How to Dry Filament: PA, TPU, PLA, PVA & PET
Wet 3D printer filament can lead to ruined prints. Fortunately, proper storage and drying techniques can help prevent and solve the problem.
Last updated on 03 Nov, 2023. 9 min read
While it may not be obvious to a beginner maker, any seasoned 3D printing hobbyist will know the importance of properly storing and drying filament. Truly, the moisture levels in 3D printer filament can make or break a print. We’ll take you through why keeping most thermoplastics dry before printing is critical and how to dry filament to ensure a successful print job.
How to Dry Filament
Filament drying is an important step in the 3D printing process, as it can significantly improve your chances of achieving a successful print job. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be a difficult step: there are a few different options at your disposal for ensuring your filament is free from moisture. Let’s take a look.
Filament Dryer
A filament dryer is a piece of equipment specifically designed to remove any moisture from filament. The principle behind it is simple enough: filament dryers hold a spool of filament in an enclosure with controlled heating, which causes the water molecules in the thermoplastic to evaporate evenly.
Today, there are several types of filament dryer on the market, including simple plug-and-play products for the hobbyist market, and more advanced systems for professional users. The most basic filament dryers consist of a heated container that fits at least one filament spool. More sophisticated machines come with additional features like spool rotation and airflow for even heat distribution. Additionally, some filament dryers are designed to dry out an entire spool of filament at once, which can then be removed and loaded onto the 3D printer. There are also other systems, known as in-line filament dryers, which are designed to dry the filament and simultaneously feed it into the 3D printer, which saves time.
It is also possible to make your own DIY filament dryer. If you have a 3D printer with a heated print bed, it doesn’t take much to turn it into a filament dryer. All you need is a 3D printed support structure and a low-cost PC fan. [2]
Recommended reading: How to dry hygroscopic filaments really fast
Oven
The most accessible way to remove moisture from filament before 3D printing is to use an oven. That’s right, just your run-of-the-mill kitchen oven. Simply set your oven to a low temperature—the exact degree will depend on the type of filament and its glass transition temperature—let it preheat, and then place your filament spools inside for up to six hours.
Before you put filament in a heated oven, it is important to check that your oven has a precise thermostat. You don’t want to set your oven to 80°C only to find it’s actually 95°C and has started to melt your filament. To check your oven’s thermostat, simply put a thermometer into the pre-heated oven for a temperature read. You can adjust your oven settings based on any discrepancies.
It is also important to never put your spool of filament in the oven before it has reached the right temperature. This is because many ovens will overheat before attaining the right temperature, which could ruin your filament spool and result in a mess of melted plastic.
Food Dehydrator
Another filament drying solution you can co-opt from the kitchen is a food dehydrator. Food dehydrators work by circulating hot air through an enclosed container to dry out foods, like fruit and meat. Because most food dehydrators reach the necessary temperatures to dry out filament, they can also be used for that purpose. While food dehydrators are typically less expensive than dedicated filament dryers, their capacity is usually smaller—after all, they aren’t designed for filament spools. Still, they are a popular option within the maker community due to their accessibility.
Temperatures for Drying Filament
Regardless of whether you are drying your filament in an oven, food dehydrator, or filament dryer, there are specific settings for different filament types. A good rule of thumb is to preheat your drying device to just under the material’s glass transition temperature. The glass transition temperature indicates at what point a thermoplastic changes from a hard state to a soft state. PLA filament, for example, has a glass transition temperature of about 60°C, so a good temperature to dry PLA is between 40°C and 50°C.[3] ABS, on the other hand, has a higher glass transition temperature (105°C) so can be dried at a higher temperature. It is also important to take into consideration the spool holder material: you don’t want that to melt or burn in your oven.
Common 3D printing filaments and their drying temperatures:
PLA: 40°C-50°C
TPU: 40°C-45°C
PETG: 60°C-65°C
ABS: 80°C
Polycarbonate (PC): 80°C
ASA: 80°C-85°C
Nylon (PA): 80°C-90°C
In terms of drying time, it can take several hours for moisture to be removed from thermoplastic filament materials. In general, you should dry your spools at the recommended temperatures for roughly 4-6 hours, however more hygroscopic materials, such as Nylon (PA) may require longer drying times. If you are using a dedicated filament dryer, drying temperatures and times may vary.
Recommended reading: How to Prevent 3D Print Blobs & Zits
How to Store Filament
Filament storage is vital if you want to protect your FFF 3D printing materials from moisture and minimize the need to dry them. Proper storage is also good for keeping materials safe from humidity and things like dust once you have taken the time to dry them out. On top of all that, proper storage of filaments can extend their shelf-life and maintain their optimal properties.
The key to storing filament so it remains in peak condition is to keep it in a humidity controlled space. One reliable solution is to place filament spools inside a dry box. In other words, an airtight container containing a desiccant material (for example, silica gel packets). It’s worth pointing out that desiccant packets need to be replaced periodically, as the materials absorb moisture. Fortunately, many types of desiccant can be reused: all you have to do is remove the moisture from them using a filament dehydrator or an oven on a low-temp setting.
You can also place filaments inside vacuum sealed bags or containers, which provide an airtight seal and keep moisture out. These are particularly effective in regions with high humidity. These containers can be made of plastic or metal and should have a tight-fitting lid with a gasket to ensure a proper seal.
