Filament for Bambu Lab printers: original vs other brands, and what fits the AMS
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You don’t have to buy Bambu Lab filament for a Bambu Lab printer. Other brands work too, as long as the filament is 1.75 mm, the material is one the AMS supports, and the spool is 197–202 mm across and 50–68 mm wide. The AMS lite has its own spool limits.
The original has two main advantages: an RFID chip that lets the printer set the material and colour by itself, and Bambu Studio profiles tuned for higher speed. Otherwise the spool and the material decide, not the brand.
Updated: November 2026
Does filament from other brands work in a Bambu Lab printer?
Yes. Bambu Studio has Generic profiles for it (Generic PLA, Generic PETG and others), and its own profiles for some brands, such as Polymaker PolyLite and PolyTerra. Bambu Lab describes the Generic profiles as conservatively tuned to suit a wide range of filaments.
The difference is that the printer doesn’t recognise another brand’s filament. You set the material and colour for the AMS slot by hand, on the printer screen or in Bambu Studio.
When is Bambu Lab filament worth it?
When you want automatic spool recognition, top speed, or carbon fibre or TPU in the AMS:
- The AMS recognises the material and colour from the RFID chip on Bambu Lab spools.
- Faster printing. The Bambu PLA Basic profile allows a flow of 21 mm³/s, the Generic PLA profile 12 mm³/s.
- Carbon fibre in the AMS. Bambu Lab allows only its own PLA-CF, PETG-CF and PAHT-CF here, not other brands’ fibre-filled filament.
- TPU from the AMS. For automatic feeding in the AMS, AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT, Bambu Lab supports only its own Bambu Lab TPU for AMS.
- The AMS lite. The Bambu Lab spool fits every AMS unit, the AMS lite included.
The Bambu Lab filament we sell: Bambu Lab PLA, PETG and TPU.
When is another brand fine?
For most everyday prints. Another brand makes sense when:
- you print common materials such as PLA or PETG and the spool fits the AMS,
- you need a special material, such as ESD filament for electronics, self-extinguishing FRJet PETG, ABS Medical or PLA that holds up to 100 °C (GreenyHT),
- you want a smaller spool: some Spectrum PETG also comes on 0.5 kg spools, and Fillamentum and 3DXTech sell 0.75 kg.
Other brands we have checked for the AMS are in the Bambu Lab AMS filter.
Which spools fit the AMS?
The AMS, AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT take spools 197–202 mm in outer diameter and 50–68 mm wide. The spool sits on rollers, so the centre hole doesn’t matter. Size decides, not weight.
| Brand | Spool | Spool material | AMS, AMS 2 Pro, AMS HT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab | 1 kg | plastic | Yes |
| Spectrum | 1 kg | plastic or cardboard | Yes |
| Spectrum | 0.5 kg | plastic | Yes |
| Spectrum | 0.25 kg | cardboard or plastic | No |
| Fillamentum | 0.75 kg | plastic | Yes |
| Polymaker | 1 kg | cardboard | Yes |
| Polymaker | 0.75 kg | cardboard | With an adapter ring |
| 3DXTech | 0.75 kg | plastic | Yes |
| FormFutura | 0.75 kg | cardboard | With an adapter ring |
| FormFutura | 0.5 kg | cardboard | No |
| Filament-PM | 0.5 kg | plastic | Depends on product |
| Filament-PM | 1 kg | plastic | Measuring |
| Devil Design | 1 kg | plastic | Measuring |
| Smart PlastIQs | 1 kg | plastic | Measuring |
| EKO MB | 1 kg | plastic | Measuring |
- Spectrum: the 1 kg spool is 200 × 67 mm, the 0.5 kg spool 200 × 55 mm. The 0.25 kg spool is only 140 mm across.
- 3DXTech 0.75 kg: about 198 × 55 mm. The clear 0.75 kg reel is about 196 mm across, just under the 197 mm minimum.
- The FormFutura 0.5 kg spool is 40 mm wide, too narrow for the AMS.
- Filament-PM uses two spool types for 0.5 kg, so it depends on the product. The ones we have checked carry the “AMS compatible” label.
- Spools of 2 kg and more don’t fit. The Spectrum 2 kg spool, for example, is 300 mm across.
- We are measuring the Devil Design, Filament-PM 1 kg, Smart PlastIQs and EKO MB spools. Until we have checked sizes, we don’t say whether they fit the AMS. If you want to use them in the AMS, ask us.
