DIY Filament Dry Box Made Easy: the Refilament Dry Box

Welcome

to the world of vacuum filament dry boxes! These devices are designed to provide a controlled environment for storing and protecting filament used in 3D printing, These dry boxes effectively eliminate moisture and humidity, preventing filament degradation and ensuring optimal printing results. In this introduction, we will create our own vacuum filament dry box and highlighting how they work so efficiently.

Negative pressure

can be effectively used to keep filament dry, ensuring optimal printing results. Filament, especially hygroscopic materials like nylon and PETG, tend to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment. This moisture can lead to various issues during the printing process, such as poor adhesion, bubbling, and inconsistent extrusion.

To prevent filament from absorbing moisture, a negative pressure system can be employed. This system involves creating a controlled environment with lower air pressure than the surrounding atmosphere. This negative pressure environment helps to keep the filament dry by minimising the entry of moisture-laden air.

One common method of utilising negative pressure is by using a sealed container or enclosure. This container is designed to maintain a lower air pressure inside compared to the outside environment. A vacuum pump or fan is used to create the negative pressure by extracting air from the container. This negative pressure prevents moisture-laden air from entering the container, effectively keeping the filament dry.

Dew point

is the temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture, leading to condensation. In our case, by reducing the air pressure inside the Storage Box using the

modified bike pump, we lower the dew point. When you open and reseal the container, the reduced air pressure and lowered dew point ensure that any moisture in the air is less

likely to condense onto your filament, preventing printing issues caused by moisture.

Whether you are a professional in the additive manufacturing industry or a hobbyist looking to enhance your 3D printing experience, understanding the significance of vacuum filament dry boxes is crucial for achieving consistent and high-quality prints. So, let's dive into this fascinating world and discover how we can create one of these filament storage systems.

A 50 Ltr Large Airtight Plastic Storage Box

A tire valve

A temperature and humidity gauge

A 3D printed plate designed to hold both the valve and the gauge

Silica gel desiccant

Small net bags with zippers

A bike pump (disassemblable for vacuum pumping)

Attach the tire valve and the temperature/humidity gauge to the 3D printed plate. Ensure that they are securely fastened and that there are no air leaks.

Begin by cutting a hole in the Storage Box, ensuring it's the same size as the inset on your 3D printed plate.

Once you've got the hole in place, use glue to secure the plate tightly, making sure it's airtight. This step is crucial for maintaining the perfect moisture-free environment.

You'll need to have a substantial amount of rechargeable silica gel on hand. The silica gel acts as a desiccant, absorbing moisture from the air inside the container. Place the silica gel in small net bag with zippers for easy removal and replacement.

Now, let's move on to the exciting part! You will need to modify your bike pump in order to use it as a vacuum pump. This will require reversing its current function. Essentially, you want the pump to remove air from the Storage Box, thereby reducing the air pressure inside.

Alternatively, you can purchase a dual action pump from Amazon, such as the Intex Double Quick III S Hand Pump.

With your Refilament Filament Dry box fully prepared, it's time to store your filament spools inside.

Make sure to include a generous amount of silica gel to keep the humidity at bay.