Printing with the AMS lite, I recently had a print run out of filament while I was away.
As I received a message on the Bambu app, I realized I had to physically place a new spool in the same position as the one that ran out.
Hmmm…
Let’s see now, this printer can swap filament by itself on single prints with up to 4 colors, but it can’t use another spool if one runs out ?
Isn’t that a missed opportunity to provide a smart feature with the given hardware and software ?
If you mean wanting it to resume with another identical spool from a different position, that already exists.
If you mean using a filament that doesn’t match the one that ran out, that doesn’t exist, but, has been axed for several times here, a quick search will show you.
The issue I imagine that holds the feature back is that different filaments have different needs like temp and speed, it isn’t always as simple as “use that one if you run out”.
There is a workaround if you think it any occur during a print.
Fake it.
Tell the printer that both spool are the same provider, type and colour.
Tell the slicer to print using slot 1 white and make sure auto refill is enabled.
As far as the slicer and printer know, both are white.
This will not work with Bambu filaments as they printer knows what is there and won’t let you tell it otherwise.
Hi MalcTheOracle, indeed, there were different colors in the other spool holders. So what you are saying is that if I had the exact same Bambu PLA type and same color in another position, the app would have proposed to use that one ?
I’d be surprised if a different color for the exact same Bambu PLA would have different settings, but hey, maybe you’re right.
Can all this be done through the app ? The idea is to be able to do the change remotely.
Those aren’t identical, the match must be:
An eSun PLA+ red and an eSun PLA+ blue are not identical because of the colour.
This is the feature people want to have and have asked for here many times before.
The properties of those two filaments only differing by colour wouldn’t change the slicer parameters.
Currently, there is no option for this. It was eloquently described just a couple of days ago if I remember correctly here in the forum as a request.
With the eSun example, you could tell the printer they are both red and it would grab the blue when red runs out.
You can’t do this with BL filaments because they and not you tell the printer what their properties are.
I didn’t say different colours, I said different filaments. An eSun and a Elegoo may well have different temperature and speed differences.
As I pointed out, colour isn’t an issue as you could fake it with non-BL brands.
The current process is automatic, it isn’t a question of remotely or locally. If you have auto refill enabled, it occurs, it doesn’t matter where you initiate it.
Assuming you are using the Bambu Studio (BS) slicer remotely from your printer’s location, as long as you have auto refill enabled, you choose the starting spool when beginning the print. The printer will then choose the next available matching filament available on the AMS when one runs out. This can occur more than once during printing. You could use up to 16kg of filament with 4xAMS on the P & X series printers or 4kg of filament on the A series.
The same is true if you print using Bambu Handy.
As you are using BL filaments, you cannot use the hack I mentioned by faking the material information. This means you do get the auto refill, but, you don’t get the ability to grab any matching filament if the colour is different.
I imagine this feature will come in an updated BS as the code to achieve it is simple enough, the only complication (albeit limited) is creating the UI changes.
Thanks for the thorough answer !
If I have white run out and I manually put in black to the same spot, what will happen?
If one filament runs out mid-pint, you can add another spool of filament back onto the printer, hit resume and the printer will continue.
The important part.
Provided you stick with the same sort of filament, you can swap one colour with another.
Your example:
BL PLA Basic White runs out, you can swap this for ANY other colour BL PLA Basic filament.
BL PLA Basic White >>> BL PLA Basic Black = no problems
If you had a BL PLA White on the printer and swapped it for eSun PLA+ Black, this 'may cause problems as the speed and temperature values are different.
BL PLA Basic White >>> eSun PLA+ Black = potential problems
If you had BL PLA Basic White on the printer and swapped it for Overture PETG Black, this would cause problems as these two types of filaments do not work together.
BL PLA Basic White >>> Overture PETG Black = certain problems
If you use BL filaments, the RFID tags are not checked mid-print, and you do not have to worry that your printer will reject your choice.
Note:
I used BL PLA Basic White as an example, the order and brand of the filaments are not relevant, the speed, temperature and type of filaments do matter.
Thanks! totally make sense. Here is what I am looking for “If you use BL filaments, the RFID tags are not checked mid-print, and you do not have to worry that your printer will reject your choice.”
Happy to help, I am known for my long-detailed answers.
As you didn’t stipulate you were using BL filament, I had to guess and then provide solutions to all scenarios.
As you didn’t ask if the FRID tags were scanned mid-print, I had to guess that might be involved.
I am a software developer at heart and extremely detail-oriented.
Some call it wisdom (me), some call it far too many words (everyone else).