Author: Ada ShaikhnagJuly 22nd 2025 - 10:00am
Source: 3D Printing Industry
Introduction: A New Era of Filament Drying Technology
SUNLU, an established player in the 3D printing industry, is celebrating its 12th anniversary with an exciting innovation: the SUNLU AMS Heater. This high-performance accessory is tailor-made for Bambu Lab AMS and AMS 2 Pro systems, offering seamless integration and significantly improved filament management. The new heater solves a key challenge for multi-material and high-performance printing setups: keeping filament dry during long, complex prints without interrupting the workflow.
In this article, we take a detailed look at the SUNLU AMS Heater—its features, installation, pricing, and how it compares to other solutions on the market.
What is the SUNLU AMS Heater?
The SUNLU AMS Heater is a dedicated drying system designed specifically for Bambu Lab's Automatic Material System (AMS) units. It is compatible with both the AMS Gen 1 and the AMS 2 Pro and replaces the AMS lid directly.
What sets it apart: It is not just a passive dry chamber or a filament box with a desiccant. Instead, it provides active, intelligent drying features directly within the AMS unit, ensuring that filaments remain in optimal condition before and during printing. Installation takes less than three minutes and requires only placing the AMS lid on top.
Key Features That Make It Stand Out
Dual 150W PTC Heating Elements
- The heater uses two high-efficiency PTC heating modules with dual fans. This configuration ensures fast and uniform heating of the entire AMS unit.
- Reaches up to 70 °C within 20 minutes, making it suitable for sensitive filaments like nylon, PC, or PETG.
Intelligent Humidity Control
- The heater features a standard drying cycle of 6 hours at 55 °C.
- If the humidity exceeds 50% RH, the drying cycle restarts automatically.
- If the humidity drops below 20% RH, it shuts off.
- The optional RH mode allows for setting individual humidity thresholds (25% to 50% RH).
Advanced Safety Systems
- Automatic power cut-off at temperatures above 115 °C.
- Alarms for overheating, fan failure, and other potential malfunctions.
- Real-time temperature and humidity display.
Easy Installation
- Installation is tool-free and takes less than three minutes.
- Simply remove the standard AMS lid and replace it with the SUNLU AMS Heater.
User-Friendly Design
- Compact dimensions: 363 x 278 x 131 mm.
- Lightweight: approx. 1.7 kg.
- LED indicators and an intuitive user interface make operation easy.
Why It Matters for Bambu Lab AMS Users
Bambu Lab printers are known for their speed and their AMS-based multi-material capabilities. However, filament moisture has always been a major challenge, especially with hygroscopic materials like nylon, TPU, and PETG. Moisture can lead to poor layer adhesion, stringing, bubbling, and inconsistent extrusion.
With the AMS Heater, users can:
- Dry and print simultaneously, avoiding downtime.
- Maintain filament quality even during long print jobs.
- Extend the lifespan of expensive filaments.
- Eliminate the need for separate drying stations or swapping spools.
Community and Expert Reactions
Initial reviews from YouTubers and Reddit users in the r/BambuLab community have been consistently positive. Many highlight the following benefits:
- Ease of use: "Installation took only 2 minutes, no tools required."
- Performance: "The filament stayed bone-dry during a 16-hour PETG print."
- Value: "Significantly cheaper than an AMS 2 Pro just to dry the filament."
Some users noted that the lid is not fully transparent, which could make visual monitoring more difficult. However, the real-time display and monitoring options largely compensate for this minor drawback.
Is It Worth It? Our Verdict
If you use Bambu Lab and work with multi-material or moisture-sensitive filament setups, the SUNLU AMS Heater is highly recommended. It offers the perfect balance of ease of use, advanced features, and an affordable price.
Pros:
- Intelligent drying functions
- Plug-and-play with AMS systems
- Safe and efficient
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- Limited visibility inside the AMS
- New product – durability not yet foreseeable
Final Thoughts
With the AMS Heater, SUNLU has taken a major step forward, offering a product that directly solves a persistent problem for advanced 3D printers. As more people use Bambu Lab printers for professional and hobbyist purposes, tools like this heater will be crucial for consistently high-quality results.
For anyone who cares about filament management and print reliability, the SUNLU AMS Heater is a worthwhile investment.
