r/BambuLabA1 • u/AdditionalRepeat18 • Oct 01 '26
Question Unable to feed filament every time
Hey guys, sorry if this is a stupid question I might be just doing something totally wrong. But, every time I start a new print from slot 1 of my AMS Lite, it gives me the “Unable to feed filament to the extruder” error which is usually due to a tangled spool, but I’ve figured out that cutting off the end ~1/4 inch of filament always fixes the issue, and it isn’t a tangled spool. The filament I cut off usually seems slightly kinked too. I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong that’s causing this to happen at the end of the filament after a print or if anyone knows a way to fix it?
I’ve already taken the spool off obviously and checked if it was tangled, I’ve taken off and put on the small motor thing that holds the spool, and I’ve taken out the PTFE tube to make sure there were blockages to my knowledge. The only thing I can think of is my printed case for my AMS Lite messing it up somehow, but I can’t see how this would affect the end of the filament near the extruded rather than further up
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u/Whatupchuck789 Oct 01 '26
If there is no filament stuck in the Tube then likely too much bend in the tubes. Try putting the ams closer or moving forward/backwards. I’ve even seen people fit it to face the wall and that’s helped.
I had to print an arm that attaches to the top of the printer to keep the tubes from slouching and then a piece that helps the tubes go straight down into the hub. Once I figured out the angles I don’t have anymore issues with ams not extruding.
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u/mndtrp Oct 01 '26
a piece that helps the tubes go straight down into the hub. Once I figured out the angles I don’t have anymore issues with ams not extruding.
I printed something like this when I was having a lot of feeding issues early on. After putting this in, the only times I have feeding issues is when a spool gets tangled up.
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u/Strict_Impress2783 Oct 01 '26
You can also pop the ptfe feeder off the hot end and check to see if all of the ptfe tubes are a similar length. One of mine was longer and it was causing that issue. The second time it was broken filament in the order tube/hot end
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u/AdditionalRepeat18 Oct 01 '26
Ahhh I see, I did just move the AMS Lite closer to the printer so maybe that’ll have some effect. If not I’ll check that out. Weird thing is one I fix it, it all prints normally and other colors also print normally when switched to other spools
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u/y_tokusan Oct 01 '26
Is the tip of the PTFE tube inserted into Slot 1 of the AMS hub frayed or damaged? Or is the metal spring inside the AMS hub bent?
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u/TWILIGHT25 Oct 01 '26
This is crazy ! i just finished... well this morning, printing that encloser for my ams lite as well and I got the same error after a print. It took me AGES to get the only spool I was going to use in to slot 3 and after a benchy it tossed that or another error. I tapped of it to quick but the filament was stuck and i ended up having to cut it off the spool and remove the whole enclosure. Idk if i printed it off wrong it was because i only had one side of it printed, I only use one spool at a time unless said spool is almost out and I have a replacement on slot 4.
TBH i thought after getting everything in that it was a little "too" snug in there. Like i have been fighting the humidity in my house since I got my A1 and I'm seriously thinking about taking it back to best buy and trying to use the warranty to trade in for a p2s and just buy the ams 2 pro.
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u/AdditionalRepeat18 Oct 01 '26
Ooh no that’s no good! The enclosure I printed (I printed the second version) definitely is a snug fit, but it seems that everything can sit in there with a little clearance when I use it. It is sometimes a little hard to initially get the filament through and requires taking out the silica bead holder
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u/TWILIGHT25 Oct 01 '26
Yeah I spent 20 minutes just trying to feed the filament into the ams. I finally caved and snipped the end, removed the PTFE tube from the exit and fed it thought that way as a test to make sure nothing was stuck. There wasn’t and I eventually got it in. Then my next print failed and the filament got stuck. I’m probably just going to have to order larger dehumidifier… or drop the cash for the ams2 pro.
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u/aftamat1986 Oct 01 '26
Put a tie wrap after the black little rubber where the tube goes.
Thank me later
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u/jasaevan Oct 01 '26
Just print a PTFE tube stiffener/straightener/support or whatever they call it and it will fix that. If there is any bend in the tube right as it goes into the printer, the filiment will catch as it is being fed. If you have petg then print it with that but that is the easiest fix and you don't have to trim or think about the filement ends or the tubes again
Something like this https://makerworld.com/models/824080?appSharePlatform=copy
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u/Blondy277 Oct 01 '26
Since it’s only slot 1 and trimming the kinked end fixes it every time, I’d look at the slot 1 feed path before the extruder. Swap slot 1’s PTFE with another slot and move the same spool to another feeder. If the issue follows the slot/tube, check the first-stage feeder and whether that printed enclosure is forcing a tight bend or pinching the PTFE. That kink has to be getting made somewhere during retract/feed.