A popular option amongst makers is to create a DIY dry box that not only protects filament from humidity but also feeds the spool into the 3D printer. This project requires a sealable container, desiccant packs, some PVC pipe, tubing, and a few other bits.[4] For optimal filament storage, it’s also a good idea to keep them out of direct sunlight or sources of heat, as these can cause the filament to degrade.
The Problem of Wet Filament
In the fused filament fabrication (FFF) process, thermoplastic filaments are fed through a heated nozzle (called a hotend) until they reach their melting point. As they are melted by the nozzle, the filaments are extruded onto a build platform, where the melted polymer begins to solidify as it cools. This extrusion process is continuous, depositing layer after layer of material until a final object is standing on the build platform.
If 3D printing filament has been exposed to moisture, it can lead to all sorts of issues, like material degradation. This is because the absorbed water can break the polymer chains in the filament, leading to a reduction in its tensile strength and flexibility. Furthermore, 3D printing with wet filament disrupts the printing process, as moisture in the thermoplastic evaporates as the material is heated. This in turn causes air bubbles in the material’s composition, which results in stringing, blobbing, and, ultimately, 3D printed parts with compromised strength and print quality.
Moisture absorption properties of filament are influenced by several factors, including the type of material, the ambient humidity, and the duration of exposure. For instance, Nylon is known to be a highly hygroscopic material and can absorb moisture rapidly from the air. PLA, for its part, is up to 10 times less hygroscopic than nylon, but can still absorb a significant amount of moisture over time.[1]
Identifying Wet Filament
While we call it “wet filament”, identifying a moisture-affected 3D printing filament is not quite as simple as touching it to see if it’s wet. Because of the hygroscopic nature of many 3D printer filaments—including PA, TPU, PLA, PVA, PETG, and to a lesser extent ABS filament—moisture and humidity present in the air are actually absorbed by the plastic. When water from the surrounding environment is absorbed by the filament, water molecules disrupt the polymer chains inside the thermoplastic in a process called hydrolysis. Not only does this increase the chance of bubbles forming in the filament as it prints, it also renders the filament more brittle and weak.
When 3D printing, some telltale signs that your filament has absorbed moisture are sizzling noises coming from your extruder and bubbles in the filament as it is heated. If the melted thermoplastic continues to ooze out of the 3D printer printhead even after the machine is off, it may also be a sign that your filament is wet. Other signs can be found in the 3D printed part itself, like stringing, blobbing, and poor adhesion between layers.
Moisture-laden filament can sometimes also appear discolored or have a cloudy or hazy look. This is particularly noticeable in clear or transparent filaments, which may lose their transparency when they absorb moisture. Generally, however,, it can be difficult to tell whether filament has absorbed too much moisture before the print process. (That being said, if you notice your spool of filament is less flexible than it used to be, that could be a sign it is wet.) It is therefore important to store your filaments properly and to learn how to dry them.
Recommended reading: 3D Printer Stringing: How To Fix It
Conclusion
Taking the time to dry and store your 3D printing filaments properly can save you time and money in the long run. Filaments are at their best when they are dry, encouraging a smooth 3D printing process (with no sizzling or oozing) and good quality prints (with no stringing and good layer adhesion). Be sure to follow this guide if you do want to dry your own filament.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why is moisture bad for filament?
A: Filaments need to be protected from moisture and humidity because they can cause degradation to thermoplastics. In the 3D printing process, when the filament is heated, trapped moisture evaporates, leading to air bubbles and other issues like stringing and blobbling.
Q: Can I dry my filament in the oven?
A: Yes, you can dry filament in the oven, but it's important to use a low temperature and monitor the process closely to avoid overheating the filament. Some ovens may not have accurate temperature control at lower settings, so it's recommended to use an oven thermometer to ensure the correct temperature.
Q: How do I know if my filament needs to be dried?
A: You can typically identity wet filament if you see rough or uneven surfaces on the printed object, stringing, or brittleness. If your filament has been stored in a humid environment or has not been used for an extended period, it may also need to be dried.
Q: Can I reuse desiccants?
A: Yes, many types of desiccants, including silica gel, can be reused. To renew silica gel desiccants, you can bake them in the oven at a low temperature until they change color, indicating that the moisture has been removed.
Q: How long do I have to dry filament?
A: There is no hard and fast rule about how long to dry out a spool of filament. For most filaments, a drying time of between four and six hours is recommended, however more hygroscopic materials like Nylon can sometimes require more time.
Q: How long can I store filament before it degrades?
A: The shelf life of filament can vary depending on the type of filament and the storage conditions. In general, filament can be stored for several months to a year if it is kept in an airtight container with desiccants in a cool, dry place. However, it's recommended to use the filament as soon as possible for the best print quality.
References
[1] Banjo AD, Agrawal V, Auad ML, Celestine AD. Moisture-induced changes in the mechanical behavior of 3D printed polymers. Composites Part C: Open Access. 2022 Mar 1;7:100243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomc.2022.100243 [Accessed November 2, 2023]
[2] Hackaday, 2021. “Most FDM Printers are also Filament Dryers (with a Little Help)”. [online] https://hackaday.com/2021/11/09/most-fdm-printers-are-also-filament-dryers-with-a-little-help/ [Accessed March 1, 2022]
[3] Fillamentum, 2022. “Drying Filaments Before Processing”. [online] https://fillamentum.com/pages/drying-filaments-before-processing/ [Accessed March 1, 2022]
[4] Instructables, 2022. “3D Printer Filament Dry Box”. [online] https://www.instructables.com/3D-Printer-Filament-Dry-Box/ [Accessed March 1, 2022]