Multi-colour printing from external spool

Bambu Lab X1 Series Bambu Lab X1C
1

Hi all - new user here. I’ve got an X1C with AMS and have just embarked on printing the AMS Riser v2 which is a beast of a print. I couldn’t wait for Bambu to deliver the filament so grabbed some off Amazon but unfortunately it’s too big for the AMS so put a bit of a spanner in the works of my multi-colour plans.

Most of the parts are separate but the front bezel is printed as part of the main body so I need a way to print the faceplate a different colour.

I’ve been reading up on this and I think I’ve figured it out but just want some validation as it’s right at the end of the job and if I’ve got it wrong then it’s a hassle to re-print it.

So basically I’ve sliced the file and worked out the points where the new colour starts and again where it ends and the base colour resumes - in these two layers I’ve added a pause and re-sliced.

  • If I’ve got this right, the printer will print the last layer before the colour should start and then wait for me to change the filament?
  • Is the change procedure the same as when it’s not printing in terms of unloading and loading the filament from the screen?
  • Does it matter how long the print is paused before I resume it? If the pause occurs in the middle of the night I don’t really want to get up to change it so can it just sit waiting for me to do it when I get up?

Material is basic PLA if it matters.

2

There are a few things here.

  1. Spool size

    • If the spool being too large means up the AMS lid can’t be closed, that isn’t a real issue for short periods of time. I have used the locking points to lift the lid slightly by locking them before dropping the lid back down.

    • If the spool is made of cardboard p, you should print spool adapters to go on the rims edges. Use one of these from the excellent collection by AU3D.

    Cardboard Spool Adapter Ring | Collection - MakerWorld

    • If the spool is so large it doesn’t balance on the two back and front spindles you are out of luck

  2. Printing multiple colours using the external spool.

    • Slice your model and add one or more PAUSE commands on the Preview tab layer var (right side of the screen) by moving the bar position to the location you desire. Resource to see the location is exactly where you need it.

    • When the printer pauses, unload the current filament and load the new filament then RESUME, repeat as required.

    • Theoretically you could leave the printer in the paused state for a significant period, however, this will leave the printer generating heat for zero purpose wasting energy. It is possible the printer may time out after a period.

    • I recommend you time your PAUSES to when you can easily attend to the printer.

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3

The spools were just too wide to fit the AMS.

Thanks for your answers, I think it confirms I’ve got the job set up correctly. Point taken about timing, will try and kick it off to coincide with being awake for the pauses.

Happy new year!

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4

I’d reccomend printing a respooler such as a pastamatic for this exact scenario, where you can transfer filament from larger spools onto smaller ones such as the bambu reuseable one (with a sleeve)

5

Well it was going great until the moment I realised I’d got my layer count wrong :frowning:

The first pause was spot on, on changing the spool it went on to print the new colour, but my second pause was 2 layers out so it went and overprinted the colour with the base colour again much to my annoyance.