cardboard spool refill vs plastic spool

[PeterT]

Might be Bambu specific question because I'm using non-AMS overhead arm for single spool on my A1
LEFT ome spools come pre-wound on plastic housing. I guess when done you toss it into recycle & hope it doesn't end up shows up over a turtles neck or dolphin blow hole
CENTER generically called 'refills' on cardboard spool. I was led to believe these don't turn well on an arm so ended up sourcing...
RIGHT a 2-part split plastic accessory that encompasses the refill. One can find 3DP print designs & its almost like its a Bambu thing, not as common to other printers?
Now I'm wondering - wouldn't it more efficient to print a substantially smaller 'hub' since the cardboard verticals remain in place anyways if smooth rotation is the only concern? Or maybe the accessory doubles if you are self spinning a 1kg quantity off a 5 kg roll?

my overhead arm

 

[Doggggboy]

The only issue I've had with cardboard spools has been the tendency to spread allowing in the filament to fall into the gaps in the edges resulting in binding when feeding. Both my Ender 3 and my X1-Carbon use simple struts about 1 inch square to hold single rolls. Bambu says the cardboard spools may produce dust and clog the AMS but I've never had any issues with that in over a 1000 hours of use in it.

 

[PeterT]

Thanks. That's what got me wondering. If the 2-part split plastic spool basically encapsulates the cardboard, then its not really doing much to alleviate those particular issues because the cardboard is still in contact with filament.

But now that I'm reading the included instructions :/ it looks like the intended refill is just filament on a core with the 4 temporary bands, no vertical ears like the cardboard spool. Obviously a different refill format.

 

[Doggggboy]

Thanks. That's what got me wondering. If the 2-part split plastic spool basically encapsulates the cardboard, then its not really doing much to alleviate those particular issues because the cardboard is still in contact with filament.

But now that I'm reading the included instructions :/ it looks like the intended refill is just filament on a core with the 4 temporary bands, no vertical ears like the cardboard spool. Obviously a different refill format.

View attachment 59788
View attachment 59789

Correct. The Bambu refills are just a cardboard core with filament strapped to the perimeter. The core is keyed with a slot to fit the refillable plastic spool and prevent spinning on the spool in the AMS. Just don't remove the strapping until the two sides of the spool are firmly connected.

 

[PeterT]

You beat me to it. I get it now. There is cardboard & then there is cardboard.