Polymaker uses cardboard spools but they also claim that they are AMS safe. I asked them, and they say their newer spools are cardboard but have hardened edges so they do work in the AMS. Has anyone tried them? I like Polymaker filaments.
To be on the safe side, you could always print a couple of cardboard spool adaptors (plenty of choices here: Search:Polymaker Adapter Spool - MakerWorld), and no matter whether they tell you the truth… or not, you’re covered.
I use polymaker products. I always take off the cardboard spools and mount the filament onto oem bambulab spools.
Not because of polymaker but amazon during shipping, damages the edges pretty often. So i just change out the spools after drying the filament.
In my experience, if the edges of the cardboard spools are slightly damaged, they don’t perform very well in the AMS.
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The spool adapters never worked for me. I’ll take my chances with the new cardboard. By the way, they are having a good sale, 30% off, no taxes, and they use Amazon for next day delivery. At least here.
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Maybe it makes sense to explain that, if someone hasn’t heard of how to do it yet:
The Cardboard core of polymaker spools fits exactly over the bambu spool core. To mount them, you rip of one side of the polymaker spool. then you put one half of the bambu spool into the core. Then you flip it over, rip of the second side and mount the second half of the bambu spool. It makes sense to clean any residues from the core after ripping a side. the bambu core really fits tightly inside.
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Maybe. But it could also end badly as it has for me. I can’t say I’ve done this with Polymaker spools, but I have had Bambu spools unsnap, and they NEVER snap back. Once the spool sides are gone nothing holds the filament in place, so one strand sliding out means kissing the spool goodbye. Taking the sides off a spool is VERY risky. Maybe it works sometimes and I have heard of people using tape to hold the filament, but watching it unravel on the sides IS POSSIBLE. If there was a way to put straps around it, like Bambu refills, OK, but other than that, do this at your own risk.
Yes i put on four wraps of painters tape before taking off the sides. You wrap the tape in the same way as the filament is wound on the spool. Take it off after the sides are on and the desiccant holder is in place.
Three reasons to use this holder.
One to help keep the humidity low in the AMS and two is to help put weight in the spool as it is used up. Third, it is two parts screwed together, which helps keep the spools together.
Been doing this since day one. It just works for me.
Never lost a spool.
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Instead of printing “desiccant containers” get these “Powder Shakers” on Amazon. Get the Small.
Powder Shakers
They are all metal. Then buy Wisesorb also on Amazon.
Wisesorb
You fill the containers with the Wisesorb and you have a much better desiccant. And when it’s damp, you put the whole thing in the oven at 200C to 250C for 8 hours.
The containers are under $1.50 each, so you can’t even print them that cheap.
This is the same solution sold by Slice Engineering for a whole lot more…
Slice Drying Desiccant
Yes, you are welcome.
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Wow! Yes i will give them a look see.
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I bet they sealed up the edge of the cardboard. Ive seen this lately but cant remember which brand it was. I’m at work, but ill look when I get home.
This was a great walk through in a much earlier post.
It includes step-by-step with pictures.
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Great walkthrough. Only thing I do differently: I keep the bambulab cardboard core and only remove the RFID tag. It perfectly fits the inside of the Polymaker core, so you don’t need to wrap tape around the spool center.
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@Alex_vG this is the way.
They say they are sealed and hardened, but only new spool versions. They sell some spools still on the old version. It says old or new on their web page. I really appreciate them doing that which i guess just shows you how popular Bambu printers are. Now if companies could just add the RFID.
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