Need a filament dryer for those exotic engineering materials? Why not print one?
Filament dryers are rapidly becoming a necessity for FFF 3D printer operators. To achieve optimal results, filament must be free of absorbed moisture. If not, the embedded water boils as it extrudes, creating bubbles that mess up surface quality and part strength.
Today’s desktop FFF 3D printers often include many sensors that are used to maintain the highest print quality. CoreXY machines tend to be fully enclosed to ensure even heat around the print to reduce warping and guarantee proper dimensionality.
But all of that engineering into the 3D printer is really lost if you don’t put good quality material into the machine. And good quality means that the filament is properly dried.
There are plenty of filament drying solutions on the market today, ranging from single spool units to larger cabinets that can contain a dozen or more spools. Recently some 3D printer manufacturers have begun including drying features into their filament swapping accessories for multicolor 3D printing.
But if none of that appeals to you, it’s actually possible to 3D print your own filament dryer. Creative3DP provides a system they call the “AeroDry”. It not only dries filament, but also keeps it stored in a dry environment.
AeroDry can hold up to three standard 1kg filament spools at a time, and you can even print directly from the AeroDry. This enables the operator to make sure the filament is as dry as possible, even when printing. Note that there are three pass-thru holes for this purpose, meaning you could support three separate 3D printers with one AeroDry.
The unit includes a spot for desiccant packets, which can help keep the interior of the AeroDry free of moisture when the heater isn’t running.
There’s a heating unit and circulating fan, along with a digital display of the current humidity inside the AeroDry. A digital timer allows operators to use standard drying schedules for specific materials.
AeroDry is provided as a series of 3D model files that you can print yourself. Along with the files are instructions on how to assemble the AeroDry, as well as a bill of materials for non-printable parts such as bolts, fans, etc.
The AeroDry is sold under two different licenses. The regular license, US$29, allows buyers to print and use the AeroDry for their own use. The commercial license, US$54, allows buyers to build and sell AeroDry units to others.
Remember that you don’t get a functional filament dryer for US$29. You do have to buy the other components and assemble all of the above. However, the price of the additional parts doesn’t seem particularly expensive, and you’ll likely be able to get them for around US$50 in total.
Via Creative3DP
