Everything you need to know about filament drying.

Have you ever experienced stringing, bubbling, or an overall lackluster appearance in your 3D prints? If so, you may be overlooking a crucial step in the printing process: drying your filament. Drying your filament can make a world of difference in the quality of your prints, and it's a step that many people often neglect. In this blog post, we'll explore why drying your 3D printing filament is important and how it can improve your printing results.

Why does filament need to be dried?

Many filaments, especially those made from hygroscopic materials like nylon or PETG, have a tendency to absorb moisture from the air. This moisture can cause a range of issues during the printing process, including stringing, bubbling, and a rough surface finish. By drying your filament before printing, you can remove this moisture and ensure a smoother, more consistent extrusion. One of the tell tale signs of wet filament is a bubbling sound from the nozzle assembly while printing.

How does drying filament reduce stringing and bubbling?

Stringing occurs when small threads of filament are left behind during travel moves, resulting in unwanted strands between printed parts. Bubbling, on the other hand, happens when moisture trapped in the filament turns into steam during the printing process, causing small bubbles to form in the print. Both of these issues can be minimized or eliminated by drying your filament.

Which filaments require more drying?

While all filaments can benefit from drying, some are more prone to moisture absorption than others. Hygroscopic filaments like nylon, PETG, and PVA are particularly susceptible and require more frequent drying. On the other hand, PLA and ABS filaments are less hygroscopic and may not require drying as often.

What are the recommended drying methods?

There are several methods you can use to dry your filament, but two popular options are special filament dryers and food dehydrators. Special filament dryers are designed specifically for drying 3D printing filament and offer precise temperature and humidity control. Food dehydrators, while not specifically designed for filament drying, can also be effective and more affordable alternatives.

When using a filament dryer or food dehydrator, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and set the temperature and drying time according to the filament type. This will ensure that the filament is properly dried without causing any damage.

Remember, drying your filament is an essential step in achieving high-quality 3D prints. By taking the time to dry your filament, you can reduce stringing, bubbling, and other imperfections, resulting in prints that look and feel more professional. So, don't overlook this important step and start enjoying better printing results today!

What are the recommended drying temperatures and times?

Our recommendations are based on our filaments, at 50% humidity and 25°C ambient temperature.

Which filament dryer do you recommend ?

There are several filament dryers on the market , however we found that most of the affordable dryers only go up to 55°C, which is not enough for some filaments.

Our personal favourite is a small Food Dehydrator that fits one roll of filament and has temperature settings ranging from 35°C - 80°C, you can find it on Amazon (Todo 400W Food Dehydrator) or at your local Bunnings.