Recommended Filament Dryer (3D Printing)

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Paul1977

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#320286 26-Jul-2025 19:45

I'd purchased a cheap food dehydrator on Trademe to use as a filament dryer. Worked fine the first two times I used it, but the third time the fan stopped working and by the time I noticed it was emitting a noticable "burnt electronics" smell.

I guess that's what I get for going cheap, but I assumed things being sold in NZ would have to have passed some sort of basic safety certification? I've asked the seller for a refund as I don't think I'd trust a replacement after this experience.

But that leaves me looking for recommendations for a decent (but affordable) filament dryer. I've read comments online suggesting a lot of them are fully closed units that leave nowhere for the moisture to go, so not sure what ones to consider and what ones to steer clear of.

Any advise appreciated.

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#3397350 26-Jul-2025 21:03

I have a Sunlu S4.. only had it a few weeks, but it seams to do a great job - https://marvle3d.co.nz/part/2535-sunlu-s4-filadryer-fit-four-spools-at-a-time.html

I have dried about 20 rolls so far.. and once dried they are 'new' again.. Some of them are about 7 years old and not stored in ideal conditions.

Daniel

richms

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#3397354 26-Jul-2025 21:15

I have both a cheap 3d printer brand one that I cannot recall off the top of my head. It came with a questionable AU plug on the AC cable and a very sus looking AC adapter so I used it with one of my meanwells that I got for other things since I will be leaving it running, and I also got a kmart food dehydrator that I chopped out the trays on. It works fine for the job too.

Richard rich.ms

Paul1977

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#3397362 26-Jul-2025 23:19

My printer is a Bambu, but the only filament drying they have is in the AMS 2. But since I already have the AMS 1 that seems like it would be a waste of money.

The newish Creality SpacePi X4 looks good, but a bit spendy (cheaper than AMS 2 by a good margin though). Takes up a fair bit of desk space...

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/PTRCRL0132/Creality-Accessories-SpacePi-X4-Filament-Dryer-4x

gajan

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#3397376 27-Jul-2025 08:55

Just spotted this -

an AMS retrofit - https://www.sunlu.com/products/sunlu-ams-heater-upgraded-your-bambu-ams-save-an-ams-2pro-for-you

might need to wait and see if there are any issues with wear on the AMS components, etc being heated up etc.

My comments and remarks are not necessarily of my employer.

mdf

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#3397382 27-Jul-2025 10:56

I've got this Creality one: https://marvle3d.co.nz/part/2537-creality-space-pi-filament-dryer-6971636401698.html. Multi roll options seem to be available. Seems to work fine. There is a small hole to vent. Going on its moisture sensor readings, it does seem to dry stuff reasonably effectively. I _think_ prints are better when the filament has been dryed, but I've never done scientific tests. I did have one roll of filament that was just too old and brittle and no amount of drying seemed to rehabilitate it so that one got chucked.

I've got this set up using the Bambu splitter so I can print straight from the dryer or AMS. I only tend to do this for non-Bambu rolls of filament now.

Only niggle I've noticed is the PTFE tube can be pulled into the grommet. I keep meaning to do something about this but haven't quite gotten around to it.

Paul1977

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#3397416 27-Jul-2025 15:48

gajan:

Just spotted this -

an AMS retrofit - https://www.sunlu.com/products/sunlu-ams-heater-upgraded-your-bambu-ams-save-an-ams-2pro-for-you

might need to wait and see if there are any issues with wear on the AMS components, etc being heated up etc.

Well... now that's interesting.

Unfortunately even if I order now it doesn't ship until early October, and orders after 31 July don't ship until early November. And there doesn't appear to be an NZ shipping option, so might need to wait until local suppliers get it?

Plus as you quite wisely point out, might be smart to wait and see since the AMS 1 components won't have been designed for prolonged heating.

I also find it interesting that in automatic mode it stops heating once rH hits 20% - which I didn't think sounded super low. My AMS with a desiccant kit is currently reporting 8% (although I don't if the AMS reports relative humidity or absolute humidity). My AMS has reported as low as 2%.

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Paul1977

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#3397417 27-Jul-2025 15:59

mdf:

I've got this Creality one: https://marvle3d.co.nz/part/2537-creality-space-pi-filament-dryer-6971636401698.html. Multi roll options seem to be available. Seems to work fine. There is a small hole to vent. Going on its moisture sensor readings, it does seem to dry stuff reasonably effectively. I _think_ prints are better when the filament has been dryed, but I've never done scientific tests. I did have one roll of filament that was just too old and brittle and no amount of drying seemed to rehabilitate it so that one got chucked.

