If I have 2m of filament left and I want to print something that will consume 1.5m filament, is there a way to do so? Using P1s with AMS and it just “eats” all the filament in and pop me an error afterward.
If you have another spool of the same filament you would usually be able to enable the auto-swap feature so that the new roll gets used when the first runs out. However there may be an issue if the short length isn’t long enough to complete a load and purge without the tail leaving the sensor in the AMS.
That said, you can manually load a 2m length by disconnecting the AMS PTFE tube at the back of the printer, without issue. Practice on a longer length first if you’ve never done it before.
When sending the print job, simply uncheck “Use AMS” and the printer will use the manually loaded “External spool” feed. There’s no need to disconnect the electrical cable from printer to AMS.
You can print a “Y-splitter” to enable manually external loads like this without having to disconnect the AMS feeder tube. Search that phrase on makerworld. There’s several to choose from.
Save them up and then print something rainbow’d with it. Just feed them in one at a time and let the machine do the rest
A new tool to splice filament…
https://forum.bambulab.com/t/sunlu-filament-fuser-connector-gadget-tool-or-gimmick
I usually save it for my 3D pen. It’s great to have for welding 3D parts together. My lid riser for my P1S would have needed to be scrapped without this option.
Just remember to buy a 3D pen that uses standard 1.75mm filament.
thanks for the insight, perhaps I should give this a go and see.
I do have a 3D pen, but I find myself using a soldering pen a lot more often for welding.
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I use them both; first the 3D pen to create the bonding. Then the soldering pen to make it look nicer and even out whatever lumps I made with the 3D-pen.
I was printing something and suddenly there was no filament coming out any more (I noticed that on the camera about 10-20 minutes after it stopped). Since it was a new spool, I was confused and checked. Turns out the filament got tangled/ stuck behind another piece. It even lifted the roll from the holder! I saw no other option than to cut the filament.
Then, I started the print again and just ‘followed’ the old filament with the ‘new’ one. Somewhere along the line in the hotend it got fused again. It’s now printing again.
It’s weird the system does not alert you that no filament is coming out (is that a hardware-feature or software-feature?).
I also noticed that the spool that came with my printer (in use for the 2nd day now) is clear. While beautiful, it does mean you cannot see it ‘spindle’ through the ‘choppy’ camera feed. This does mean I will put markings on my clear spool, so I can track if it moves or not.
(my old spool has a company logo printed on it with some designs, so you can see that move through the camera feed)
TL;DR: when my filament ends, I’ll just stand next to it and ‘chase’ the old filament. Maybe not the most sophisticated one, but it works.
Small bits are saved for my 3D-pen that I have yet to use.
There’s a slight difference with that compared to the OP’s situation. My interpretation of the OP is they they want to start a print with a length of filament that is not long enough to reach the nozzle and yet still stick out into the AMS box inlet at the other end. Once a print is going, the filament can get sucked down into that space and things keep going just fine. However, a print cannot be started in that state. An error is reported and everything stops. (This is X1C AMS experience. I cannot speak the the AMS Light.)
Fusing is a good idea but I’ve personally never had much luck with it, so didn’t make the suggestions. I’m fascinated to see that others are able to make it work, using similar “crude” methods I have tried and failed at.
I keep mine dry and separated in vac bags with my filaments then just feed them in for the start of a print before I put a new roll on. I usually push the new filament In to the PTFE behind the old or last bit until it reaches the extruder. You do have to be there watching your print for this but it means I never waste filament. I don’t currently own an AMS that’s my next purchase.