Source: Bambu Lab (AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT specifications), spool data from Spectrum, 3DXTech, Filament-PM and Polymaker, 3DJake AMS guide. As of November 2026.
Can I put a cardboard spool in the AMS?
Yes, but Bambu Lab recommends plastic spools. For cardboard ones it strongly advises an adapter ring, so the spool doesn’t slip on the rollers and doesn’t leave cardboard dust in the AMS.
Polymaker says its current cardboard spools work in the AMS and AMS 2 Pro. It recommends a ring if the spool is dented or the rollers are worn. You can find printable rings on MakerWorld, for example.
Which materials does the AMS feed?
The AMS, AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT feed the common rigid materials. The AMS lite, made for the A1 and A2 printers, takes fewer. Overview based on Bambu Lab’s data:
| Material | AMS, AMS 2 Pro, AMS HT | AMS lite |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | Yes | Yes |
| PETG | Yes | Yes |
| ABS, ASA | Yes | No |
| PC | Yes | No |
| PA (nylon), unfilled | Yes | Not listed |
| PET, PP, POM, HIPS | Yes | Not listed |
| PVA | Dry only | Dry only |
| BVOH | Dry only | Not listed |
| Bambu Lab TPU for AMS | Yes | Yes |
| Other TPU and TPE | No | Only TPU 55D or harder |
| Bambu Lab PLA-CF | Yes | Yes |
| Bambu Lab PETG-CF, PAHT-CF | Yes | No |
| Other brands’ carbon or glass fibre | No | No |
| Glow in the dark | Not recommended | No |
The AMS HT also has a side outlet (bypass) for feeding soft TPU and fibre-filled filament by hand.
The AMS lite holds the spool by its centre hole, so its limits are different: 40–68 mm wide with a 53–58 mm hole. The Bambu Lab spool fits it. Spectrum gives a 52 mm hole for its spools, 1 mm under the AMS lite minimum. Our “AMS compatible” label covers the AMS, AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT.
Source: Bambu Lab, AMS 2 Pro, AMS HT and AMS lite specifications, AMS lite FAQ and the Bambu Lab Wiki material table. As of November 2026.
How do I set up another brand’s filament in Bambu Studio?
Pick the profile for the material and check the temperature. Step by step:
- Set the material and colour for the AMS slot by hand. Without an RFID chip the printer can’t tell.
- Choose the profile for the material: Generic PLA, Generic PETG, Generic ABS, Generic ASA, Generic PC or Generic PA. Bambu Studio has its own profiles for Polymaker PolyLite (PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA) and PolyTerra PLA.
- Set the nozzle temperature from the spool label. Generic PLA is set to 220 °C, Generic PETG to 255 °C. If the maker gives a different range, go with the maker.
- Leave the speed to the profile. The Generic profiles limit the flow to 12 mm³/s or less. Printing is slower, but safe for most filaments.
- With a new brand, run the Flow Dynamics calibration in Bambu Studio and save the adjusted profile under your own name.
Source: Bambu Studio filament profiles (github.com/bambulab/BambuStudio, 0.4 mm nozzle), November 2026.
Do I need to dry filament before putting it in the AMS?
Usually not for PLA and PETG from a new sealed spool. Yes for PA, PC, PVA and BVOH: they absorb moisture quickly, and Bambu Lab allows PVA and BVOH in the AMS only when dry.
The AMS 2 Pro dries filament at up to 65 °C. According to Bambu Lab, that fully dries PLA and PETG, but not PA, PC, PVA or BVOH. The AMS HT dries at up to 85 °C. The original AMS and the AMS lite don’t dry filament.
What is a refill, and does it work in the AMS?
A refill is filament without a spool. You fit it onto the reusable Bambu Lab spool, which is sold separately, and it goes into the AMS like a normal spool.
Refills from other brands work the same way, just without an RFID chip, so you set the material and colour by hand. Before buying, check that the maker states it fits the Bambu Lab spool.
How do I find AMS filament in your shop?
The filaments we have checked carry the “AMS compatible” property. They are all in the Bambu Lab AMS filter, and the rules and common questions are in our Bambu Lab AMS guide. The product page shows which spool weight fits the AMS.
If you’re not sure, email support@justcreate3d.com or call +421 915 509 416. We ship from Senec, Slovakia, usually within 1–2 working days, with free shipping from a single spool.