I've got this set up using the Bambu splitter so I can print straight from the dryer or AMS. I only tend to do this for non-Bambu rolls of filament now.

Only niggle I've noticed is the PTFE tube can be pulled into the grommet. I keep meaning to do something about this but haven't quite gotten around to it.

I really like the design and features of the new SpacePi X4. Wish they'd updated the single and dual spool models with the same features as I don't really need a 4 bay dedicated dryer. Conflicting info on whether the max temp is 80C or 85C - Creality website says 85C, but many stores say 80C. I'm wondering if a firmware update has increased it to 85C and some stores have old info published.

Paul1977

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#3397760 28-Jul-2025 16:27

I decided to splash out on the Creality SpacePi X4. PB Tech's price is considerably cheaper than other NZ retailers. Their description lists max temp as 80C, but they are listing it as the same part number as everyone who says it's 85C, so rolling the dice and assuming PB Tech info is incorrect or out of date and that it will be 85C max temp.

geoffwnz

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#3397949 29-Jul-2025 10:03

I backed the AeroDry 2.0 Kickstarter. It's a very DIY with printing the case and purchasing probably more cost of parts than just buying a dryer. ;-)

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Paul1977

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#3397990 29-Jul-2025 12:07

geoffwnz:

I backed the AeroDry 2.0 Kickstarter. It's a very DIY with printing the case and purchasing probably more cost of parts than just buying a dryer. ;-)

That looks like too much of a project for me, I'll stick with an off the shelf solution!

Would you need to print in ABS or similar for heat resistance?

geoffwnz

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#3398027 29-Jul-2025 13:07

Paul1977:

geoffwnz:

I backed the AeroDry 2.0 Kickstarter. It's a very DIY with printing the case and purchasing probably more cost of parts than just buying a dryer. ;-)

That looks like too much of a project for me, I'll stick with an off the shelf solution!

Would you need to print in ABS or similar for heat resistance?

Yeah, it's not "quick and easy" for sure. I like tinkering though so it's part of the fun for me.

They reckon PETG "minimum", maybe ABS/ASA.

I think you could do the heater module in PETG or better but the drying cabinets themselves could be PLA if you really wanted (from memory). I'm aiming to do ASA and PETG.

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Paul1977

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#3398718 31-Jul-2025 14:26

Creality SpacePi X4 arrived at my local PB Tech branch a day early, so just picked it up. Good news is that it says very clearly on the outside of the box "Up to 85°C", so that would seem to clear up the contradicting info I've read around the max temperature. I don't have any filaments yet that want to be dried that hot, but nice to know that I can!

Paul1977

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#3399040 1-Aug-2025 11:39

What temperature does everyone dry their filaments at? Some of the Bambu recommendations sound a little risky to me...

PLA Silk+ they say dry at 55C, but it has a glass transition temp of 57C - so this seems like a very small margin of error to trust the dryer's temperature accuracy.

PETG HF they say dry at 65C, and this has a glass transition temp of 66C. This sounds even riskier.

Or am I misunderstanding something?

EDIT: Their PLA Basic and PLA Matte recommendations are far more cautious at 50C, against glass transition temps of 60C and 61 C respectively.

geoffwnz

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#3399042 1-Aug-2025 12:02

AeroDry recommended temps are:

PLA 45-50
PETG 60-65
ABS/ASA 70-80

No specific temps for silk or HF variants.

Though, amusingly, for some of the hotter filaments, it's not uncommon for the spools to melt/soften before the filament does, so take care with that.

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Paul1977

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#3399043 1-Aug-2025 12:19

geoffwnz:

AeroDry recommended temps are:

PLA 45-50
PETG 60-65
ABS/ASA 70-80
No specific temps for silk or HF variants.

Though, amusingly, for some of the hotter filaments, it's not uncommon for the spools to melt/soften before the filament does, so take care with that.

I'd expect Bambu recommendations to be correct for their own filaments, but I'm just not understanding why some of the recommendations are what they are because they often don't line up with common recommendations (like the AeroDry ones above). Maybe the Vicat Softening Temperature is the important one, rather than Glass Transition?

I want to dry my filaments as efficiently and as thoroughly as possible, but don't want to melt them!

The SpacePi X4 gives a warning before it starts if it's set higher than 70C for you to check your spools are rated for high temp drying, so they've though of that.

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