When I started bringing Spoolmark to iOS, I ran into an annoying problem: an iPhone cannot read the original Bambu Lab RFID tags directly.
Those tags use MIFARE Classic. Some Android phones support it, but Apple does not provide the access needed through Core NFC. There is no extra permission or clever NFC library that can unlock it.
I still wanted iPhone users to avoid typing every spool detail by hand, so I added two options to the development build.
This article describes the iPhone development build. A public App Store release is not available yet. Camera and NFC workflows still need physical-device qualification; the ACS reader integration also needs redistribution review. Final supported features will be confirmed before release.
The easy option: take two photos
If you do not have an external reader, tap Use camera in the app. Spoolmark guides you through two quick photos:
- Take a photo of the whole spool with the label visible. The app reads the printed text and suggests details such as the brand, material, and product.
- Take a close-up of the filament. The app looks at the visible color and suggests a color name.
You can review and correct everything before adding the spool to your inventory. The photos are analyzed on the iPhone and discarded afterward.
This is not an RFID scan, so it cannot read the tag's unique ID, exact spool identity, or how much filament is left. Lighting, glare, and silk, translucent, or multicolor filament can also affect the color result.
Still, it is a quick option that needs no extra hardware—and it works with many labeled spools, not just Bambu Lab products.
The exact option: use a Bluetooth reader
If you want the data stored on the original Bambu Lab tag, the development build includes an integration for the ACS ACR1555U-A1 Bluetooth NFC reader.
Turn on the reader, tap Use ACR1555U, and place the spool's RFID tag on it. The reader handles the part that the iPhone cannot, while the app turns the result into useful details such as material, color, spool identity, full spool weight, and printing information.
The scan stays on your device and is read-only. Spoolmark does not change or clone the Bambu Lab tag.
The development build targets iOS 15 or later. This workflow requires an ACR1555U-A1 reader, sold separately; confirmed device compatibility will be published after testing.
What each option is designed for
Camera intake is designed to add a spool quickly with only your iPhone. The Bluetooth reader integration is designed to read data directly from the original tag. Public availability of these workflows is still being prepared.
Both options end up in the same local inventory and save you from entering every spool by hand.
Platform and device references
- Apple Core NFC documentationNative NFC capabilities and tag interfaces.
- ACS ACR1555U-A1 product briefReader hardware and supported NFC standards.
Spoolmark is an independent app and is not affiliated with Bambu Lab or ACS.