Humidity Control in the AMS HT: Why It’s Essential for Nylon and PC Printing

3D printing is no longer just for hobbyists—it’s a core tool for engineers, product designers, and manufacturers who demand functional, end-use parts. But with that shift comes the need to print with more advanced materials like Nylon (PA) and Polycarbonate (PC). These filaments offer excellent strength, durability, and heat resistance, making them ideal for industrial applications.

However, there’s one major problem: moisture. Nylon and PC are highly hygroscopic, meaning they absorb water quickly from the air. Left unchecked, this moisture will ruin your prints, no matter how good your printer is.

This is exactly why the Bambu Lab AMS HT (High Temp Automatic Material System) was designed. It provides sealed, humidity-controlled storage and feeding, ensuring your engineering-grade filaments stay in perfect condition before and during printing.

In this blog, we’ll dive into:

• Why Nylon and PC are so sensitive to moisture.

• The science behind humidity’s impact on prints.

• How the AMS HT solves these issues.

• Real-world benefits for professionals.

• Why serious makers and businesses can’t ignore humidity control.

🌫️ The Problem: Why Nylon and PC Absorb Moisture So Easily

PLA and PETG are forgiving filaments—they don’t care much about humidity. But Nylon and PC are different. Their chemical structure makes them polar molecules, which attract and bind water from the environment.

• Nylon (PA): Can absorb up to 10% of its weight in water within 24 hours.

• Polycarbonate (PC): Absorbs less than nylon but still enough to affect print quality after a day or two.

Now, consider most workshop or office environments: humidity levels can range from 40–60%. In that range, a spool of nylon left out in the open can become unusable in less than a day.

⚠️ What Happens When You Print Wet Filament

If you’ve ever tried printing nylon or PC that wasn’t dried properly, you’ve seen the issues firsthand:

• Bubbling and hissing sounds in the nozzle.

• Steam bubbles in the extruded filament, creating rough, inconsistent surfaces.

• Weakened layer adhesion, resulting in brittle parts.

• Dimensional inaccuracies, as moisture expansion causes shrinkage or warping.

• Increased stringing and oozing, leading to messy prints.

For functional parts like gears, clips, brackets, or housings, this is unacceptable. A single flaw can mean a part that cracks under load or doesn’t fit properly.

🔒 The AMS HT Solution: Sealed, Smart, and Reliable

The AMS HT was created specifically to address these challenges for professional users. Here’s how it works:

1. Sealed Storage

The AMS HT creates a barrier against ambient air, ensuring that your filament isn’t constantly exposed to humidity.

2. Active Humidity Control

It doesn’t just seal—it regulates. By maintaining consistently low humidity inside the chamber, it prevents moisture uptake even over days or weeks of storage.

3. Continuous Protection During Printing

Unlike drying boxes (which only prep spools before printing), the AMS HT keeps filaments dry throughout the print job. Long nylon or PC prints lasting 20+ hours will maintain consistent material quality from start to finish.

4. Optimized Filament Feeding

The AMS HT is designed to handle stiffer, tougher filaments like carbon-fiber nylon, ensuring smooth and reliable feeding without tangles or grinding.

📊 AMS HT vs. AMS 2 Pro

It’s important to note that the AMS HT is not the same as the AMS 2 Pro. While the AMS 2 Pro is excellent for multi-material or color printing with PLA, PETG, and TPU, it doesn’t offer the same level of protection for high-temp filaments.

If you’re a professional printing high-temp materials, the AMS HT is the clear choice.

🏭 Real-World Benefits for Professionals

By pairing the H2D printer with the AMS HT, professionals can unlock consistent, industrial-grade results:

• Automotive Applications – PC housings and ABS clips that withstand heat and stress.

• Mechanical Components – Nylon gears and hinges that are tough and reliable.

• Industrial Tooling – CF-nylon jigs and fixtures that resist wear and tear.

• Consumer Products – Transparent PC covers or durable ABS prototypes.

Instead of fighting constant print failures, users get reliable results with minimal intervention.

✅ Why Humidity Control Isn’t Optional

Some makers assume they can get by with makeshift solutions like silica packs or one-time filament dryers. While these help temporarily, they don’t solve the real problem: filaments reabsorbing moisture during storage or printing.

The AMS HT ensures continuous protection, removing guesswork and wasted time. For businesses or serious makers, this translates to:

• Less filament waste (especially important with expensive materials like PC-CF or PA-CF).

• Fewer failed prints, saving both time and money.

• Consistent part quality, crucial for prototypes or end-use parts.

• Confidence in long, unattended print jobs.

🏆 Final Thoughts

If you’re printing simple models in PLA, you don’t need the AMS HT. But if your workflow involves Nylon, PC, ABS, or composites, humidity control is non-negotiable.

The AMS HT + H2D bundle gives professionals a complete, reliable ecosystem for high-performance 3D printing. It’s not just about storage—it’s about ensuring your prints are as strong, precise, and durable as the materials are designed to be.

👉 Explore the products:

• Bambu Lab H2D + AMS HT Bundle

• Bambu Lab AMS HT