Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer Combo with AMS Lite

Printing a single colour part is straightforward. Printing a school logo in two colours, a cosplay prop with separate skin and armour tones, or a prototype where you want support material to snap away cleanly, normally means babysitting filament swaps or buying a second printer entirely.

The Bambu Lab A1 Combo with AMS Lite solves this by pairing the A1's fast CoreXY inspired motion system and self calibrating bed with Bambu's AMS Lite, a four spool automatic material system that switches colours and materials mid print without you touching the machine. RFID equipped Bambu filaments are recognised automatically, so the printer applies the correct profile for each spool on its own.

For South African makers who want multi colour or multi material printing without the cost or footprint of an enclosed X1 or P1 series setup, this combo gives you a 256 mm cubed bed, 500 mm/s print speeds, and four colour capability in one package, with local stock and support through 3D Printing Store.

256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume | AMS Lite included for 4 colour printing | 500 mm/s max speed | 300°C all metal hotend | Auto bed levelling and flow calibration | RFID filament recognition | 1080p monitoring camera

Who the Bambu Lab A1 Combo with AMS Lite is built for

Hobbyist makers

If you have wanted to print multi colour models without manual filament changes, the AMS Lite handles up to four spools and switches between them automatically using RFID detection on genuine Bambu filaments. You could print a two tone cosplay helmet, with the base colour and trim swapped automatically partway through, finishing as a single print rather than several glued together pieces.

Schools and makerspaces

For an educator running multiple student projects, the AMS Lite's automatic filament backup means a spool running low mid print does not stop a class job, the system switches to a backup spool of the same material automatically. Combined with the A1's auto calibration and Bambu Handy monitoring, you can run several student designs back to back with minimal supervision, each in a different colour to identify whose model is whose.

Small print farm operators

Running batches that mix colours or use dissolvable support material is normally a manual, error prone process. With AMS Lite's PVA and snap away support compatibility, you can queue prints overnight that use a soluble or break away support material on slot two while printing your main part in PLA or PETG on slot one, then collect parts the next morning with supports that lift off cleanly rather than requiring post processing tools.

What sets the A1 Combo with AMS Lite apart

Four colours, one printer, no manual swaps

The included AMS Lite holds up to four spools and switches between them automatically during a print. Bambu Lab filaments carry an RFID tag that the AMS Lite reads on load, automatically syncing the correct temperature and flow profile to Bambu Studio. For filament from other brands, you set the profile manually once and the AMS Lite will still handle the physical spool switching and feeding.

Print speeds that change how you plan your week

The A1's motion system reaches up to 500 mm/s with 10,000 mm/s² acceleration, driven by input shaping that cancels out the vibration normally associated with high speed FDM printing. Multi colour prints that would otherwise take significantly longer due to filament change pauses still benefit from this speed on the single colour portions of a model.

Auto levelling that actually works the first time

Before every print, the A1 runs a strain based auto levelling routine that checks Z offset, bed mesh, and vibration response without any manual input. This matters even more with multi material prints, where a poor first layer on one section can throw off adhesion for the entire model, particularly when mixing materials with different shrinkage rates.

Spool compatibility that does not fight you

The AMS Lite uses a spring loaded rotary spool holder that grips the spool at its centre hole, which works with cardboard, plastic, and Bambu's own spools without adapters. This avoids a common frustration with multi material systems where third party filament spools simply do not sit correctly.

A hotend ready for more than basic colours

The all metal hotend reaches 300°C with a 100°C bed, supporting PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PA, and PC through the AMS Lite. Carbon fibre and glass fibre filaments such as PLA-CF are supported through the printer's direct feed (bypassing the AMS), provided you fit the hardened steel nozzle, since the AMS Lite itself is not designed for abrasive composite filaments.

Monitoring that keeps multi colour jobs on track

The built in 1080p camera and Bambu Handy app let you check progress on longer multi material prints from anywhere, while spaghetti failure detection stops a job automatically if a print detaches from the bed, important on longer jobs where a failure partway through wastes not just time but multiple filament colours.

