3D printing filaments are very important for printing parts you want to create. Which is why, keeping them safe should be your first priority. Without the 3D printer filament, your 3D printed cannot work. It needs proper filaments to create the parts or pieces. And, if the filaments are damaged in some way or have lost their quality, it will affect the end results.
Storing, and maintaining 3D filaments is very important for various reasons. Keeping them safe from elements will make them last longer and help you print high-quality 3D prints.
What are 3D Printer Filaments?
3D printer filaments are thermoplastic that is used for printing 3D parts. They come in different thickness and colors. Usually, you will find filaments in two diameters – 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm.
The filaments are created by making the thermoplastic go through the process of heating, extruding and then cooling to create filament that you see as a finished product. The original filaments are clear or transparent in color. Pigments are added to it later to make them in different colors. The diameter of the filament is result of the process of heating, force and speed applied during the extruding process.
You can buy 3D printing filaments in various colors to create parts for purposes like projects, creative pieces, jewelry and more.
Why your 3D Printer Filaments need Protection?
Even though the filaments are plastics, it can still absorb the moisture present in the air. 3D printing filaments are hygroscopic, which means they are prone to attract moisture. Which is why you need to keep them safe from water and moisture from the air. Not just that, exposure to heat can also damage its structural integrity making it less than efficient for 3D printing needs.
Here are some of the reasons why you need to protect your 3D printer filaments:
Brittleness – exposure to moisture can result in increase in the brittleness of the filament and make them unsuitable for the printing job
Degradation – Filaments can degrade if they are left out in the open, exposed to elements. You won’t be able to use it again.
Filament bubbling – This can happen when there is moisture presence in the filaments. It can cause bubbling while printing and will make your prints look bad.
Steam coming out the hot-end – If moisture is present in the filaments, steam will come out at the hot-end. This is not good for 3D printing.
More heat is needed for extrusion – If your 3D printing filament is damaged by moisture exposure, more heat will be required to during the extrusion and the end results will not be as good.
Broken filament – Improper filament storage can lead to broken filaments which will eventually affect the quality of the prints.
These are some of the things that can happen when you don’t store your filaments well.
How to Store 3D printer filaments to keep them safe
Storing your 3D filaments, the right way can help you make them last longer. You can keep them safe from all sorts of dangers like moisture, heat (when its not needed), mildew and other things. There are some simple but effective ways to keep your 3D printer filaments safe, here they are:
Use Vacuum Bags
They are not Ziploc bags. Vacuum bags are designed to keep moisture away by keeping the air away. Vacuum-sealed bags are one of the best places to keep the filaments. They are used for keeping clothes to save space as they suck out the air from the bags. This works wonderfully for the 3D printing filaments. You can easily keep them safe in vacuum-sealed bags and take them out when you need them.
Airtight Containers
Have airtight containers lying around your house? Use them to store your 3D printer filaments. It will keep the air out from the container and protect the filaments from the moisture damage. It is important that you use high-quality storage containers to store your filaments safely so that they can last for a long time.
Use Silica Gel
Silica gel pads will absorb the moisture from the surrounding and protect your filaments from damage. You can put the gel pads inside the containers and make sure to replace them so that the filaments can last for a long time. This is probably the easiest and the most affordable way to protect your filaments from moisture damage.
The Bottom Line
3D printing filaments must be stored properly to make them last for a long time. Moisture and heat can make them unsuitable for printing, which is why you need to store them somewhere safe like in airtight containers and vacuum-sealed bags.
Makeshaper.com is your one-stop destination for buying high-quality and affordable 3D printing filaments online. We have a huge collection of 3D printing filaments in different diameters and colors to meet your 3D printing needs. Email us at sales@villageplastics.com or give us a call at (330) 753-0100.