Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro
The Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro is the active-drying successor to the original AMS, adding a PTC heater and circulation fan that dries hygroscopic filament (PETG, nylon, PA-CF, TPU) while you print. Same 4-spool capacity, same 16-color daisy-chain ceiling, but no more swapping spools between AMS and a separate filament dryer.
Worth the $100 premium over the original AMS if you print PETG, nylon, or TPU regularly — skip if you only print PLA in a dry climate.
Where to Buy
Pros
- Active drying built in (PTC heater + fan, 30-65°C) eliminates the need for a separate filament dryer for most workflows
- Dual humidity sensors (one per chamber) provide much more accurate readings than original AMS
- Improved cutter design reduces purge waste from 100-150mm³ to 80-120mm³ per color change — saves filament on multi-color prints
- Backward-compatible with existing AMS units — daisy-chain to original AMSes for 8-16 color setups
- Regenerable desiccant compartment means no more buying replacement silica packets every 6-12 months
Cons
- $100 more than the original AMS ($349 vs $249) — hard to justify for PLA-only printers
- Active drying draws 60W during operation, adding measurable cost over months of continuous drying
- Still NOT compatible with the A1 series — A1 owners need the AMS Lite or AMS HT instead
- Drying max temp of 65°C is fine for most filaments but won't hit the 80°C+ that PEEK or ULTEM need (they're not Bambu-supported anyway)
Active Drying: The One Feature That Justifies the Upgrade
The AMS 2 Pro's headline feature is built-in active drying. A PTC heater and circulation fan keep the chamber at 30-65°C, with dual humidity sensors providing per-chamber readings displayed in the Bambu Handy app. For PETG (recommended dry temp: 55°C), nylon (60-70°C), TPU (50°C), and PA-CF (70-80°C — limited by the AMS 2 Pro's 65°C ceiling), this means filament stays print-ready continuously. No more swapping spools to a dryer the night before printing.
The original Bambu AMS had a humidity sensor and a desiccant compartment, but it was passive — once the silica was saturated, your filament absorbed moisture from ambient humidity. In humid climates (Florida, Southeast Asia, anywhere coastal), PETG can degrade noticeably within 3-5 days of opening a fresh spool. The AMS 2 Pro solves this by keeping the chamber actively below 25% relative humidity through continuous gentle heating. You set a per-spool drying profile in the slicer, and the AMS 2 Pro handles the rest.
The 60W power draw during active drying adds up if you run it 24/7 on every spool — figure 4-6 kWh/month per AMS 2 Pro depending on ambient conditions. At average US electricity rates ($0.16/kWh), that's about $0.65-1.00/month per unit. Negligible compared to the cost of ruined PETG prints. The drying disables automatically when the printer is idle for extended periods to save power.
AMS 2 Pro vs Original AMS — Side-by-Side
The AMS 2 Pro shares the original AMS's 4-spool capacity, 16-color daisy-chain ceiling, RFID auto-detection, and basic compatibility (P1S, P1P, X1C, X1E plus the new H2D). What's different is everything inside the chamber. Active drying is the obvious one. Less obvious: the AMS 2 Pro uses a redesigned cutter that produces 80-120mm³ of purge waste per color change vs the original's 100-150mm³ — a 20-30% reduction. On a 16-color cosplay print with 200+ color changes, that adds up to 4-6g of saved filament.
The regenerable desiccant compartment is another quality-of-life upgrade. The original AMS uses replaceable silica gel packets that need swapping every 6-12 months ($15-20/year in supplies). The AMS 2 Pro's desiccant can be regenerated in an oven at 120°C for 2 hours — it lasts essentially forever. Bambu also bundles two desiccant bricks per AMS 2 Pro vs one per original AMS, so you can cycle them while one is regenerating.
Dual humidity sensors (one per chamber half) replace the original's single sensor. Why does this matter? On the original AMS, a single sensor near the spool 1-2 chamber didn't accurately reflect humidity in the spool 3-4 chamber, especially when only some spools had recent desiccant changes. The AMS 2 Pro's per-chamber readings let the slicer make better drying decisions and warn you when one half needs attention.
