Last year thay ranout and shipping of anything from them was slower than slow.
Also with the hype of using the AMSs now on the A1 and mini, some people might be selling their AMS lite so keep you eyes open.
I bought the A1 with AMS lite last year this time and have not regreated it one bit. Beside multi color changing, you can also continue printing if the spool you are printing from runs out the AMS will automaticly go to another spool on the AMS provided it is the same kind-brand-color of filament that ran out. That frature saved my bacon a few times.
Aww, I always liked the AMS lite. I like the simplicity of not relying on those cursed rollers. The AMD lite only ever “overload” when there is a legitimate knot, not like the AMS1 which can be overloaded by a stern look and forceful reprimanding.
just last week paid £2000 for an h2c…my first bambu……the printer itself is awesome the AMS IS A NGIHTMARE OF OVER ENGINEERING. and absolutly pointless one at that…It Doesnt even dry whilst being used . a purchased with it an extra AMS so i could make use of all seven toolheads… nightmare week of one unit not feeding correctly from two of the four slots.. My previous printer was an ad5x….fantasic printer itself but limited to 4 colours and a whole lot of purge waste and time….. It uses a very simple four channel IFS filiment all loaded two an inch above the tool head ..Absolutly no reason Bambu couldnt make an 8 channel one except obviously , more revenue generation for spares from an AMS . (£250 FOR AN AMS that doesnt ven dry whilst being used }or
or £250 for the entire AD5X
The AMS is horrible. A relic of another time in this fast growing 3D printer landscape. I had three, then I gave one away, and sold another one. I have one left for my H2C, but I really don’t enjoy using it but that printer leaves no other option….
Any better alternatives that are not multihead tool changers?
None that Bambu could come up with, apparently.
So you cant answer the question?
Indx? 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
My 2c: I don’t have one for my P2S, and while it would have been kinda slightly handy for swapping filament, the cost (half the printer!) and space (appartement) just isn’t worth it for me.
I have dryer box which acts as a spool holder and it works perfectly OK.