Storing filament

Elbert M. Rhon...

(@elbert-m-rhone)

New Member

Storing filament

I have a vacuum impregnation setup (deep steel vessel, perspex top with Silicone seal and a vacuum pump with gauges. I bought it for degassing epoxy years ago. I have been using it to dry out my filaments - NylonX and PETG.

It holds vacuum for days once it's pumped down and I tend to forget about it and leave it set up under vacuum with the pump off and the valves closed. Obviously I'm printing with really dry filament when I get around to pulling them out of the chamber to use them. My question is whether either material is likely to suffer from long term degradation by sitting in a vacuum.

Thanks & Regards,

Elbert M. Rhone
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Posted : 30/07/2019 9:15 am

cwbullet

(@cwbullet)

Member

RE: Storing filament

Nope, a vacuum is what I use.

--------------------
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3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 30/07/2019 12:17 pm

Texy

(@texy)

Reputable Member

RE: Storing filament

I just don't get why people are asking questions like this in the "Awesome Printers - Hall of Fame" sub-forum.

Doesn't the title of the forum give an indication of its purpose?

Posted : 30/07/2019 12:40 pm

gnat liked

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(@)

Illustrious Member

RE: Storing filament

Posted by: Texy

I just don't get why people are asking questions like this in the "Awesome Printers - Hall of Fame" sub-forum.

Doesn't the title of the forum give an indication of its purpose?

Isn't having a surplus vacuum chamber awesome enough to qualify? lol.

Posted : 30/07/2019 8:39 pm

ArmedLeftist, TheSameNameTwice and gnat liked

Smith Clarkson

(@smithclarkson1)

New Member

RE: Storing filament

Best way to store filament

Hey everyone, So my first 3D printer should be arriving today. I purchased the Prusa i3 MK3 Kit and I’m super excited to start my build.

While researching I’ve run across a few people talking about filament absorbing humidity. I know each filament type is probably a little different and the humidity of the humidity of the place it’s being stored matters.

From your experience, is humidity something to worry about and if so, how do you store your filament to combat it?

Thanks!

Live life king size !

Posted : 31/08/2019 3:07 am

ArmedLeftist

(@armedleftist)

Eminent Member

RE: Storing filament

Posted by: @smithclarkson1

Best way to store filament

Hey everyone, So my first 3D printer should be arriving today. I purchased the Prusa i3 MK3 Kit and I’m super excited to start my build.

While researching I’ve run across a few people talking about filament absorbing humidity. I know each filament type is probably a little different and the humidity of the humidity of the place it’s being stored matters.

From your experience, is humidity something to worry about and if so, how do you store your filament to combat it?

Thanks!

So cool that you got so much valuable and helpful response from the community here!

I am also fairly new to 3D printing and also am aware of the "wet filament" thing so I bought a PrintDry and lots of storage bags which I then keep in a storage box (I also put 50g absorbers 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 hyduphilic), every time I put them away. But.....I don't *really* know how much I should be concerened. I live in Colorado which is generllly quite dry anyway but id do see these pictures all over the 'nets that seemingly show open sppols of filament just sitting on shelves (or racked up behind multi-feeders), and 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.

Anybody? Anybody? Ferris?

Every man I meet is in some way my superior. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted : 23/02/2020 6:01 pm

bobstro

(@bobstro)

Illustrious Member

RE: Storing filament

Posted by: @armedleftist

[...] I've been a bit paranoid (i guess) in that I dry my filaments (particularly the ones known to be hyduphilic), every time I put them away. But.....I don't *really* know how much I should be concerened.

I've just adopted the mindset of throwing a spool into the dryer if I notice stringing or other issues. Before I go nuts with adjusting retraction or other settings, even with a new spool, I put it in the dryer for a suitable amount of time and try again. That is usually sufficient. I will do a precautionary pre-print dry with PETG, nylon or similar filaments that are older.

I do toss all my filaments in a 2 gallon ziploc freezer bag with a packet of recharged desiccant for routine storage.

These measures have been sufficient for my in New England over 2 years now.

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and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 23/02/2020 7:25 pm

ArmedLeftist

(@armedleftist)

Eminent Member

RE: Storing filament

@bobstro

Thanks very much. Sounds like a reasonable approach.

Every man I meet is in some way my superior. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted : 23/02/2020 8:13 pm

vintagepc

(@vintagepc)

Member

RE: Storing filament

Partly because I'm lazy and partly because I have an MMU and I just like leaving stuff loaded, I have a separate large ziploc tote with dessicant packets I toss mostly-used spools (or ones that didn't have reusable bags) in when not in use. Mostly full ones go back in the bag in the box.

For actively loaded stuff, I just put together a bunch of small dryboxes I can just leave attached with dessicant inside. I wasn't really happy with existing offerings so I made a few custom parts to get something I like:

https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/22023-auto-rewind-sistema-5l-drybox

I don't bother to dry stuff unless I see evidence it needs it, e.g. stringing.

Posted : 24/02/2020 12:27 am

ArmedLeftist

(@armedleftist)

Eminent Member

RE: Storing filament

Posted by: @vintagepc

Partly because I'm lazy and partly because I have an MMU and I just like leaving stuff loaded, I have a separate large ziploc tote with dessicant packets I toss mostly-used spools (or ones that didn't have reusable bags) in when not in use. Mostly full ones go back in the bag in the box.

For actively loaded stuff, I just put together a bunch of small dryboxes I can just leave attached with dessicant inside. I wasn't really happy with existing offerings so I made a few custom parts to get something I like:

https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/22023-auto-rewind-sistema-5l-drybox

I don't bother to dry stuff unless I see evidence it needs it, e.g. stringing.

Thanks! Sounds like I don't need to be quite so retentive as I assumed!

Every man I meet is in some way my superior. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted : 24/02/2020 6:10 pm

vintagepc

(@vintagepc)

Member

RE: Storing filament

Yeah, though for me it's just something that should be high up on the list for consideration to dry filament should I have any print quality issues.

At least in winter in my building air is fairly dry too, which helps things.

Posted : 24/02/2020 6:34 pm