What the deal with Bambu reuseable spools

Bambu Filament and Accesories
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Big Bambu Fanboy, have 4 Bambu’s with no plans on slowing down.

Even before I started buying Bambu’s, I stayed away from there filament because I didn’t like the idea of the reloads. With my normal supplier low on stock, I figured eh lets give Bambu the business, I’ve already got the reusable spools from my x1c purchase and it’s only like 20 or less rolls…I’ve been robbed…

there’s no way when making and deigning these that someone thought…yeah this is a good idea for the user

You look at these things wrong and they fly apart. I’ve had a full spool fall 4-5 inches and explode like a grenade. I’ve had an ams unit break one (due to a tangle in the reload mind you), and a third break because ? I’m strong? Not sure how the third one died, might of never worked.

Please Bambu make a good quality carboard 1kg pool, I can’t financially afford to keep trying your reloads on your reloadable spools. Recycling a carboard roll is way easier worldwide than recycling, a carboard tube, rfid chips, and broken plastic spools.

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User error!!! Ive been using refills for years with zero problems.

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Could it just be technique? I buy refills whenever possible and only have one spool sitting empty right now. I don’t think I’ve had a single refill have these kinds of issues.

I have had one that had wraps stuck together pretty hard that I had to unspool and respool about 1/3 of the spool to clear it, but it worked fine after that. I’ve never had a refill come apart. Dropping a spool and having it come apart is hard to blame on the spool.

Whenever I load a refill spool, I make sure to line up the notch and insert that side first. With the spool on a table and the hub facing up, I then add the other half of the spool making sure to keep the spool half level and not inserted crooked. I make sure it can fully seat and then turn to hear and feel the click. No click and I find the problem and fix it before going any farther.

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The one falling 4-5 inches is totally user error, but even so… why make the design so fragile. I’m not sure how a tangle mid roll, and then the AMS snapping it is user error?

I’m glad your experience is better than mine, I’m not paying a premium ( almost 100% more expensive) for a fragile, will break itself when used as intended product.

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Maybe technique, but I’ve used them and are currently using them successfully(the survivors).

I’m really am happy if anyone has a good experience with them, I’m a Fan Boy, and I hope you continue having great results. I have had poor results, and don’t wish to try any more… lol

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A lot depends on what actually happened. If the spool halves weren’t properly secured and it dropped, it seems reasonable that it would shatter because the load was probably distributed way off normal.

If it was properly secured, dropped, and shattered, it’s important to keep in mind that they are largely throwaway items for most people and it makes sense Bambu wouldn’t run up the cost with specialized plastics that can take abuse.

Also, what did it fall onto? Concrete doesn’t give much and can cause a huge impulse in the plastic even from a few inches. Other materials may give some but apparently not enough to survive a small fall if it wasn’t onto concrete.

There’s an old adage about three things that varies depending on the discussion. It’s basically pick any two - cost, durability, ease of manufacture. I just picked something for the third item but the adage is that it’s difficult to try to do anything fast, cheap, and well. Pick any two. Most times things are a compromise. In this case, the compromise was less able to absorb shock from falls but it may have saved you some money on plastic you just throw away.

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I just wish I could get some filament with spools! It seems every time I select a color no matter the type it’s sold out or only available as refills. I got to move on to another brand of filament. I have been trying for three months. This is ridiculous!

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Maybe try some “specials”. The marble prints easily while the wood looks good. After that, you’ll have all the spools you need.

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If you need an AMS, the full comes with three regular empty spools and one high temperature empty spool. The “lite” doesn’t list any empty spools supplied.

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Or just print a couple of them. You indeed have a lot more choice and availability as refills

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Print a spool. I recommend this one, the AMS friendly version:

I actually have a bit of filament I don’t like that I print those spools with, so far printed 5 of them :wink: Even when going with Bambu’s filament it’s still more cost effective than buying Babmu’s Reusable spools :slight_smile:

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