For the best results, it is important to properly store your 3D printer filament. Read on to find out how to store 3D printer filament and the storage box solutions available on the market.
Best Way to Store 3D Printer Filament
3D printing materials need to be stored properly to ensure they maintain their properties and print high-quality models. When it comes to storage, the most important thing is to keep the filaments away from moisture. Apart from moisture, you also want the materials to be safe from dust and particles.
Why Avoid Moisture?
Most 3D printer filaments are hygroscopic, i.e., they absorb humidity in the air. While the absorption won’t be so much to the extent that you will feel it in your models, it will be noticeable through production of poor-quality models.
Even if you don’t feel there is any humidity in the air, there is likely to be some, and the 3D filament will absorb it.
To prevent moisture absorption, you should store your filaments in airtight or vacuum-sealed containers. Containers with desiccant are even better.
How to Tell If Your Filament is Wet
The quality of your models will reduce when you print with filament that has absorbed moisture as well as when the layers do not adhere properly. One of the ways in which you can tell whether the filament has absorbed moisture is by listening for crackling or popping sounds during the melting or extrusion process. Those sounds indicate that water is boiling and evaporating from the material.
In case your filament is wet, all is not lost. You can dry it using a low-temperature oven, a repurposed food dehydrator, or a professional filament dryer.
How to Properly Store 3D Printer Filament
When filaments are left in the open, dust and particles are likely to settle on them. These small debris can lead to poor print quality or may clog the nozzle during the printing process.
When the nozzle is clogged, changing it can be quite challenging. Therefore, it is important to prevent dust and particles from settling on your filament in the first place.
How do you do this?
Simply store the filament in a closed container or an area free of airborne particles. Alternatively, you can use a dust filter. During the printing process, the filament can slide through the dust filter and any dusts or debris will be wiped off before they reach the hotend.
Read on to find all the ways in which you can store filament to prevent them from absorbing moisture.
Commercial Filament Storage Boxes
There are commercial filament storage boxes that are specially designed to keep 3D materials safe from moisture. These solutions have features such as a temperature indicator, a scale, drying capabilities and more.
The best filament storage boxes are:
#1. Polymaker PolyBox
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
The Polymaker PolyBox is a filament storage dry box and filament feeder that indicates live humidity levels and temperature inside it. The box can hold one 2 kg spool or two 1 kg spools, or other combination of different weight spools totaling to 2 kgs.
The spools are held on ball-bearings, which allow them to roll freely. If you are working with moisture-sensitive materials, such as Nylon, you can add two different ports and neoprene tubing to the container through which the filament can be fed directly from the box to the printer.
At the bottom of the Polymaker PolyBox, there are two 100-gram desiccant pouches that dry the filament. This box does not have a heating element and, therefore, is not a replacement for a proper dehydrator.
This is a solid and easy filament storage box that will ensure your materials remain dry and free from dust particles during storage.
#2. PrintDry Container
AVAILABLE ON MATTERHACKERS
You can also store your filament in the PrintDry Container. This storage box looks like a regular flour storage container made of plastic. However, the container has four robust latches and a valve in the middle. There is also a hand-operated pump that you can press against a one-way valve to vacuum moisture and air out of the container.
PrintDry containers are airtight and will keep your filament safe. Each container can only hold a single spool.
#3. Yodelbox
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
The Yodelbox is an inexpensive filament drying solution that only holds a single spool at a time. This drying box is best used as a dedicated storage container.
The filament storage solution has a humidity and temperature sensors, and an LCD screen that shows the conditions inside in real-time. The filament box has a tube that you can connect to a 3D printer to transport the filament to the hotend.
At the bottom of the box, these is a container of desiccant. You can put each filament in its own box so that when you want to print a particular one, you simply hook up the Yodelbox to the printer containing it. This way, no spool will be left exposed to the air.
#4. Dry Cabinet
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Dry cabinets can also be used to store filament. These cabinets are designed for storage of professional cameras and other photography gear that can get damaged when exposed to moisture. Therefore, their dry-environment nature makes them excellent for filament storage.
Dry cabinets come in a wide range of sizes, from 30 liters up to 125 liters. The cabinets feature a glass door and look like wine refrigerators. These equipment also have a digital screen that indicates the humidity and temperature inside the cabinet. You can also set the ideal temperature and humidity as you prefer.
Other common features found in dry cabinets include adjustable shelves, LED interior lights, and a lock and keys.
Without proper shelf configuration, a 120-liter dry cabinet can hold about 12 rolls of filament. These equipment do not require any desiccant, bags or containers to keep your filament dry.
#5. eSUN eBox
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
The eSUN eBox has a built-in scale that will indicate the live weight of your spool. This feature comes in handy when you are printing a large model and are not sure whether the remaining spool will be enough.
