this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2023
19 points (91.3% liked)

3DPrinting

15577 readers
71 users here now

3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

The r/functionalprint community is now located at: !functionalprint@kbin.social or !functionalprint@fedia.io

There are CAD communities available at: !cad@lemmy.world or !freecad@lemmy.ml

Rules

If you need an easy way to host pictures, https://catbox.moe/ may be an option. Be ethical about what you post and donate if you are able or use this a lot. It is just an individual hosting content, not a company. The image embedding syntax for Lemmy is ![](URL)

Moderation policy: Light, mostly invisible

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

How long do you have filament sitting "in the open"? I mostly print with a single filament roll at a time, and just leave it on the printer. A 1kg roll lasts me several weeks. For long time storage I keep it in an air tight box with disiccant pouches.

But how long can I let it sit before I should start storing it with disiccant and/or drying the filament before use?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] squaresinger@feddit.de 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Depends on the relative humidity in your house and the type of filament you use. I have usually ~30% humidity in my flat.

  • PLA reall doesn't care about humidity. I've got some 5yo rolls that still print like new, without storing them air-tight.
  • PETG is fussier. After a few days they start to act up. I always have them in the filament dryer while printing.
  • Specialist filaments (e.g. Nylon, Carbon, Wood) might be much more hydroscopic, depending on the material.
[–] DreadPotato@sopuli.xyz 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Inside it's around 50%, fluctuates a bit depending on season.

[–] squaresinger@feddit.de 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

That's a bit high. PLA still won't care, but PETG will probably only print perfectly for a quite short time (maybe a day or two).

That said, depending on what exact blend it is, Silk PLA or other PLAs with additives might also have an issue with humidity.