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DarthRevan
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:29 am

Filament Storage

I'm in the process of drawing up a system for storing my filament spools. I'd be interested to see what kind of setups the community is using.

I'm not looking to go this in-depth with it as I have several rolls that I'd like to store together and consume as little space was possible but also keep the filament alive for the most time. I'm thinking something more along the lines of wide shallow plastic tub to slide under some shelving units.

Should I line the bottom with absorbent kitty litter?

Pictures and advice are obviously very welcome.
cornelljd
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 9:33 am

Re: Filament Storage

I use a plastic tub with a lid and a container of moisture absorbent material from Home Depot. This seems to work for me.
KC_703
Posts: 238
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 5:23 pm

Re: Filament Storage

Hmm... that's actually a pretty nice setup... seems to be straight from the Taulman3D recommendation:
http://www.taulman3d.com/specifications.html

You could easily substitute with a shallow plastic box... I use the 5gallon paint buckets (with lid) found at the hardware store with some silica packets that come with the filament. Kitty litter seems like a good economical switch. :) I don't bother with the holes to access the filament...
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DarthRevan
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:29 am

Re: Filament Storage

Thanks,

I'll probably end up just throwing a container of moisture absorbent material in with my spools in the tubs I already have.
Wolfie
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:32 pm

Re: Filament Storage

I am using orange Home Depot buckets with screw top lids made by gamma. I lasered a hole in the center of the lid and hot glued a hygrometer (off ebay) so I can monitor the humidity in the buckets. For drying, I made pouches of desiccant to put in each made from cat litter and coffee filters.

Here are more details...
https://forum.lulzbot.com/viewtopic.php ... 755#p10587

However I am working on a hanging wall rack that will store my commonly used filaments above the printer with a feed tube down to the printer.
John86045
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:21 am

Re: Filament Storage

thanks
greybeard
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:23 pm

Re: Filament Storage

I use these with Rice in the bottom.
Can feed directly into machine...

I store excess and partially used filament in them and larger bins without the spool/feed stuff attached the one in photo... But, all have Rice in the bottom.
Attachments
20180919_150459.jpg
3D Print Parts
https://www.thingiverse.com/Still_Breathing/designs
SWCNT
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:51 am

Re: Filament Storage

I use Ziploc bags and put in pouches of color indicator desiccant like these. Never had any issues with the filament I use.
greybeard
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:23 pm

Re: Filament Storage

Been using Ziplocs for 4 yrs but, PLA always breaks before spool is finished (If leaving it on the machine).

No problem if storing in bin.

No problem with ABS or PETG
Attachments
20180919_162808.jpg
3D Print Parts
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SWCNT
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:51 am

Re: Filament Storage

How do you know when the desiccant is saturated? Looks like you are using clear silica. That's also odd because I would expect the PETG to exhibit issues before PLA, unless your bag was leaky. Do you pressurize the bags to test for holes periodically?

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