A1 Firmware 1.08: Multicolor Without an AMS

What the update is

Bambu Lab released firmware version 01.08.00.00 for the A1 and A1 Mini, its two open-frame direct-drive printers. The A1 ($399) has a 256 × 256 × 256mm build volume; the smaller A1 Mini ($299) prints at 180 × 180 × 180mm. Both are single-nozzle machines that normally handle multi-color through the AMS lite, an external multi-spool unit. Firmware 1.08 changes what the printer can do on its own.

Multicolor from an external spool, no AMS lite

The headline feature is multicolor printing using an external spool without the AMS lite attached. Previously, color changes on the A1 meant either buying the AMS lite or pausing the print to swap filament by hand. With 1.08, the printer can drive a color workflow from a single external spool position, so you can produce basic multi-color prints on a bare A1.

This is not the same as running four colors simultaneously through an AMS lite. It is a lighter, single-source workflow: fewer colors, more manual than a full AMS setup, but a real capability that did not exist before and that costs nothing extra. For A1 owners who wanted to try color printing without committing to the AMS lite, this lowers the barrier to zero. If you do run the AMS lite, our multi-color techniques guide covers getting the most out of a full multi-spool setup.

Auto-drying presets

Filament that has absorbed moisture prints poorly: stringing, popping, weak layer adhesion, and a rough surface finish. The 1.08 firmware adds auto-drying presets, so instead of guessing at temperature and time for each material, you pick a preset matched to the filament and let the printer handle the drying cycle.

This matters most for hygroscopic materials like PETG, TPU, and Nylon, which pull in moisture from the air quickly. Built-in presets take the trial and error out of it and make consistent drying a one-tap step rather than a manual setup.

Pre-print checks

The update also adds pre-print checks: automated verification steps the printer runs before a job starts. The goal is to catch problems (setup issues that would lead to a failed or flawed print) before filament and time are spent, rather than discovering them partway through. On a printer aimed at newcomers, catching mistakes up front is a meaningful reliability gain.

Who benefits

• A1 and A1 Mini owners without the AMS lite. Basic multi-color printing is now possible from a single external spool, at no extra cost.
• Anyone printing moisture-sensitive filament. Auto-drying presets make PETG, TPU, and Nylon more consistent without manual dialing.
• Newer users. Pre-print checks reduce failed prints by catching setup problems before the job runs.

The firmware is a free update for both machines. As always, read the release notes, avoid updating mid-print, and run a quick test print after updating. See our firmware updates page for the safe-update routine.