Story 1 · the fight
Sunlu filament heater locks you into Bambu's AMS Lite
This is the beginner trap in filament management: you buy the heater that fits your current setup and discover you just paid to narrow your upgrade path.
I think if you already own the AMS Lite, this is the cheapest way to keep filament dry during a print, and Sunlu's review says it is simple to assemble and easy to use, so the lock-in is the price of convenience.
My read is you are paying to make one piece of gear dependent on another piece of gear, and the moment you want a different multi-material system, this heater is e-waste, so the real cost is what you spend twice.
Where it breaks: Does buying hardware that only works with one brand's ecosystem ever save you money in the long run?
- Sunlu AMS Lite Filament Heater Review · makezine.com“Sunlu's AMS Lite Heater is simple to assemble, easy to use, and keeps your filament dry while you print. But it only works with Bambu's AMS Lite.”