3D Printing - whether to buy, what to buy and how to use it?
simond
Western Thunderer
I’m surprised, Phil. It says in the instructions to keep the lid closed, it’s got desiccant in there, it has fans, and a heater.
I think there’s a mode where it makes coffee and walks the dog too, but I haven’t got that far yet.
martin_wynne
Western Thunderer
@simond @Phil O
Hi Simon. Phil,
If you are talking about the Bambu AMS 2 Pro, it has automatic magnetic flap vents to allow moist air to escape and fresh air to enter. You can hear them opening and closing occasionally with a loud snap. There doesn't seem to be any user control over when they do this or for how long, the AMS thinks it knows best. The algorithm is probably based on the price of kippers.
Martin.
martin_wynne
Western Thunderer
@Phil O
Hi Phil,
Yes -- cereal boxes with desiccant beads in the bottom to store filament which I'm not using, after it has been dried.
I was talking about opening and closing the lid of a heated filament dryer occasionally while drying filament.
Now I have an AMS 2 Pro on the A1, it does both the multicolour printing and it can do the heated drying (with automatic venting). But not both at the same time. So I tend to use my Sovol heated dryer box for drying new filament while the A1 is printing.
It doesn't make sense to put new wet filament in the AMS if there are 3 other nicely dried reels in there -- moisture would transfer from the new filament to the existing reels until it has all died out again. Better to do most of the drying in a separate dryer first, and use the AMS for the final drying.
But each to his own, as always. For COT track and fine detail on models you need the filament as dry as you can get it. For printing Toby jugs and baseboard brackets you don't need all this palaver.
Martin.
simond
Western Thunderer
Quick “Thank you” to @martin_wynne for the heads-up regarding the lattice pods and the desiccant beads. Very effective!@simond
Hi Simon,
For fine detail with a 0.2mm nozzle ideally you need to get the RH below about 10%. Moisture in the filament creates steam pressure in the nozzle, causing the nozzle to ooze during travel moves -- leading to strings and fluffy bits. A faster travel speed helps, but the answer is drier filament.
Also moisture causes poor layer fusing, leading to weaker models. For Templot COT track this causes the chairs to break easily. With fully dried filament the chairs are very strong -- as good as injection-moulded plastic chairs.
Using the Bambu AMS 2 Pro I'm getting RH down to around 6%-8% with excellent printing results. That requires about 12 hours drying (even from new -- in fact the Bambu labels say dry before use, in the small print).
Then once dry you need some silica gel desiccant in there to keep it dry. I have printed this excellent set of desiccant baskets:
AMS 2 Pro Lattice Dry Pods - Free 3D Print Model - MakerWorld
Download this free 3D print file designed by dedge. IMPORTANT : This model is made for the AMS 2 Pro only My take on the very famous AMS dry pods… I do not pretend to have increased performances compared to other existing models, I just designed this kit myself as I did not like the look of...makerworld.com
Print them in PETG for better temperature resistance. The clip-on funnel for filling is brilliant if like me you have only two hands.
I use this orange desiccant in them -- it goes dark green when it needs re-activating:
The dryer gets the RH down to around 12%-15% at 45degC. Then the desiccant does the rest to below 10%. Don't leave the AMS lid open longer than necessary.
cheers,
Martin.
still on a learning curve with it. Not getting the results I want yet, though some details are very promising.
not yet tried printing COT track, still playing with Templot.