Filament dryer review

Do filament dryers really work?
Do I really need a filament dryer?
Does PLA need filament dryer?
What is the best way to dry filament?
How many hours does 1kg of filament last?
Can PLA filament be too dry?
Is it safe to dry filament in the oven?
Can a dehumidifier dry filament?
Should I heat bed for PLA?
Can a hair dryer melt PLA?
What happens if you don't dry your filament?
How hot is too hot for PLA?
How do I know if my filament is too wet?
Can you dry PLA in the sun?
How long does PLA stay dry for?
Can I leave PLA filament out overnight?
How many times can PLA be melted?
How long is 200g of filament?
Can you smooth PLA with a hair dryer?
Does a good hair dryer really make a difference?
Can you melt PLA with a hair dryer?
Is it safe to dry filament in the oven?
Is it safe to microwave PLA?
How do you get a glossy finish on PLA?
Is there a hairdryer as good as the Dyson?
How hot is too hot for PLA?
Is it toxic to print PLA?
How many times can PLA be melted?

Do filament dryers really work?

These devices work by circulating air at very low heat for long periods of time to actively remove moisture. Food dehydrators make excellent filament dryers because they significantly reduce the humidity around the filament. If you don't already have one, you can purchase one for around $50-$75.

Do I really need a filament dryer?

For the 3D printing process to run properly, it is essential to prepare the filament properly. Filament drying at the appropriate temperature eliminates moisture that the filament could have absorbed.

Does PLA need filament dryer?

All filaments should be kept in a low-humidity, dry environment. The OP suggests that PLA doesn't need to be dried.

What is the best way to dry filament?

Probably the easiest and most common way of drying filament is to use the oven. Just set the temperature to right below the glass transition temperature of the plastic, and leave it in there for four to six hours until the moisture evaporates. The longer you leave it, the drier it'll get.

How many hours does 1kg of filament last?

And to allow for some variability, let's put that at 5 to 9 hours of printing per week (or 20 to 36 hours per month). Under these conditions, you could expect to use about 40 to 70 g per week. Thus, a 1-kg spool of PLA should last you about 14 to 25 weeks, which equates to 4 to 6 months!

Can PLA filament be too dry?

Normally, you'd expect something with moisture in it to get soggy or soft. But with PLA, for example, the opposite is true. It gets brittle, almost like it is too dry.

Is it safe to dry filament in the oven?

DIYers and professional 3D printers still utilize oven baking to get the moisture out of ABS and PLA filament. The drying process is similar to baking your favorite thanksgiving turkey. Just place your filament spool inside an oven and set it at the right temperature: 104 to 113°F (40 – 45 °C) for PLA.

Can a dehumidifier dry filament?

Air conditioner or dryer

Using an air conditioner or dehumidifier to dry a filament can also be quite expensive, as it cannot dry the filament below 40% RH. It is also ineffective when the ambient temperature is low.

Should I heat bed for PLA?

As a general starting point, PLA tends to adhere well to a bed that is heated to 60-70C, while ABS generally works better if the bed is heated to 100-120C. You can adjust these settings in Simplify3D by clicking on “Edit Process Settings” and then selecting the Temperature tab.

Can a hair dryer melt PLA?

And while it might seem like a hairdryer would be a good alternative to a heat gun, a hair dryer isn't designed to be hot enough to melt plastic. Most models don't even reach PLA's glass transition temperature of 60 °C, so you'll be waiting a long time to see any change!

What happens if you don't dry your filament?

3D printing with wet filament disrupts the printing process, as moisture in the thermoplastic evaporates as the material is heated. This in turn causes air bubbles in the material's composition, which results in stringing, blobbing, and, ultimately, 3D printed parts with compromised strength and print quality.

How hot is too hot for PLA?

The general range for PLA is around 180 to 220 °C. If your layers aren't adhering to one another, heating up your hot end can usually fix it, but be careful: If the extruder is too hot, the PLA filament can become extra soft and flimsy.

How do I know if my filament is too wet?

If the filament is wet, you will be able to see bubbles forming in the extruded material. Alongside this, one should be able to hear a hissing sound. If the filament has a lot of moisture, one might be able to see steam exit the nozzle. Hygroscopic filaments that have been exposed to a lot of moisture tend to swell up.

Can you dry PLA in the sun?

To guarantee the best print quality, it is crucially important to keep your materials in a sealed, humidity-controlled environment. The optimal conditions for storing your filaments, in general, are in a dry, cool place with a resealable bag, avoiding direct sunlight; for PLA, 45ºC for 6 hours before printing.

How long does PLA stay dry for?

Because some 3D printing filaments are hygroscopic, meaning that they absorb moisture from the air, prolonged exposure to even moderately humid room air causes moisture saturation. After 150 hours in standard conditions, PLA filament may swell up to 40 micrometers before reaching its saturation point.

Can I leave PLA filament out overnight?

If you're actively printing, PLA will usually be OK if left out. You could find a 2 gallon ziploc freezer back and toss it in there with a packet of desiccant for storage.

How many times can PLA be melted?

Re-use: yes, it can be re-melted endlessly as long as the PLA is not combined with other materials in a composite.

How long is 200g of filament?

Filament thickness/diameter: 1.75mm. Length: 65 meters. Weight: 200g (0.44 lbs) of filament.

Can you smooth PLA with a hair dryer?

Does a good hair dryer really make a difference?

The simple answer is yes. “Quality blow-dryers have heat control and power to help dry the hair faster,” says celebrity hairstylist and owner of The Private Room in Beverly Hills, CA, Tina Dizon. “This means not only less blow drying time, but it limits the amount of heat on the hair.”

Can you melt PLA with a hair dryer?

The short answer to this question is yes. Technically, the heat produced by most hair dryers can shrink plastic film. Specifically, polyvinyl chloride or polyolefin.

Is it safe to dry filament in the oven?

Is it safe to microwave PLA?

PLA is NOT plastic & it's not perfect. Submerge in water, heat in microwave or dishwasher for too long does affect the print.

How do you get a glossy finish on PLA?

PLA parts can be finished with a coat of epoxy like XTC-3D from Smooth-On. This will smooth out the part and give it a pretty nice shine. I've also had a fair amount of success sanding prints, giving them a coat of automotive filler primer, and using glossy spray paint.

Is there a hairdryer as good as the Dyson?

With six different heat settings, the Hot Tools Super Light Weight Hair Dryer is a great alternative to the Dyson! It helps condition, smooth, and make hair shinier while reducing frizz.

How hot is too hot for PLA?

Is it toxic to print PLA?

In its purest form, PLA is food safe. However, if you are 3D printing with colored PLA filament, you should know that the additives used to dye the material may not be food safe.

How many times can PLA be melted?

Re-use: yes, it can be re-melted endlessly as long as the PLA is not combined with other materials in a composite.