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AMS Maintenance

AMS (Automatic Material System) is a precision system that requires regular maintenance to work reliably. The most common problems are a dirty filament path and moisture in the housing.

PTFE tubes​

PTFE tubes transport filament from the AMS to the printer. They are among the first parts to wear out.

Inspection​

Check PTFE tubes for:

  • Kinks or bends — impedes filament flow
  • Wear at connections — white dust around the inlets
  • Shape deformation — especially with CF materials

Replacing PTFE tubes​

  1. Release filament from AMS (run unload cycle)
  2. Press in the blue locking ring around the tube at the fitting
  3. Pull out the tube (requires a firm grip)
  4. Cut new tube to the correct length (not shorter than the original)
  5. Push in until it stops and lock
AMS Lite vs. AMS

AMS Lite (A1/A1 Mini) has a simpler PTFE configuration than full AMS (P1S/X1C). The tubes are shorter and easier to replace.

Filament path​

Cleaning the filament path​

Filaments leave dust and residue in the filament path, especially CF materials:

  1. Unload all slots
  2. Use compressed air or a soft brush to blow out loose dust
  3. Run a piece of clean nylon or PTFE cleaning filament through the path

Sensors​

AMS uses sensors to detect filament position and filament breaks. Keep sensor windows clean:

  • Gently wipe sensor lenses with a clean brush
  • Avoid IPA directly on sensors

Moisture​

AMS does not protect filament from moisture. For hygroscopic materials (PA, PETG, TPU) the following is recommended:

Dry AMS alternatives​

  • Sealed box: Place spools in an airtight box with silica gel
  • Bambu Dry Box: Official drying box accessory
  • External feeder: Use a filament feeder outside the AMS for sensitive materials

Moisture indicators​

Place humidity indicator cards (hygrometer) inside the AMS housing. Replace silica gel pouches when above 30% relative humidity.

Drive wheels and clamping mechanism​

Inspection​

Check the drive wheels (extruder wheels in AMS) for:

  • Filament residue between teeth
  • Wear on gear teeth
  • Uneven friction when pulling manually

Cleaning​

  1. Use a toothbrush or brush to remove residue between the drive wheel teeth
  2. Blow with compressed air
  3. Avoid oil and lubricant — the grip level is calibrated for dry operation

Maintenance intervals​

ActivityInterval
Visual inspection of PTFE tubesMonthly
Cleaning filament pathEvery 100 hours
Check sensorsMonthly
Replace silica gel (dry setup)As needed (at 30%+ RH)
Replace PTFE tubesWhen visible wear is present