I’ve seen many debates about the need to dry PLA filaments. Looks like some people never need to do anything while others dry the hell out of them before printing.

I’ve been recommended once to print at 10% RH… After 48h of drying, I can barely get below 37%…

So: what’s the humidity level in the room your printer is?

  • stealth_cookies@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    7 days ago

    I’m of the general opinion that the hullabaloo about drying filament is largely not warranted in most cases. PLA is just not very hygroscopic and can sit out for months without any issues. Even PETG I don’t have any issues with it sitting out. The room I print in sits at about 50% humidity most of the time.

    I keep most of my filaments in a box with dessicant that I bake maybe once a year, but I’m not convinced it is really doing much. The only reason I have a drier is that I started printing occasionally with materials that are much more hygroscopic (e.g. TPU).

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      6 days ago

      People who obsess about filament because of YouTube drying end up driving off volatile plasticizers and ending up with brittle filament that ruins a roll.

      Like every fucking YouTube video has to explain what hydroscopic means like we’re in grade 7 science class.