Business Requirement: As an end user I would like to be able to reprogram the RFID on my used Bambu spools to match a different refill color.
The current configuration only allows you to refill used spools with an existing color unless you want to change it manually from within the interface. I would like to be able to reprogram the RFID with the color of my choice through the Handy App utilizing the NFC reader on my smart phone.
Again they will not nor will they sell them, we have asked
The reason they will never do this is because it would only benefit people using filament other than Bambu brand. All Bambu refills come with an RFID tag on them. The only reason you would need to be able to program/reprogram an RFID tag is because you want to use it with a 3rd party filament which would not benefit Bambu in any way.
What I have done is saved my old RFID tags from used rolls and put them on a roll before respooling it with a donor roll. For example, I use an old “grey” RFID tag on my Pruasa Galaxy Black filament. I never print in grey for my business, but I use Galaxy Black all the time. I just know grey in Bambu Studio means Galaxy Black. Just a quick note, don’t have “Update remaining capacity” turned on if you do this. Each tag has a unique ID on it. The AMS uses this to track usage if “Update remaining capacity” is turned on. It will think the spool is empty.
Well at least they could implement the possibility to only change it from one bambu filament to another. Like if your spool had Bambu ABS Black and now you have a red Bambu PLA refill.
I already had quite a few fruitless support sessions about this problem…
For me it is not really a matter of only using Bambu filament.
Bambu does not have everything, especially not always available.
My ongoing request was of much simpler nature:
Allow the use of numbered tags.
What the difference you ask ?
Bambu uses what our paper printer manufacturers use - dead man chip.
Only difference is that they are kind enough to let us get away without a chip.
Bambu stores quite a bit of data on this RF IF chips - none of which is actually relevant for the use.
All filament data still comes from the matching profiles and the possible override option based on the chip data is not really always used.
Numbered tags would just contain a number - as a data string of course.
And be Bambu filament rolls with the tag removed or third party providers - the spool is identified by just a single number.
Means the user can just create a stack of tag with the number 1001 for white and stick them onto new rolls.
They key of course the support from Bambu for being able to create custom profiles based on the RF ID Tag number.
And to have them recognised accordingly.
So far Bambu keeps claiming that this implementation would not be possible due to the structure of their tags and the encryption used.
My statement that none of this matters as this numerical data could just be place into the non encrypted part or even the header directly is being fully ignored and remains without even a comment from Bambu.
It seems clear that the binding is the real goal, with the convenience for the user only being an additional sales pitch.
Why bother with tags at all? I don’t use them…
If Bambu would actually be able to deliver more than 2 rolls of filaments to my parcel locker or any collection point within 15km I might take some of their offers…
But without this I just calibrate my rolls, give them a meaningful and well calibrated profile and save it.
If I change suppliers or otherwise won’t use a certain filament for a long while I move the corresponding user profiles into a backup location.
Could use a batch file for this but not really worth the hassle writing one…
Just saying…
This can be done, the RFID Tag is only linked to the filament, not the spool
I would also say it would invite fake Bambu Lab spools to easily be sold, which would reduce the value of their brands if the filament is horrible.
Just have specific “Verification” marks on bambu official spools
refill filament from Bambu already comes with RFID for it. And the old one comes off with the cardboard core… so the only use-case is for non-Bambu filament. Which is asking a lot.
That being said, if they would open it up or someone could hack it, I’d use it on my non-Bambu filamets, too 
I just spent 4 hours respooling a Bambu Basic PLA - Black spool due to a very poorly made initial spool (purchased from Bambu). It had multiple tangles inside the windings causing the plastic spool to come apart in the AMS, and creating a situation where I needed to cut the filament to remove sections of kinked-knotted filament.
As a result, I now have 3 incorrectly labeled spools of black, making it so the AMS will not automatically move to the next AMS slot with the exact same filament, making it quite inconvenient. This is a valid use case that does not use non-Bambu filament.
