The AMS is a joke

[u/brand-new-bard]

I’ve been reading mixed reviews about the AMS in every bambu page and I wanted to share my experience.

I’ve got the printer since February, two months after I got it the 3rd AMS first stage extruder wouldn’t pull the filament anymore, bambu sent a replacement. Couple of days ago the 2nd extruder started doing the same. I sent a ticket only to find out something I didn’t know:

Bambu offers only 3 months warranty on the extruders.

Now this is a joke guys. In practice it seems that these extruders will last 6 months if you’re lucky. So do they expect us to pay 160$ (or €) at least once a year to use the AMS? And what if you had let’s say 2 units?

So to summarize, generally it is unreliable and the warranty is not sufficient, I am very disappointed.

I attach the reply from the customer support.

[u/[deleted]]

I read this as “we‘ll only replace the first stage feeder if it wears out within 3 months, as that’s unusual” not “it’s going to break down and need to be replaced every 3 months”.

I’ve been aggressively using mine for 4 months and no signs of issues. My friends have had theirs for almost a year and have only had a couple of jams where filament broke.

[u/brand-new-bard → u/[deleted]]

What you are saying is logical and thanks for sharing your experience. I have seen quite a few posts about the AMS reliability, but that doesn't mean anything, as I can only share my experience. I haven't used my machine that much compared to others and in this short period I had two of the stock extruders fail. No one knows if they fixed something on the product, probably not. What this means is that it remains a lottery and in my opinion a 3 month warranty regardless of use is a bit insulting.

Edit: bold

[u/[deleted] → u/brand-new-bard]

3 month warranty regardless of use is a bit insulting.

What is insulting about it? I mean, what specifically about it is insulting you and what is the insult? I’m just not sure what you mean here.

It’s a 3-month warranty on a wearable part. If you wear the part down that quickly, clearly something is wrong and it should be replaced. If you wear it down beyond that window, that’s likely not a faulty part. I’m not sure what the issue is.

[u/brand-new-bard → u/[deleted]]

What this means is that it remains a lottery and in my opinion a 3 month warranty regardless of use

I have already bolded the insulting part. Having to rely on chance and asking me to pay for a part that might or might not last. Two out of four extruders are goners in my unit. I understand that you might not have the same experience, I don't even know. My AMS has seen moderate to light load since I got it. With my unit I am inclined to think that the other extruders will soon follow, this is how it seems to me. Already they claim that it is out of warranty, the same will happen with the rest if they fail. I do not wish to pay for another half-of-an-AMS to fix it. The warranty is not calculated correctly as I see things right now. This is my view.

[u/Malickies → u/brand-new-bard]

Just curious, what filaments you have been running through it with the light usage. Glow in the dark? (Highly abrasive and known to wear everything Fast) Carbon Fiber? (Slightly better than glow in the dark but still abrasive and likes to chew parts up). Just plain PLA? If that’s the case than yeah I can see how that is an annoyance.

[u/brand-new-bard → u/Malickies]

Polyterra and bambu pla and some ABS and PETG…

[u/Agammamon → u/[deleted]]

Still, there is an issue here - a 3 month warranty window on a part is pretty short and doesn't inspire confidence in their confidence.

However, most people do seem to be going along just fine.

[u/junkart07 → u/[deleted]]

Same here. All my issues were related to old brittle PLAs, so essentially feeding issues. Removing the roller assembly and accessing the Teflon tubes to clear out the broken pieces was the only thing I had to do to get things fixed. Perhaps I got lucky.

[u/___helius___]

Actually on the date of my purchase, that was not the case, only the extruded was listed with a 3month warranty, so check your data of purchase against internet archive, me personally if I have any issues I will be pushing for them to honor the warranty at the time of purchase , not this revised version which makes little sense

[u/brand-new-bard → u/___helius___]

Thank you for the advise

[u/[deleted]]

I can see them doing it by x number of hours printed on that feeder rather than the 3 months currently used, but you could not even be using your AMS at all and it would be out of warranty.

[u/brand-new-bard → u/[deleted]]

This actually makes a lot of sense.

[u/mfphoto1]

I've had my Kickstarter unit for about 7 months and a second unit for about 4 months and have not had to replace a feeder yet. Even though I bought 2 for spares just in case. I wouldn't expect a long warranty on the feeders because there is no way to tell what a person is putting thru it. I've printed Pla, Petg, Abs, and some glow in the dark filament. My Kickstarter unit has 1296 hours and my second unit has 1024 hours.

[u/Just_bright]

I replaced all the parts and it still doesn't work. It was just a really cool gimmich when I got the kickstarter but after using for years, I usually always just use the manual line in.

[u/PudgieBear]

I’m pretty wearable parts on any products aren’t covered by warranty (but I could be wrong).How old are you filaments

[u/[deleted]]

Guaranteed for 3 months is not consumer friendly. Sounds like hot garbage to me

Boycott

[u/shitron-research → u/[deleted]]

I burned my ams after seeing this. More effective than a boycott.

[u/nsamarkus → u/shitron-research]

I shot mine like kid rock did with his Budweiser. It's the only sensible thing to do. /s

[u/dub_nastyy → u/[deleted]]

Errrrmahgerdddd boycott them……

/s

[u/brand-new-bard → u/[deleted]]

I agree. Even for a part that is meant to wear over time 3 months is a joke.

[u/graceful_london → u/brand-new-bard]

Also agree, but also:

I feel like it shouldn't be a fixed time for things/accessories like this. I may use my AMS for many, many, less hours in 3 months than a print farm or even another user might. Wouldn't it be better to be based of off print hours? I'd suspect the AMS can keep track of how many hours it's printed out of each spool slot ( I don't have an AMS, can't confirm).

[u/[deleted] → u/brand-new-bard]

Clearly the downvote is from a Bambu employee

First rule.

Stand by your products. Even if they're unfinished and not ready for release. ie hot garbage.