Professional filament dryer
Filament dryer • Lay3rs
Maintain the best possible print quality
Storing filament dry in a filament dryer is crucial for achieving optimal print results with your 3D printer. Filaments like PLA, ABS, PETG, and nylon are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture from the air. When filament becomes moist, various issues can arise during the printing process, such as inconsistencies in the finish, mechanical weakness, and even clogs in the printer. In this explanation, we explore why filament needs to be dry for 3D printing and the consequences of using moist filament.
Hygroscopic Nature of Filaments
Many 3D printer filaments are made from plastics that are naturally hygroscopic, such as PLA, ABS, and nylon. This means these materials absorb and retain moisture from the air. In a humid environment, filament can absorb a significant amount of moisture within just a few hours. Even if you store filament neatly in a sealed bag or box, it can still gradually absorb moisture, especially if it has already been used a few times.
When filament absorbs moisture, the water can collect in microscopic pores and cavities within the material. When heated in the 3D printer, this water can suddenly evaporate, leading to various issues during printing. This is why proper filament storage and drying are essential!
Lay3rs filament droger
The Lay3rs high-end desiccant drying cabinets are designed to meet the stringent requirements of IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033 and 1601 standards for handling moisture-sensitive filaments. These advanced XSD desiccant cabinets combine ultra-low humidity levels (<0.5% RH) with mild temperatures (40–60 °C) to reset the shelf life of components. This method has been proven to replace traditional oven baking of filaments, offering a cost-effective and lower-risk alternative. With standard 60 mm insulation and a highly airtight enclosure, these cabinets provide precise heating and drying profiles, ensuring accurate drying and resetting processes.
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Problems with wet filament during 3D printing
Moist filament can cause various issues during 3D printing, reducing the quality and reliability of printed parts.
Vaporization and air bubbles
When moist filament is heated in the hotend, the absorbed water turns into steam. This steam forms small air bubbles that burst as the filament is extruded. This can lead to an uneven material flow, resulting in an irregular finish of the printed object, with visible layers and bubbles on the surface.
Weakened Layer Adhesion
Stringing and oozing
Filament that contains moisture is more prone to stringing and oozing. This is because the water in the filament affects the viscosity and fluidity of the material, causing small threads or “strings” to form between different parts of the printed object. This results in a messy and less detailed print.
Clogging
Moist filament can lead to clogs in the nozzle. The pressure from the evaporating water vapor can cause small pieces of filament to break off or even leave behind burnt residue. This clogs the nozzle, not only interrupting the printing process but also potentially causing damage to the printer.
Adjustments in the print settings
When your filament is moist, it may also be necessary to adjust your print settings, which is undesirable and time-consuming. For example:
Higher extrusion temperatures:
Moist filament often requires a higher extrusion temperature to print consistently, as the evaporating water can disrupt the temperature in the nozzle. However, higher temperatures can cause other issues, such as overheating and material degradation.
Slower print speed:
Moist filament often requires a lower print speed to maintain an even filament flow. This significantly slows down the entire printing process, especially for larger and more complex prints.
Effect on different kinds of filament
Each type of filament reacts differently to moisture, but all experience adverse effects when absorbing moisture.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
ABS (Acrylonitril-butadieen-styreen)
ABS is less hygroscopic than PLA or nylon, but it still absorbs moisture. Moist ABS can lead to stringing, poor layer adhesion, and a dull finish. It may also warp more easily when printing large objects.
PETG (Polyethyleentereftalaat glycol)
PETG is a material that absorbs moisture more quickly than ABS, and moist PETG filaments can exhibit stringing and poor layer adhesion. This material can also become tough and difficult to print if it is too moist.
Nylon
Nylon is extremely hygroscopic and absorbs a lot of moisture quickly. Printing with moist nylon results in severe bubble formation, stringing, and poor mechanical properties. For high-quality nylon prints, it is absolutely essential to keep the filament dry.
Solutions to keep your filaments dry
There are different methods to keep filaments dry and avoid moisture problems:
Store filaments in airtight containers
Store filament in an airtight container with desiccant packets (such as silica gel) to absorb moisture. This helps keep the filament drier when not in use, but it does not remove moisture from your material.
Use of a filament dryer
Filament dryers are devices specifically designed to heat filament at a constant temperature and remove moisture from the material. A filament dryer is especially useful for materials like nylon and PETG, which are highly sensitive to moisture. However, even less sensitive materials benefit from a filament dryer.
Oven drying
In some cases, filament can be dried by carefully heating it in an oven. However, this method is less controlled and can be dangerous if not done at the correct temperature. Each type of filament has its own safe drying temperature and duration. It’s also not recommended to use the same oven in which you prepare food. A safer alternative is to dry your filament on your printer’s print bed. Although this takes longer, it reduces the risk of the filament becoming too warm and starting to melt.
The difference in print quality and durability
The main advantage of printing with dry filament is the improved print quality. Dry filament ensures an even material flow, fewer air bubbles, and strong layer adhesion, resulting in smooth and sturdy prints. Additionally, printed parts made with dry filament have higher mechanical strength and durability. For functional parts that need to withstand stress, dry filament is essential to prevent the part from breaking or deforming quickly.
Dry filament also reduces the likelihood of printing failures, such as clogs, and minimizes the need to adjust print settings. This saves time and provides a more reliable printing process, which is especially important for complex and long prints.
Conclusion
Drying filament and then storing it in a filament dryer is crucial to maintaining consistent and high print quality with your 3D printer. Keeping filament dry helps prevent issues like air bubbles, poor layer adhesion, and clogs. This results in stronger, more durable, and visually appealing prints. Taking steps to keep filament dry, such as storing it properly or using a filament dryer, is a wise investment. Dry filament enhances the reliability of the printing process, improves the overall quality of printed parts, and saves time and effort that would otherwise be spent resolving moisture-related issues. Contact your Lay3rs expert today to find the best solution for you.