Mixing AMS 2 Pro with Original AMS: The Smart Multi-Color Setup
If you already own one or two original AMSes, don't replace them — add an AMS 2 Pro alongside. They daisy-chain together via the standard AMS connection, and the slicer treats them as separate sources. The smart setup is to route hygroscopic filaments (PETG, nylon, TPU, PA-CF) through the AMS 2 Pro and keep your PLA in the original AMS units. PLA is barely hygroscopic and doesn't benefit from active drying; spending the AMS 2 Pro's chamber on PLA wastes the feature.
A practical layout for a P1S print farm: one AMS 2 Pro with PETG in slot 1, nylon in slot 2, TPU in slot 3, PA-CF in slot 4. Two original AMSes (8 slots) for PLA in 8 different colors. Total: 12 colors with appropriate handling per material type. The Bambu Studio slicer auto-routes color changes through the correct AMS based on the material assigned to each filament slot, so you don't have to think about it during slicing.
For maximum capacity, you can daisy-chain up to 4 AMS units (any mix of AMS 2 Pro and original AMS) per printer for 16 spools total. Most users top out at 2-3 units — 16 colors is overkill for almost any single print, and the daisy-chain cable adds complexity in tight electronics bays. Two units (one AMS 2 Pro for hygroscopic, one original for PLA) is the practical sweet spot.
Common Gotchas
Compatibility lock-in is the biggest gotcha. The AMS 2 Pro physically connects only to P1S, P1P, X1C, X1E, and the newer H2D. If you own an A1 or A1 Mini, the AMS 2 Pro will not work — those printers use the AMS Lite (no enclosure) or the newer AMS HT (active drying for A1). Don't buy the AMS 2 Pro hoping to use it on an A1 someday; the connector and protocol are different.
Drying max temp is 65°C, which is enough for PETG (55°C), TPU (50°C), nylon (60-70°C), and PA-CF (the printable Bambu version, not the engineering grades that need 80°C+). PEEK, ULTEM, and high-temp engineering filaments need higher drying temps and are not supported by the AMS 2 Pro — they also aren't supported by Bambu printers in the first place, so this rarely matters in practice.
The 60W draw during active drying happens whether or not you're printing. If you leave the AMS 2 Pro powered on overnight at 50°C continuous, you'll add roughly 1.5 kWh per night to your electricity bill. The drying duty cycles automatically when the printer is idle, but power-conscious users should configure manual drying schedules in the Bambu Handy app to control when active drying runs.
Firmware updates have been a sore point during the AMS 2 Pro's first months — several reported bugs around RFID detection and humidity sensor calibration in the early firmware (version 1.04 and earlier). Bambu has been responsive with monthly updates. If you buy now, expect to install a firmware update during initial setup before printing anything important.
Full Specifications
I/O & Interfaces
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| connection | Direct cable to printer (24V + comms) [1] |
Power
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage | 24V from printer [1] |
| power_consumption | 60W max during active drying (idle ~5W) [1] |
Physical
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| capacity | 4 spools (250g-1kg each) [1] |
| Dimensions | 385 x 260 x 165 mm [1] |
| weight_g | 4200 g [1] |
Who Should Buy This
Active drying is the killer feature here. PETG absorbs moisture within days in humid climates, ruining surface finish. The AMS 2 Pro keeps it print-ready at 50-55°C without you swapping spools to a dryer between prints.
PLA is barely hygroscopic and the original AMS handles it fine. Save the $100 — the AMS 2 Pro's active drying is wasted on PLA. Stick with the original Bambu Lab AMS.
Better alternative: Bambu Lab AMS
The AMS 2 Pro is NOT compatible with the A1 series. A1 owners need the AMS Lite (4-spool, no enclosure) or the AMS HT (active drying for A1 series). The AMS 2 Pro physically connects only to P1S/P1P/X1C/X1E/H2D.
