{"id":164652,"date":"2022-04-20T15:16:48","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T07:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164652"},"modified":"2022-08-12T11:35:29","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T03:35:29","slug":"3d-printer-filament-storage-12-ways-to-store-filament","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-printer-filament-storage-12-ways-to-store-filament","title":{"rendered":"3D Printer Filament Storage: 12 Ways to Store Filament"},"content":{"rendered":"
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How to store PLA and other filaments correctly? Check out the best 3D printer filament storage solutions to build or buy!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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When it comes to storage,\u00a03D printer filament<\/a>\u00a0requires special accommodation. Among the\u00a0most popular filament materials<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0PLA<\/a>,\u00a0ABS<\/a>,\u00a0PETG<\/a>, and\u00a0TPU<\/a>, the most demanding storage requirement would have to be humidity (or lack thereof). After that, the absence of dust and particulates is another important consideration for filament storage. Let\u2019s take a deeper look!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What’s the Big Deal?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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See the difference of printing with wet (left) vs. dry filament (right) (Source: Thrinter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The majority of materials used in FDM 3D printing can be considered\u00a0hygroscopic<\/a>, meaning that they absorb water molecules rather than repel them. This doesn\u2019t mean that your\u00a0Benchy<\/a>\u00a0will act like a sponge, but if you let your filament sit out in the open air on a humid day, your print quality will go down. Even what we might consider relatively low ambient humidity can be detrimental to filament through cumulative exposure.<\/p>\n

Keeping filament in an airtight container is a must to prevent the absorption of humidity from the air, and the use of vacuum-sealed containers or ones with desiccant is even better. For more information on desiccants, check out the section at the end of this article.<\/p>\n

Knowing if Your Filament Is Wet<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Can you guess which print was done with dry filament? (Source: bobstro via Prusa Research Forum)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

With \u201cwet\u201d filament, you might notice print surface quality go way down or poorer\u00a0layer adhesion<\/a>. One way to tell if filament has been saturated is to listen for popping or crackling sounds when it\u2019s being melted in the hot end. What you\u2019re hearing is the sound of water boiling out of the filament and evaporating.<\/p>\n

That said, wet filament isn\u2019t a lost cause, as most filaments can be dried using a repurposed food dehydrator, a low-temperature oven, or a purpose-built machine such as some of the ones included in this list.<\/p>\n

Necessity of Storage<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s natural that dust and particulates settle on spools of filament when they\u2019re left out in the open. These tiny nuisances can lead to decreased print quality, even clogging the nozzle during printing.<\/p>\n

Cleaning and changing nozzles can be a pain, so preventing the dust from getting on the filament in the first place is an easy choice. This can be accomplished by simply storing the filament in closed containers or places otherwise secluded from airborne particulates. Another line of prevention is the use of a dust filter (see the Add-Ons section towards the end of the article) that the filament slides through during the printing process, which wipes away any potential contaminants before they reach the hot end.<\/p>\n

No matter your approach to storing your filament, we have the solutions you need! First, we\u2019ll go over some of the best options, then we\u2019ll give you a couple of add-ons that you\u2019ll want to print no matter which solution you go with. Finally, we have a special section about desiccants so that you can learn all about this storage helper.<\/p>\n

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STORAGE SOLUTIONS TO BUY<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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The following are all solutions that are specially designed for storing 3D printer filament. With extras like drying capabilities, a scale, and a temperature indicator, these all have something special to offer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Polymaker PolyBox<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The PolyBox holds two spools at once, which is a big help for dual extrusion setups (Source: Amazon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The\u00a0Polymaker PolyBox<\/span>\u00a0is a comprehensive filament storage dry box and filament feeder. Featuring live temperature and humidity readings from inside the container, this solution is no mere plastic box.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the only container on the list that\u2019s specifically designed for two 1-kg spools, one 2-kg spool, or any other combination of two different weight spools. Held on ball-bearing rollers, the spools can roll freely. With the addition of two different sets of ports and neoprene tubing, the filament can be fed directly from the PolyBox to your printer.<\/p>\n

This box includes two 100-gram desiccant pouches held in a bottom compartment to dry the filament, rather than a heating element. This means that the box cannot be used to replace a proper dehydrator.<\/p>\n

The ~$70 price tag has drawn comments, as making a DIY version would only cost around $20. However, if you\u2019re looking for a solid and easy storage solution, this should work well.<\/p>\n