Full specifications

How the A1 Combo with AMS Lite compares to the rest of the range

Materials and software

Filaments this printer handles

• PLA, recommended hotend around 210°C, bed around 55°C. Tip: PLA is fully supported through the AMS Lite with RFID auto detection on Bambu spools.
• PETG, recommended hotend around 240°C, bed around 70°C. Tip: works through the AMS Lite, but keep humidity in mind, PETG absorbs moisture faster than PLA even inside the AMS housing.
• ABS, recommended hotend around 250°C, bed around 90°C. Tip: supported through the AMS Lite, but print in a draft free area since the A1 is open frame.
• ASA, recommended hotend around 250°C, bed around 90°C. Tip: supported through the AMS Lite, similar handling to ABS with better UV resistance.
• TPU, recommended hotend around 220°C, bed around 35°C. Tip: not supported through the AMS Lite, load TPU directly into the printer's main extruder rather than through the AMS Lite spool bay.
• PC (polycarbonate), recommended hotend around 270 to 280°C, bed around 100°C. Tip: supported through the AMS Lite, but the open frame design means ambient temperature affects results more than on an enclosed printer.
• PVA dissolvable support, recommended hotend around 210°C, bed around 55°C. Tip: load dry PVA into one AMS Lite slot to print snap away or dissolvable supports alongside your main material.
• Carbon fibre composites (PLA-CF), recommended hotend around 260°C, bed around 80°C. Tip: PLA-CF is supported through the AMS Lite, but other carbon or glass fibre filaments are not, fit the hardened steel nozzle and feed these directly.

Slicers and software

Bambu Studio is the primary slicer, with built in AMS Lite filament mapping that lets you assign each of the four slots to a colour or material directly in the slicing interface, then automatically generates the multi material G-code including purge and transition sequences.

OrcaSlicer supports the same AMS Lite slot mapping and is a good option if you want finer control over transition tower settings or custom multi material profiles.

The printer's firmware implements input shaping and pressure advance style flow compensation, concepts shared with open source Klipper firmware, though the A1 runs Bambu's own proprietary implementation rather than Klipper itself.

What's in the box

• Bambu Lab A1 3D printer
• AMS Lite unit with 4 spool holders
• Textured PEI build plate
• Spare nozzle (stainless steel)
• Nozzle cleaning needles
• Hex key set and tool kit
• Filament guide tubes for AMS Lite to extruder
• Sample PLA filament spool
• Power cables for printer and AMS Lite
• USB drive with documentation
• Quick start guide

Please note: The 4 filament spools in the pictures are not included with the product. Only 1 sample PLA filament spool is included with the product.

Ordering, shipping and support

The A1 Combo with AMS Lite ships via courier to anywhere in South Africa, with stock held at our Centurion and Boksburg branches for collection or faster dispatch. The printer and AMS Lite are covered under manufacturer warranty, with claims handled locally through our service team rather than requiring you to ship units overseas. Replacement nozzles, build plates, PEI sheets, and compatible filament including PLA, PETG, ABS, PVA support material, and TPU are stocked alongside the combo for ongoing use.

Frequently asked questions

Is the A1 Combo with AMS Lite better than buying the standalone A1 and AMS Lite separately?

Buying the combo is generally more cost effective than purchasing the standalone A1 and AMS Lite separately, and it ensures the cabling, mounting bracket, and firmware are matched from the start. If you already own an A1 and only need to add multi colour capability later, the AMS Lite is also available as a standalone add on.

Can the AMS Lite handle TPU, ABS, or carbon fibre filament?

ABS, ASA, PC, and PLA-CF are supported through the AMS Lite, but TPU and other carbon or glass fibre reinforced filaments are not. TPU should be loaded directly into the printer rather than through the AMS Lite, and abrasive composite filaments other than PLA-CF should also bypass the AMS Lite and be fed directly with the hardened steel nozzle fitted.

How long does it take to set up the A1 Combo out of the box?

Most users have the printer and AMS Lite assembled, connected, and running a calibration print within around 45 to 60 minutes, slightly longer than the standalone A1 due to mounting and cabling the AMS Lite unit. The A1's full auto calibration routine still handles bed levelling, vibration compensation, and flow calibration automatically once everything is connected.

How often does the nozzle need to be replaced?

For standard materials like PLA and PETG run through the AMS Lite, the stainless steel nozzle can last for hundreds of print hours before wear affects quality. If you print PLA-CF regularly through the AMS Lite, or other abrasive filaments via direct feed, switch to the hardened steel nozzle, which the A1's quick swap design allows you to change in a couple of minutes without tools.

Does the A1 Combo come with a South African plug, and is there local warranty support?

The combo is supplied with power cables suitable for the South African 220V supply for both the printer and the AMS Lite unit, and we recommend checking plug types on delivery against your wall sockets. Warranty support for both the printer and AMS Lite is handled locally through 3D Printing Store, so you do not need to ship either unit overseas for repairs or replacement parts.