All 3D printing filaments are hygroscopic, which means they will absorb moisture. Which means it can ruin your 3D prints. Which is you should always protect them from moisture present in the air. And, never let accidents happen where it falls in water. In short, keep them away safely somewhere moisture cannot find them.
But not everything goes as per the plants. If you left your 3D printer filament lying around accidently and it has absorbed moisture, you can still use it. Buying cheap 3D printer filament is of no use if you cannot use them due to the moisture damage. Luckily, there are some great ways you can bring back the efficiency and ability of the filament back.
What is Moisture Damage?
Even though the filaments are made of thermoplastic, they are hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the surrounding. Once the filaments absorb the moisture, they will become less efficient and unsuitable for use.
Moisture in the filament can cause of issues, such as:
Reduced strength and durability
Difficulty printing the parts
Cracking of the filament while printing
Bubbling and oozing of the filaments at the hot-end
Moisture can make 3D filaments unsuitable for printing 3D parts. Uneven extrusion will make the end product look uneven and less than perfect.
Can you Use the Filament that is wet now?
Yes, you can. If your filaments are wet, which means it has absorbed moisture, you can dry them to use them again. There are various methods you can use to make the filaments dry again. Make sure that your filaments haven’t suffered the damage for too long as it will be difficult to make them work again.
At the same time, make sure that you quickly dry the filaments as soon as they get wet from moisture content to preserve its quality.
Read more: 6 Absolutely Fun 3D Printing Ideas for Beginners
How to Dry the Wet 3D Printing Filaments?
There are many different ways you can use to dry the 3D printer filaments and it will not cost you much. But make sure that you always buy the best quality filaments in the first place.
Here are some of the best ways to dry your 3D printing filaments:
Use Filament Dryer
Yes, such device does exist that allows you to dry your filaments. Moisture damage of filament is not a new thing. Sometimes, you can do all the right things, yet you can end up with a wet filament. Which is why things like filament dryers exists. It can help you keep the filaments dry in no time.
There are many types of filament dryers but they more or less work the same way. what you have to do is put your filament spool inside the dryer and set the timer as per the use and let it do its job. When you take the filaments out, you will have dry and efficient filament, ready for printing.
Use the Oven
This is probably the cheapest way to dry the filaments. Everyone has an oven at home or you can borrow from someone. It’s easy and less time taking. All you have to do is put the spool inside the oven and set the temperature less than its melting point. In 4 to 6 hours, your filaments will be dry and ready for printing.
Make sure to pre-heat the oven before placing the filaments inside it. Also, make sure that the oven is capable of staying in the set temperature to avoid risking the melting of the filaments. Check the manual and see if it can hold the temperature for that long. The last thing you need is your filament spools melting or getting stuck together.
Use Food Dehydrators
Food dehydrators are one of the best ways to make your filaments dry and efficient. They are designed to work at lower temperature, which means they are safer than the ovens. They are a low-cost solution for drying the filaments. You can easily find them online. They come in layers, which is helpful if you want to use multiple filaments at the same time. You can use filaments like PLA and ABS for drying them in food dehydrator.
But nothing beats proper storage of the filaments. Make sure you are storing them in airtight containers and vacuum-sealed bags. They are designed to prevent moisture from entering then container. This will keep your filaments safe and secure from the moisture damage.
The Bottom-line
These are some of the best ways to dry filaments so that they can be used once again. These methods are easy, effective and budget-friendly. Proper storage is the key here, so make sure that you properly store the filaments so that they can last for a long time.
Makeshaper.com offers high-quality cheap 3D printer filament online at the most amazing prices online. We have a wide range of 3D printing filaments, such as PETG filament, ABS filament, PVA filament, PLA filament, HIPS filament and more. Email us at makeshaper@villageplastics.com or give us a call at (330) 753-0100