You can cross-reference your filament weight with the slicer before starting your print job to avoid problems later on.
The filament drying box also has a drying feature. You can set the temperature and let the box dry your filament.
The eSUN eBox requires an electrical outlet to function. Therefore, it is not practical for long-term filament storage. Therefore, if you get this box, you will also need to consider another filament storage box.
#6. Sunlu Dry Box
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
The Sunlu Filament Dry Box has a heating element for drying the filament, just like a food dehydrator would do. You can set the temperature for the drying box.
This box holds only one 1 kg spool at a time. Therefore, it is most suitable when you want to dry and store filament during the printing process. For long term storage, you may want to check a filament dry box with a larger capacity, such as the Polymaker PolyBox.
The Sunlu Dry Box has to be plugged into an electrical outlet. The box has a tube that make easy to print from the box.
#7. DIY Filament Storage Options
If you prefer a hands-on approach to storing your filament, there are a couple of DIY options you can consider. Generally, going the DIY route will help you save quite a bit of money.
Let’s look at the options you have.
a) Vacuum Storage Bags
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Vacuum storage bags, the same ones used to transport clothes, are an excellent filament storage option. These bags suck out all the air out and compresses the filament inside.
Before sucking out the air, it’s advisable to add some desiccant. However, this is good but not critical.
Vacuum storage bags come in different sizes. The small-size bag (16 x 24 inches) can fit three 1 kg filament.
This is a cheap option for storing your 3D printer filaments.
b) Plastic Bags, Humidity Indicator Strips & Desiccant Pouches
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
You can use resealable bags to store your filament. You can purchase the bags individually or get this bundle comprising of plastic bags, humidity indicator strips, and desiccant pouches.
While plastic bags are not as durable as filament boxes, they do a good job of keeping moisture out. Moreover, the indicator strips can help you know the humidity levels inside the bags since they change color with a change in humidity levels.
64-oz storage bags are more durable than standard food-grade options. The bags are a practical method of storing filament.
#10. Airtight Roller Bin
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
The Airtight Roller Bin can store up to 17 kg rolls of filament. The storage container has swivel wheels for convenient transportation and its short height means it can be tucked under a table or desk.
The pet food container offers an airtight seal and comes in multiple sizes.
If you go for this option, make sure you place enough desiccant in the bottom to keep the filament dry. However, being a large filament storage box, you will first need to remove the spools on the top to reach those at the bottom.
#11. Heated Drybox
This box looks like the PolyBox, Sunlu S1, and Yodelbox. The box consists of a large plastic container that houses a reptile heater mat placed in an 11-liter plastic tub. The desiccant packs in the box helps to absorb moisture.
The box has a thermal hygrometer that keeps track of the temperature and humidity inside it. The 3D components of this box are available at Thingiverse.
All the items you need to make this DIY filament storage solution cost between $20 to $30. A few of the components need to be 3D printers.
Add-ons
Whether you will be going for a commercial filament dry box or a DIY solution, it’s good to have these two 3D printables:
Dust Filter
To filter out dust and prevent it from settling on your filament, use a paper towel or a folded cloth and secure it over the filament with a binder clip. See it on Thingiverse.
Filament Clip
Your filament storage solution should have a secured end. If the spool does not have a hold around the edge to secure the loose end, use a filament clip. This 3D printable clip from Thingiverse can fit the outer rim of the spool and hold the spool securely in place.
What Are Desiccants?
Most filament storage solutions require desiccants for the best results. A desiccant is a hygroscopic item that absorbs all the moisture in the area it is placed. These items are usually found in small pouches or beads.
Beads
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Desiccant beads are usually found in desiccants packs. The beads are about 2 to 4 mm in size and can be purchased by weight.
Packets/Pouches
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
The most common form of desiccants are packets. These convenient and cheap desiccants come in different sizes, from 0.5 to 500 grams.
Rechargeability
Most desiccant beads and packets can be ‘recharged’. To do this, simply bake them at a very low temperature in a microwave, food dehydrator or a low temperature oven. When the desiccant becomes saturated with moisture, baking it to remove the moisture and make it ready for the next use.
Generally, the more desiccant you have in your container, the longer it will serve you before needing to be recharged.
Color Indicating
Most desiccants will change their color when they are saturated with moisture. For instance, the color may change from orange to green, depending on the desiccant.
Both packet and beads desiccants change their color when they are saturated with water.
How Much Desiccant Do You Need?
You can buy as much desiccant as you need. However, there is a formula for determining the right amount required for a particular space.
Here is the formula:
Volume of your container in cubic ft x 12
The answer you get will be the number of units of desiccants hat you will need for the container.
A unit of desiccant will absorb about three grams of water at 20% relative humidity and a temperature of 25 °C (77 °F).
Generally, one unit of desiccant is about 1 ounce.
