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projects:spoolvault
spoolvault
Status build in progress
Founder czechu
Source https://wiki.hackerspace.pl/projects:spoolvault

SpoolVault filament dryer

Work in progress

spool-vault-box.jpg

Large 3D printing filament dryer and storage box, with over the top design specs:

  • Max drying temperature above 100°C 🔥
  • Air-tight construction (not while drying)
  • Ability to hold 4×1kg or 6×700g spools and fit 2×2kg

Safety

Hot surface. Hot contents. Ensure continuous ventilation.

Settings

We will develop filament settings after calibrating the heat. Check filament manufacturer recommendations before drying. Here is a list of approximate values sourced from resources linked below.

Material Drying (°C) Duration (h) Printing (°C)
ABS 60-85 3-4 -
ASA 60-80 2-4 -
HIPS 60-80 2-3 -
PA (Nylon) 70-90 4-12 60
PETG 55-65 3-8 -
PLA 40-50 4-6 -
  • Drying temperature can vary. It's a generic safe value.
  • Duration: The best method is to observe spool weight. After some time drying stops being effective.
  • Printing temp: Educated guess. More research needed. Filament will probably cool in the tube between dryer and a 3D printer, but high temperature will prevent it from absorbing moisture while printing.

About overheating and over-drying

Filament can form cracks if dryed too rapidly. If a spool absorbed a lot of water, start with lower temperature and longer drying time. The best approach is to take regular weight measurements while drying.

Over-drying can result in filament degrading and becoming brittle. Don't exceed manufacturer recommended drying time. It's better to have some moisture then an aged spool.

Research

Useful generic information about polymers: tworzywa.pl/wiedzopedia/baza-tworzyw

Theoretical glass-transition temperature doesn't look relevant for engineering materials. https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-print-tips-archive/glass-transition-temperatures-not-what-they-seem/

Most dryers don't go higher then 70°C. Resources:

There are industrial dryers that heat up to 150°C:

Filament manufacturers recommendations:


Build

Warning! Do not attempt to replicate this without experience with handling electricity. This is not an Arduino project. Working with AC current can kill or maim you.

BOM

  • ✔️ Ammunition Box 47x21x37cm (NATO size 3)
  • ✔️ PTC heater 220V 400W 120x50mm
  • ✔️ Thermostat (REX-C100)
  • ✔️ High temperature fan (from convection oven)
  • ✔️ Steel threaded rivets M10 ≥6pcs.
  • ✔️ PTFE tubing & couplers
  • ✔️ Alarm light and buzzer
  • ✔️ AC IEC socket with power switch and fuse (AC-01-2)
  • ✔️ Wire crimper and supplies
  • ❔ Thermal insulation
  • ❔ Air supply fans and filter

Cost

Goal is to have a basic version for a price of a cheapest commercial quad-spool drybox. At the time of writing SUNLU FilaDryer S4 can be found on Aliexpress for 600zł.

I was able to get surplus ammunition boxes for 100zł (~$25). I'm not sure what the best heating solution is yet. PTC heater with automatic shutoff at 150°C and with higher power then other commercial dryers have seems safe. Safer then disassembling a hair dryer. It might be under-powered, we will see. It was cheap, at 52zł. I chose REX-C100 for a PID temperature controller. It's extremely widely used, and it makes it very cheap. 48zł including SRR with radiator and a K thermocouple. Fused IEC socket with rocker switch costs 10zł. I also added optional 2x 220V signal diodes, 7zł. Threaded rivets will make installing ports for printing directly from the box very easy. I got both M4 and M10 from Aliexpress for ~30zł. Convection oven fan with motor is will costs 75zł new, ~50zł used. I opted for a new one named C460002A9. Plus speed controller for 8zł. Lastly, alarm light/buzzer for 6zł.

Spent so far: 346zł.

How to search for parts

Researching products designed for convection ovens (termoobieg) and DIY meat smoking (wędzarnia) helped. There are no unsolved issues here, just a lot of integration.

Log

  • 2024-03-06 - project started, initial purchase - box i.d. 43.5×37×18.5cm
  • 2024-03-09 - box has been delivered
  • 2024-07-13 - electronics assembled on a bench and tested
  • 2024-09-22 - work on lower enclosure started
  • 2024-09-24 - control panel design
  • 2024-09-28 - front panel, relay, fan, heater mounted

Ideas for improvements

  • Glass visor
  • Alternative gasket material
  • Painting inside with heat-resistant paint (white 800°C paint)
  • Flament rotation motor (oven roast motor? microwave oven turntable?)
  • Humidity sensor (needs to be temperature resistant)
  • “IoT” reporting and control
  • Load cell for spools
  • Klipper/printer integration
projects/spoolvault.txt · Last modified: 2024/10/01 09:01 by czechu

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