A Guide to Proper Filament Care and Storage for 3D Printing
Why Should You Care About Your 3D Printing Filament?
When it comes to 3D printing, people often focus on maintaining the printer itself, whilst the importance of taking care of the printing filament tends to get overlooked. Neglecting to store the filament properly can lead to material degradation. This directly reduces the quality of your 3D prints as well as damaging the printer itself, even reducing its lifespan!
The most common 3D printing materials are hygroscopic, meaning that they attract moisture from the air. This property can cause the material to become brittle and snap during the printing process, leading to failed prints, wasted material, and wasted time. Notably, certain materials, such as PETG and Nylon, are much more vulnerable to moisture-induced failure than others, like PLA.
Poorly stored filaments can also lead to excessive stringing, poor layer adhesion, and nozzle blockage whilst printing. These issues can affect the strength of the printed parts as well as adding wear and tear to your 3D printer. Additionally, considering that many specialty filaments can be pricey, proper storage can help you avoid wastage and keep printing costs to a minimum.
Best Practices for Storing 3D Printing Filament
- Adhere to the Manufacturer’s Recommendations: Always start by following the storage recommendations provided by the filament’s manufacturer. Many will specify a particular storage temperature range, for example.
- Keep the Filament Dry: Since moisture is a significant threat to filament quality, it’s important to store your filament in a dry environment. Avoid rooms with high humidity, such as kitchens or bathrooms.
- Avoid Heat and Light: Filaments should be stored away from heat sources and direct sunlight or UV light to prevent degradation.
- Maintain a Clean Storage Environment: Dust can damage your 3D printer’s nozzle as the filament travels through the extruder. Because of this, you should take care to ensure your filament storage facility is as clean and dust-free as possible.
Innovative Filament Storage Solutions
Many 3D printing enthusiasts prefer to store their filament on open shelves or racks. While this method may look appealing, and it does allow for quick visual gauging of your available materials, it should, ideally, only be used in low-humidity environments- and if you’re comfortable with a slightly faster degradation rate.
A super safe and cost-effective storage method that we would recommend is using a simple zip-lock bag and a small pack of silica gel, which often comes with every spool of filament. Large resealable kitchen bags, plastic food containers, or plastic boxes can also serve as excellent storage options for multiple rolls.
For those looking for more sophisticated solutions, dry-storage boxes are also available. These airtight containers can hold one or two filament spools, with some models even featuring a small display indicating the moisture level in the box. For easy access, these boxes also feature sealed openings to directly feed the filament into the printer.
Professional Filament Storage Solutions
For professional use or storage in high-humidity areas, consider investing in advanced dry-storage boxes. These storage systems can hold multiple filament rolls and may feature enhanced sensors or electronic dehumidifiers to keep your filament in top shape.
Alternatively, you could buy filament dryer devices. These devices utilise a controlled heat source to safely remove moisture from your filament, if it has been stored incorrectly for an extended period of time, and it does so without damaging the filament. This can help compensate for any moisture-related changes that have already occurred, but we recommend preventing moisture build up in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Caring for your 3D printing filament is as equally important as maintaining your printer. Storing filament properly in a dry, cool, and dust-free environment will ensure long-lasting, quality prints and extend the life of your 3D printer. Whether you choose a simple zip-lock bag or a high-tech dry-storage box, remember that proper filament care is an essential aspect of the 3D printing process.