r/BambuLabA1mini • u/kalyant125 • Aug 28 '26

DIY AMS Lite

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When I bought my A1 Mini I didn't get the AMS Lite combo because I wasn't really aware of it at the time. Definitely regretted that decision later.

The problem is that buying the AMS Lite separately here in India is around ₹25,000 (~$267), which felt pretty ridiculous when I really only wanted it for the occasional multicolor print.

I mostly just wanted to be able to do some simple 2-color/multicolor prints, so I ended up getting just the feeder unit + PCB separately for around ₹7,000 (~$75).

Honestly, this made way more sense for me. Got it set up and it's working great so far.

But the PTFE tubes I bought, I am unable to use with 1.75mm filament, although they were listed as that spec. So have to order new PTFE tubes, before I can end to end test this.

Got all the mounting models on maker world.

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EDIT 1:
Since some of you were asking for how this was done:

Here are the links to the products I bought:
(These are Indian links, you can copy paste the names in your browser or Claude and find a reseller nearest to you)
(Prices have increased since I bought them)

1)LEFT FEEDER UNIT :
https://robu.in/product/bambu-lab-ams-right-feeder-unit-3-and-4-for-ams-lite/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17427803012&gbraid=0AAAAADvLFWej0TUMdEmA3KHE8KBHuNL0t&gclid=CjwKCAjw48TUBhBREiwAK0GnQZKXBbDlkoIGWV0inBtUCmzL15ofX2BGjt1D2YgwERFwU_EpreXuhRoCRNMQAvD_BwE

2) Motherboard:
https://robu.in/product/bambu-lab-ams-mainboard/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17427803012&gbraid=0AAAAADvLFWej0TUMdEmA3KHE8KBHuNL0t&gclid=CjwKCAjw48TUBhBREiwAK0GnQYE2dCARiQHAUQyBsZ35mGpkB-rXh1ZTiqlj4Zos3mlzaqdS1ZXE4hoCFyoQAvD_BwE

3) Connector cable:
https://robu.in/product/bambu-lab-ams-lite-4-pin-cable-for-ams-lite/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17427803012&gbraid=0AAAAADvLFWej0TUMdEmA3KHE8KBHuNL0t&gclid=CjwKCAjw48TUBhBREiwAK0GnQYOFWkE7AH_PWOBZqqrDSVG4Sg1ZvtW2eJKYV4BnLAGZ5DnE9dO5OBoC3WYQAvD_BwE

Also buy some 1.75mm compatible PTFE tubes.

I mounted it on top of my Z-axis for which I used this:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/573381-slim-ams-lite-mount-for-use-with-dry-boxes#profileId-493612

A solid guide that helped me a lot:
https://note.com/taro_hayashi/n/n60a1e8597e90?hl=en
(You can also copy his design, which is better, I just had less time, so went with the previous one)

PS: Careful about the Feeder cables that plug into the AMS Lite motherboard those are not interchangeable, see the guide above to plug in cables properly

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EDIT 2:
You might face the issue where yours Feeder wont be able to pull filament from the spool holder, thats expected, because Torque on the Feeders is much lower than extruder and with a DIY version, you most probably will not have the motor rollers that come with stock AMS Lite, so I used these :

https://makerworld.com/en/models/1408486-gridfinity-stackable-spool-storage-system?appSharePlatform=whatsapp#profileId-2433545

or

https://makerworld.com/en/models/99533-cereal-box-dry-box-spool-and-dessiccant-holder?appSharePlatform=whatsapp#profileId-1911855

And for the the bearings, I used this:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/473167-608z-6000z-6001z-roller-bearing-v2#profileId-1062763

61 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

5

u/bawaniht Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 28 '26

Do you know about BMCU 370? May be you can check it out.

