Just like a comic book hero needs a well-organized lair, 3D printer enthusiasts need proper filament storage to produce top-quality prints. Safely storing filament is an important yet often overlooked practice. Keeping these fibers in safe places can significantly enhance the quality and longevity of your 3D-printed creations. Today, we will arm you with fantastic knowledge on the importance of proper filament storage and how to do it like a pro.
Knowing Your Foe: Filament Enemies
To safely store your filaments, consider the impact of humidity, temperature, and dust. Moisture absorption could cause prints to come out unevenly or create poor layer adhesion, particularly with materials like PLA, ABS, and nylon. Likewise, temperature fluctuations can make filaments brittle and prone to breakage, while dust particles can contaminate and disrupt the printing process.
The Key to Success: Ideal Storage Environments
When it comes to proper filament storage, the name of the game is dry, cool, and dust-free. To achieve this, consider storing your spools inside an airtight container to keep moisture out. Otherwise, you’ll be met with a monstrous display of filament fiber that’s hard to resurrect. Also, place the container in a cool environment to ensure it stays away from sunlight so it doesn’t warp.
Know Your Material: Tailored Tips for Filament Types
Different filament types require specific storage considerations. While PLA is fairly easy to store and can last years in a generally dry, cool environment, ABS and PETG filaments are extremely heat-sensitive. Therefore, you should keep these filaments in a consistently cool space to prevent degradation. Make sure you research the specific requirements of your chosen filament so you can provide the optimal storage environment for each one.
What To Know About Specialty Nylon Filaments
Nylon glass filaments command a unique section in our storage showdown because they’re notorious for requiring special attention when it comes to storage. Nylon is highly hygroscopic, meaning it easily absorbs water from its environment. Knowing how susceptible this material is to water makes proper storage more important than ever.
One of the best tips for storing nylon glass filament is to seal it in an airtight container with a desiccant in a cool, dry place. Furthermore, removing used nylon filaments from the printer and returning them to their proper container promptly after use is important to avoid moisture absorption from the air.
However, some 3D printers have dry box systems, which allow the filament to feed directly into the printer from a sealed, moisture-controlled container. A dry box is an extra layer of protection to ensure your nylon glass filament remains in prime condition, ready to support your most complex 3D printing projects!
The Future of Filament Storage
Technological advancements are taking the importance of proper filament storage seriously by becoming even more efficient and user-friendly. Products like smart filament dryers and humidity-controlled containers are increasing in popularity due to their precise temperature and moisture control. As the demand for quality filament storage increases, we can look forward to even more innovative solutions that will make storing our materials a breeze.
