Humidity and filaments?
I am fairly new to 3D printing and am aware of the "wet filament" thing so I've been using a PrintDry and lots of spool bags which I then keep in a storage box (I also put a 50g absorber in each bag and several others in the box)
I've been a bit paranoid (i guess) in that I dry my filaments (particularly the ones known to be particularly hydrophilic), every time I put them away. But.....I don't *really* know how much I should be concerned. I live on the Front Range in Colorado USA which is generally quite dry anyway, but I do see pictures all over the 'nets that s show open spools of filament just sitting on shelves (or racked up behind multi-feeders). Unless they are in Death Valley or the Empty Quarter, I gotta believe they are in some place that is more humid than where I am.
If someone here could enlighten me, I'd sure appreciate it! Maybe even a suggested workflow? (I am trying to learn all about 3D printing as one of my identified "retirement" activities, and have purchased probably 15 different kinds of filaments already, from a variety of "reputable" manufacturers)
Thanks! Děkuji!
Every man I meet is in some way my superior. --Ralph Waldo Emerson
RE: Humidity and filaments?
I live at 3500 feet, humidity averages under 15 in the winter, under 40 in summer (conditioned environment). I have dried some PLA when I suspected it was wet; but generally don't bother. I really don't see a difference in most cases. That said: ABS, Nylon, and PETG are water magnets and need to be fairly dry to print well. Desiccants aren't enough - and most use some form of active heated dryer before printing. There are many posts of the subject, including some with relevant data from users here.