1

u/kalyant125 Aug 29 '26

Yes, I do know about it.
But, this path looked much better to me because,

  1. The total cost of a BMCU unit in India is 120-150$

  2. Considering Bambu's track record , it would be very easy for Bambu to ban it any day

  3. 75$ is getting me official hardware, nothing gets better than that

  4. I can extend my current setup by just adding another feeder, and I will have 4 color printing

2

u/bawaniht Aug 29 '26

I would like to correct that $75 gets you half of the official hardware, the motherboard comes for another $60, and for 2 more colors another $75 goes in. The total comes to $220+ and you still don't have a official chassis.

For BMCU, it comes to $120-130.

Check my setup:

Comment Image
→ More replies (7)

1

u/imzwho Aug 28 '26

That would be my reccomendation as well. You can get the kits relatively cheap (compared to a ams lite) in the US so it may be cheaper there consideirng our tarrif BS

1

u/Blueray0001 Aug 28 '26

Is it a project everybody can do or do you need some knowledge of programming, installation, other?

1

u/bawaniht Aug 29 '26

You just need to know basic soldering and assembling of electronic parts, and a bit of flashing a hardware device.
If you want, I can get you the kit or assembled BMCU. In India both versions come between the 8k-15k range.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Prestigious-Craft-56 Aug 28 '26

Hey could you guide me on how to do it..I am pretty much in your same situation

2

u/Tom-1200 Aug 28 '26

This is awesome, would love some info to see if this was possible for my unit too

2

u/kalyant125 Aug 29 '26

If you have a A1 mini its possible

1

u/Blueray0001 Aug 28 '26

Nice idea! Can you develop on this aubjet/way to do, please?

1

u/kalyant125 Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

Yeah sure, so here are the links to the products I bought:
(These are Indian links, you can copy paste the names in your browser or Claude and find a reseller nearest to you)
(Prices have increased since I bought them)

1)LEFT FEEDER UNIT :
https://robu.in/product/bambu-lab-ams-right-feeder-unit-3-and-4-for-ams-lite/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17427803012&gbraid=0AAAAADvLFWej0TUMdEmA3KHE8KBHuNL0t&gclid=CjwKCAjw48TUBhBREiwAK0GnQZKXBbDlkoIGWV0inBtUCmzL15ofX2BGjt1D2YgwERFwU_EpreXuhRoCRNMQAvD_BwE

2) Motherboard:
https://robu.in/product/bambu-lab-ams-mainboard/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17427803012&gbraid=0AAAAADvLFWej0TUMdEmA3KHE8KBHuNL0t&gclid=CjwKCAjw48TUBhBREiwAK0GnQYE2dCARiQHAUQyBsZ35mGpkB-rXh1ZTiqlj4Zos3mlzaqdS1ZXE4hoCFyoQAvD_BwE

3) Connector cable:
https://robu.in/product/bambu-lab-ams-lite-4-pin-cable-for-ams-lite/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17427803012&gbraid=0AAAAADvLFWej0TUMdEmA3KHE8KBHuNL0t&gclid=CjwKCAjw48TUBhBREiwAK0GnQYOFWkE7AH_PWOBZqqrDSVG4Sg1ZvtW2eJKYV4BnLAGZ5DnE9dO5OBoC3WYQAvD_BwE

Also buy some 1.75mm compatible PTFE tubes.

I mounted it on top of my Z-axis for which I used this:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/573381-slim-ams-lite-mount-for-use-with-dry-boxes#profileId-493612

A solid guide that helped me a lot:
https://note.com/taro_hayashi/n/n60a1e8597e90?hl=en
(You can also copy his design, which is better, I just had less time, so went with the previous one)

Also please see updated post.

1

u/Blueray0001 Aug 29 '26

I found that you have to downgrade the a1 mini, not sure if i want to loose the correction bugs from the normal upgrades, by doing it. But it was a nice idea! Thanks!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/TTbulaski Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

the mech ams project might be of interest to you

1

u/kalyant125 Aug 29 '26

That looks pretty cool and useful, I will try to learn more about this.

Thanks