Better alternative: Bambu Lab A1 Mini
If you run a P1S or X1C 24/7 with frequent multi-color prints, the AMS 2 Pro's reduced purge waste (80-120mm³ vs 100-150mm³) saves measurable filament across hundreds of color changes per week. Also pairs perfectly with daisy-chained original AMSes for 8-16 color rigs.
Buy the AMS 2 Pro NEW — it's $100 more than the original AMS but you avoid buying a separate $45 SUNLU S2 dryer later, and the regenerable desiccant alone saves $15-20/year in silica packets. Net cost over 2 years is roughly the same.
Better alternative: Bambu Lab AMS
Don't replace your AMS — ADD an AMS 2 Pro alongside it. They daisy-chain together: keep the original AMS for PLA (which doesn't need drying) and route hygroscopic filaments (PETG, nylon, TPU) to the AMS 2 Pro. You get 8 colors total with proper material handling.
Ecosystem & Community
The AMS 2 Pro is supported by Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer with full active-drying control via the slicer. Bambu Handy mobile app shows real-time humidity readings per chamber. Backed by a 200K+ member r/BambuLab community with extensive multi-color print resources on MakerWorld.
Compatible Software
What to Build First
Daisy-chain an AMS 2 Pro (PETG / TPU / nylon / PA-CF) with three original AMS units (12 PLA colors) on a Bambu X1C for the ultimate multi-material cosplay rig. Print rigid PLA shell pieces, flexible TPU joints, nylon stress points, and PETG details — all in one print job, all properly dried.
View tutorial →Must-Have Accessories
Video Reviews & Tutorials
Tutorials & Resources
- Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro official wikiOfficial setup guide, drying profile reference, and firmware update instructionsdocs
- Bambu Studio (slicer with AMS 2 Pro support)Open-source slicer that controls AMS 2 Pro drying profiles per filament typegithub
- OrcaSlicer (community Bambu fork)Community-maintained slicer with broader filament profile library and additional AMS 2 Pro featuresgithub
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AMS 2 Pro worth the upgrade from the original AMS?
If you print PETG, nylon, or TPU regularly, yes — active drying eliminates the need for a separate filament dryer and keeps prints quality consistent. If you only print PLA in a dry climate, the original AMS at $249 is the better value.
Does the AMS 2 Pro work with the Bambu A1 or A1 Mini?
No. The AMS 2 Pro is only compatible with P1S, P1P, X1C, X1E, and H2D. A1 series printers use the AMS Lite (passive, $149) or AMS HT (active drying for A1 series). Connectors and protocols differ between the AMS 2 Pro and A1-compatible AMSes.
Can I daisy-chain an AMS 2 Pro with my existing original AMS?
Yes. Up to 4 AMS units of any mix can daisy-chain on a single printer for 16 colors total. Recommended setup: route hygroscopic materials (PETG, nylon, TPU) through the AMS 2 Pro and keep PLA in the original AMS units.
How much electricity does active drying use?
60W max during active drying, automatic duty-cycling when idle. Continuous drying at 50°C adds roughly 4-6 kWh/month per AMS 2 Pro — about $0.65-1.00 at average US electricity rates. Drying disables automatically during long idle periods.
What temperatures does the AMS 2 Pro support for drying?
30-65°C continuous. Recommended profiles: PLA 45°C (rarely needed), PETG 55°C, TPU 50°C, nylon 60-65°C, PA-CF 65°C. PEEK and ULTEM need 80°C+ and aren't supported (and aren't supported by Bambu printers anyway).
Does the AMS 2 Pro work with third-party (non-Bambu) filament?
Yes. Like the original AMS, third-party spools work but lose the RFID auto-detection feature — you'll need to manually set the filament type in the Bambu Studio slicer. Drying still works on any 1.75mm spool that fits the chamber (250g-1kg).
What's the difference between the AMS 2 Pro and the AMS HT?
Both add active drying to the original AMS. The AMS 2 Pro is for P1S/P1P/X1C/X1E/H2D. The AMS HT is for the A1 series only. Connectors and form factors differ; they aren't interchangeable. If you have a P1S, buy the AMS 2 Pro. If you have an A1, buy the AMS HT.