Regardless, the ability to use arbitrary filament in the AMS without the need for the RFID chip already exists. There’s no reason for the RFID to have security on it. You know if you have legit Bambu filament because you bought it from them. If you bought it from a third party, it could very well be re-spooled by the seller on an empty cardboard Bambu core with RFID. The tag provides no assurance of legitimacy. The RFID chip is simply a convenience, nothing more.
Even if it is only editable from Bambu Handy, I’d be fine with it. Heck, I’d buy RFID tags from Bambu and then use their app to program them. I should be able to enter any brand and any color. This includes stuff like Tri-color, glittery, and gradients. And maybe a hex picker for the colors.
There is a reason. It prevents other manufacturers from making Bambu RFID compatible filaments. That’s the reason.
Or outright counterfeits.
There is also a possibility that the reason they haven’t opened up the RFID tags is because they are licencing the technology and legally can’t.
It’s not impossible since a license to use something patented could contain any terms, but it does seem very unlikely. If such a patent did exist it would still cover other users irrespective of whether or not the Bambu chose to disclose their signing key. So why even bother making that a license term for Bambu to use the patent?
Even if it was, it would be great if Bambu added a label or number to the filament profiles in the studio app. You can already assign a color to a profile, which seems pointless since they’re not used. However, if Bambu included a field for a number or a label to the filament profile, whether it’s automatically generated or a user-input value, we could label the spool ourselves or something similar. For instance, if you want to change something in your AMS, you could have the option in the studio app to specify a label that pulls the correct color and profile. This wouldn’t automatically pull based on the RFID tag so it would still be a selling point for Bambu. It would also give us the option to label spools and have the filament profiles update accordingly. Additionally, this wouldn’t allow for counterfeit spools because they could make it so that the user manually has to enter the label and create the profile. The closest any company could do is add a number to their spool, but that wouldn’t make a difference since the user would need to create the profile in the studio app anyway. And would also have to manually input it when switching filaments. So it would not be nearly as nice or easy as bambu. But I’d definitely be happy if I manually had to create profiles and enter a code or something in the app when changing filament in and out of the ams. Just my two cents as a nobody.
The technology in question might not be – in fact, I’ll bet that it’s not – patented.
Generally, when intellectual property is created, the creator has options on how to make money from it.
They can choose to manufacture products themselves.
They can patent it and license the patent, but patents require disclosure, and for many things someone “skilled in the art” can look at that patent and devise a clever work-around that makes the patent irrelevant. At this point the question becomes “which party has the tougher lawyers?” and that’s a game only the lawyers win.
Or they can license the work under whatever conditions are deemed acceptable to both parties. If the group that owns the RFID IP said, “Bambu Labs will not disclose any aspects of the tag programming,” Bambu has a choice: take it or leave it. Clearly they’re not in the business of creating RFID readers so licensing it makes sense, and on Bambu’s end, that term is not onerous. Sure, customers may complain, but there’s really nothing that customers can do.
I mean, I run into this at work. We use tools and devices from various Big Companies. The devices have encrypted models. Sometimes the models don’t behave as expected and while that’s generally caused by our designs, seeing into the models to determine what exactly is failing is very helpful. When we request support on the issue, we are told, “our license agreement with the IP holder precludes us from letting customers have access to unencrypted models.” They won’t even tell us who designed the IP.
And don’t get me started on the stupidity of encrypted models of DDR4 SDRAM devices, which are designed to a published specification.
Just a thought, but maybe Bambu could create a RFID generator page without releasing the private keys. I for one wouldn’t mind paying a subscription fee for this, even if it is like $100 per year or whatever.
It is absolutely short sighted to think that no one will use filaments other than Bambu’s. That is one of the beautiful things about 3d printing, so many open source options.
And since the private key exists, it is not beyond the realm of imagination to create a custom key that is exclusive to an individual user and their personal hardware. It is just a matter of if Bambu decides to do it.
The simple truth is that we are going to use different filaments. It is Bambu’s choice to make it harder on us. Great printers for sure, and really good filament. A feature like what I suggested would only help them, both financially and reputation wise.