How do you use a filament dryer?
I print mainly PLA, and have around 10 or so rolls of different colored Prusament.
At the moment, I use the filament, then place it back into its sealable packaging it came in - seal and leave only a little opening which I then use to suck out as much air as possible while sealing the bag completely. This kind of vacuums as much air as I can get out of the bag before sealing. lol
Have considered the proper vacuum sealed bags that come with a small vacuum too.....
If I were to purchase a dryer (Eibos looking attractive at the moment), considering I have 10 rolls of filament and a single print could use 2 or 3 colors (not a mixed color print - I just change colors manually at the required layer), how would I use a dryer?
Do you dry your filament and then package away for next use?
Do you dry filament for a few hours and then use it while its still in the dryer box (and have a dryer with multiple spools for instance, or multiple dry boxes?).
Do you dry the filament colors you need prior to use, and then use as normal outside of any dryer while printing?
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
Do you dry the filament colors you need prior to use, and then use as normal outside of any dryer while printing?
That's how I do it. Between prints I store them in large Sterilite or Weathershield weatherproof boxes that can hold 10 or more spools, with renewable mini dehumidifer ( https://amazon.com/dp/B00LVN7BM0/). Vacuum bags are too much hassle.
Some filaments that need it such as TPU or Prusament Neon Green PETG, I print directly from the drybox, PrintDry Pro in my case, which can hold two spools and can be expanded to more.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
And one additional question to Ifti’s - how long a print before the spools being used outside the box become an issue?
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
Depends on the filament type and your environment. I've had some pla in a non sealed box that I used after approx 2 years just sat in there and it printed fine with no strings. Wasnt even any dessicant packets in there, the box was just to stack them and keep dust off.
Nylon though, I prefer to print that direct out of the filament dryer using a reverse bowden setup as its the only way to keep the moisture out even during short prints.
If in doubt dry it, and if it strings dry it.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
This. Most PLA can sit outside for a long time with no issues. I found most PETG to be more hygroscopic but not bad—unless it's Prusament Neon Green, which in my hands behaves like TPU or Nylon and needs printing straight from the dry box.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
dry the filament colors you need prior to use, and then use as normal outside of any dryer while printing
I second this ... for PLA (and PETG)
My procedure with regularly used filament is to store, with dessicant pouches - a dozen or so, in ziplock bags. Unbag to use as required then dry filament and dessicant before reziplockinging; is that a new word?
Filament that has been unused for a few months is dried both before and after use.
And I have a somewhat crude semi-dry box system for Nylon and solubles - essentially a printed, closed but unsealed box with a dessicant tray that keeps out enough moisture that I get away with it for smallish prints. I've never needed to print a large nylon part so it's not truly tested. Nylon and solubles are always dried before use.
PLA and PETG can remain on the printer for several days, If printing all that time there are few issues, I assume that moisture is entering the outer layers of the spool but being used before enough is accumulated to show the typical symptoms. If not printing continuously then degredation does occur, especially in spring and autumn, and if stringing shows the filament is whipped off and dried. This can mean changing spools mid-print and winding up with a bi-coloured prototype.
I don't use a filament dryer btw, I use a lightly modified food dehydrator for which I have printed extension collars so that two or three regular spools can be dried together - or just one extra large one.
Cheerio,
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
I have two filament dryers setup on top of my machine. So I take them from a "sealed" storage container with a bunch of dessicant bags inside, then put them in the dryer and run that while printing.
I honestly haven't noticed much of a difference from before I was using the dryers though, but they look cool.
Aaron
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
Do dryers consume much in the way of electric?
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
About 50-60 Watts for the Sunlu S1, about 100 Watts for the Eibos Cyclopes (for 2 spools). Less than the printer would need for a reprint of most models, I guess.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
The PrintDry Pro is 300W.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
Being new to 3D printing with my own printer, and seeing the issues with the printers at work, I wonder what is the ideal RH for different filaments. I have seen numbers ranging from 40% down to 5% but nothing stating that X% is good enough of Y% is much too high. It would be nice to see some numbers in the Prusa materials guide for people like me. If the RH in my workshop is 30%, then what filaments do I have to worry about is the question which I see many ask on this forum.
RE:
That's a harder question to answer than you might think.. as RH changes throughout the day, in many places. Keep your filament outside and see if you notice an increase in stringing, or hear some 'hissing'.. (water boiling off). I'm near the ocean and our humidy seldom goes below 70% and so all my filament (even PLA) is printed from homemade dry boxes.. If you get a dryer.. the PrintDry Pro has a version 3 that just came out. I tried one of the cheaper Sunlu S2 brands and it died within 7 months.. and neither Sunlu, nor the vendor would replace, totally at their cost. (even though it had a 1 yr warranty). So get something robust.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
Invest in some Bluetooth Xiaomi Mijia Thermo-/Hygrometers. They can be hacked to work with Home Assistant/ESPHome and give you an easy way to monitor your environment/enclosures/dryboxes/dryers/what have you via a Bluetooth Proxy connecting to HomeAssistant and showing the data over time in Grafana.
The device looks like this: Magnetic Mount for Xiaomi Mijia Thermo-/Hygrometer
There are many other mounts for these. The batteries last at least one year, from my experience anyway.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
I should have made myself clearer. What is the ideal RH of the filament. If you live in the tropics, you still want your filament at X%, even when the outside RH is 90%. Lets say I want to print with nylon and I know that is needs to be dry to lets say 20% RH, then in the tropics I would need to put it in and keep it in a dry box/dryer at all times. Now, lets say I live in a desert where 15% RH is not uncommon, now the natural RH is under the recommended 20% so, no need for a dry box or dryer. As I have read, some filaments need to be very dry.
My workshop hasn't been above 35% since I had the ventilation system installed. The only time the enclosure RH indicator goes above 30% is when I am breathing into the box, doing some work. I have desiccators with all spools of filament in storage but nothing for the spools being used while printing. I will be making a "dry box" to keep dust other debris off the filament, but need to order parts for that project. Just using the spool holder in the enclosure at this time. I have some project that will require nylon in the future and I never saw a good nylon print at work but they are in a humidity controlled building. I have only printed with PLA and PETG and have only had some small issues as part of learning. I plan on doing more with PETG in the next week to see if there are issues. Open spool is stored with a large desiccator in a zip lock bag.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
Bluetooth isn't any use where my printer will be. Will use an Arduino/Pi and sensors connected to the network in the future. It is a good point to look at. Wasn't on my planned list.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
Print a small model for a stringing test. No stringing -> no drying necessary. Easiest method imho. Won't waste a lot of filament and time for a whole print.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
You just need one esp32 that has the proxy firmware in the same room as the (multiple) thermo-/hygrometers and connected to your wi-fi. The esp32 can also have other sensors connected to it via gpio if you have a use for it. There is good documentation for all this on the ESPHome site.
RE: How do you use a filament dryer?
If your workshop stays below 35%.. I wouldn't worry about PLA at all.. and I wouldn't worry about PETG much.. I think you likely can print open spools easily.. put in dry box after.. Keep your TPU sealed at all times.. I got some clear cereal boxes and turned them into a single drybox with dessicant.. I install axle and hole with PTFE tube for filament and print from that for TPU or other sensitive. I haven't used Nylon but that is even worse than TPU. I've seen recommendations to dry Nylon, no matter what, before printing.. but.. as I said.. I have no experience with it.