With the increasing popularity of 3D printing technology today, the quality of 3D printing filament directly affects the effect and performance of the final printed product. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the printing process and the optimization of the printing effect, it is particularly important to conduct proper pretreatment of the 3D printing filament. Among them, using the oven to dry the filament is a common and effective method. This article will introduce the oven treatment method, key steps and related precautions of 3D printing filament in detail.

Why do I need to oven 3D printed filament?

3D printing filament is easy to absorb moisture in the environment during storage and use, resulting in problems such as bubbles and blocked nozzles during printing, affecting print quality and efficiency. Through oven drying treatment, the moisture in the filament can be effectively removed, and the stability and success rate of printing can be improved.

Common 3D printing filament and its oven handling parameters

PLA (polylactic acid) filament: PLA filament is the most popular and most used 3D printing filament, with environmental protection, easy to print and other characteristics. The oven drying temperature of PLA is usually set between 40-45°C for 4-6 hours. This kind of filament is easy to deform above 70 ° C, and the melting temperature is between 180-230 ° C.

ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) filament: ABS filament has good mechanical properties, but it is difficult to print, and toxic gases will be released when printing. The oven drying temperature of ABS is recommended to be around 80°C for 4-6 hours. This kind of filament is easy to deform above 90 ° C, and the melting temperature is between 220-240 ° C.

TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) filament: TPU is a flexible material that is suitable for the manufacture of elastic objects, but it is difficult to print. The oven drying temperature of TPU is recommended at about 80°C for 4-6 hours. The melting temperature of this filament is between 190-230℃.

PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate -1, 4-cyclohexane dimethyl ester) filament: PETG combines the advantages of PLA and ABS, and has good physical and chemical properties. PETG's oven drying temperature is recommended to be around 70°C for 4-6 hours. The melting temperature of this filament is high, generally between 245-270 ° C.

The specific steps of oven treatment

Preheat the oven: Depending on the type of filament selected, set the oven temperature to the appropriate drying temperature. Ensure that the oven maintains the temperature accurately and avoids excessive temperature fluctuations.

Place the filament: put the filament to be dried into the oven, taking care not to stack too much, so as not to affect the drying effect. A certain distance should be maintained between the filaments to ensure that hot air can circulate evenly.

Drying time: Set the appropriate drying time according to the thickness and length of the filament. Under normal circumstances, the drying time is 4-6 hours. For thicker or longer filament, the drying time can be appropriately extended.

Monitor the temperature: During the drying process, check the temperature in the oven regularly to ensure that the temperature is kept within the set range. If the temperature deviation is found to be large, it should be adjusted in time.

Cooling treatment: After drying, remove the filament from the oven and put it in a dry and ventilated place to cool naturally. Avoid immediately exposing the high temperature filament to a humid environment, so as not to absorb moisture again.

Matters needing attention

Temperature control: Ensure that the oven can accurately control the temperature to avoid too high or too low temperature. Too high a temperature may cause deformation or damage to the filament, and too low a temperature can not effectively remove water.

Safety protection: In the process of oven treatment, attention should be paid to safety to avoid accidents such as burns. At the same time, for ABS and other filaments that may release toxic gases, they should be treated in a well-ventilated environment.

Filament storage: The filament after drying should be stored in a dry, cool place to avoid long-term exposure to the air again moisture absorption.

Proper drying of 3D printing filament through oven can effectively improve printing quality and efficiency. In the actual operation process, the appropriate processing parameters should be selected according to the type and characteristics of the filament, and the relevant precautions should be strictly observed to ensure the processing effect and safety performance.