Oct 6, 2017 | By Tess
PrintDry, a Canada-based 3D printing company, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new PrintDry Filament Container. Designed to keep your filaments dry and safe from moisture, the filament containers comes in packs of six for as little as CA$48 ($38).
If you are a maker that relies on FDM 3D printing, there is a good chance you will know the woes of filaments ruined by moisture. The tell-tale signs being poor surface quality, bubbles in your print, and inconsistent layers—all things you do not want to see after waiting hours for a part to be printed.
If you’ve found a DIY solution for keeping your filaments safe from moisture or have already invested in a commercial system for storing filaments, then you need not read on. But for those who are still looking for an affordable way to keep their PLA and ABS dry, Windsor-based company PrintDry claims to have the solution.
Readers might remember the Canadian company from a Kickstarter campaign last year which featured a novel device for drying your 3D printing filament. Aptly called the PrintDry Filament Dryer, the $99 machine uses simultaneous heating and venting systems to evaporate and remove any moisture from the filament.
PrintDry’s latest product takes a more preventative approach and, if it works as well as the company says it does, the filament container should effectively eliminate the need for the dryer system.
PrintDry filament dryer
The PrintDry filament container looks, quite simply, like a rather large transparent tupperware, though it has been designed to fit a single spool of filament in it. Having a single spool per container, PrintDry explains, means that makers can select the filament they want without compromising their other filaments (which is a risk with using large airtight containers).
The 3D printing filament container, which has walls roughly 15 times the thickness of a zip-lock bag (a semi-reliable solution for keeping filaments out of moisture’s way), also features an airtight silicone seal and four clamps for securing the filament inside the container.
Helpfully, the filament containers are also made from transparent plastic, meaning that makers can easily locate and find the filament they are looking for—without the need for labels.
For extra precaution, PrintDry says it will include a number of desiccant bags which can be placed in the containers alongside the filament spools. Tests conducted on the humidity levels of the filament placed inside the container with five desiccant pouches showed promising results.
As the company explains, “The graph below shows the changes of the relative humidity (grey line) inside the container and the ambient humidity (red line) as the storage time increases.”
The Kickstarter campaign for PrintDry’s filament containers has already far surpassed its goal of CA$3,500 (it has currently raised CA$12,000) but it’s not too late to get a bite of the action. Early bird packs of six are still available for a pledge of CA$48 (roughly $38) and are expected to deliver as soon as December of this year.
Backers can also choose from a number of other rewards, including a dryer and container combo for $135.
For more filament storage options, Polymaker also recently released its PolyBox 3D printer accessory. The $70 dry storage box is designed to hold up to two spools and feeds directly into the 3D printer.
Posted in 3D Printer Accessories
Maybe you also like:
- T-Bone Cape motion control board launches on Indiegogo
- New extruder could lower costs of 3D printing cellular structures for drug testing
- New Ninja Printer Plate for consumer 3D printing
- mUVe3D releases improved Marlin firmware for all 3D printers
- Zecotek plans HD 3D display for 3D printers
- Add a smart LCD controller to your Robo3D printer
- Maker Kase: a handy cabinet for 3D printers
- Heated bed for ABS printing with the Printrbot Simple XL
- Next gen all metal 3D printer extruder from Micron
- Pico all-metal hotend 100% funded in 48 hours, B3 announces Stretch Goal
- Create it REAL announces first 3D printing Real Time Processor
- A larger and more powerful 3D printer extruder on Kickstarter
A good idea I think. Especially for more expensive filaments like Ultem and PEEK which absorb moisture very quickly.
John wrote at 10/8/2017 1:34:15 PM:
First.. An eBay dehydrator for the 3D printing market with a huge markup. Now.. A cake box with no doubt a huge markup. Next.. A ziplock bag with "special" moisture repelling seals, and a bag of dessicant for only $20 a bag?
Mike wrote at 10/7/2017 10:04:42 PM:
I have 10 rolls in a rubbermaid container with a crap load of silica packs I've gathered thru the year. Good enough.
S. G. wrote at 10/6/2017 2:47:33 PM:
Unless it has a metalized layer or multiple layers to prevent transmission through the walls of the container then they will leak and your filament will get wet.
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
