You might have heard about people’s 3D prints failing, or you might be a victim of it yourself. Whenever we are troubleshooting issues like stringing, layer adhesion, or a clogged nozzle, the first thing that comes to mind is slicer settings and similar factors.
However, a lot of the time, the main issue is slicers. Moisture in filament doesn’t just ruin the print results, but it also impacts your nozzle and the thermal behavior of your 3D printer. If you have ever dealt with clogged nozzles, temperature switches, and other issues like that, moisture might be the hidden villain here.
In this article, we explore how wet filament impacts nozzle performance and why moisture must be removed before beginning your 3D printing journey.
Why Does Filament Get Wet?
We live in a world where moisture frequently enters the air. Moving towards our 3D printing world, many thermoplastic filaments that are used today are hygroscopic. The term hygroscopic means that these filaments can absorb moisture from the air.
Materials like PETG, Nylon, TPU, PVA, and, in some cases, PLA can absorb humidity in just a matter of days or hours. This is especially true in humid climates or areas with frequent rainfall and high humidity.
Many countries with monsoon rains have this issue, and once the moisture enters the filament, here are some of the problems it can have:
- It can get into the plastic structure of the filaments.
- During the 3D printing process, the moisture can turn into steam once heated.
- The steam causes bubbling, popping, and other issues, ultimately leading to clogged nozzles as well.
Now that we know a wet filament can cause a multitude of issues, let’s examine how moisture affects nozzle temperature and overall performance.
-
The Issue with Flow Consistency After Moisture
As soon as the wet filament reaches the hotend, the water turns into steam at printing temperatures. This printing temperature can vary, but it is significantly above the boiling point of water. When this sudden phase occurs, it causes various issues, such as microbursts of steam inside the nozzles, inconsistent pressure during the printing process, or even popping sounds emanating from the nozzle.
So, what exactly happens as a result of this? You see, your filaments will have an abnormal flow of printing. Either the print will be under- or over-extruded, making it an undesirable situation for you.
Moreover, once there is too much fluctuation in the temperature readings, you will see that the steam will start to affect the overall temperature, too. This will cause other issues, such as inconsistent printing.
-
Clogging and Carbon Buildup
Repeated exposure to moisture in the filament can lead to partial or complete nozzle clogging over time. But why exactly does that happen? Firstly, moisture lowers the melting consistency of your filament, as we discussed. So, when that happens, you can get incomplete melting. On one end, the filament will be adequately melted, while on the other, it might not be.
You should also keep in mind that most filaments also contain additives like carbon fiber, glow particles, or even wood fill. These additives can also become trapped in the bubbling filament, forming burned deposits of carbonized clogs.
When the residue is collected inside your nozzle, you will encounter issues such as a clicking extruder, and all the prints you form will be under-extruded. This leads us to believe that there is an issue with the slicer’s settings, while in the backend, moisture is the primary cause of the problem.
-
Nozzle Wear and Tear
Once moisture is present in the filament, it can also lead to issues such as aggressive bubbling, pressure spikes from the steam, and damage to the internal contact with the nozzle lining. Put it there for long enough, and you will get an eroded nozzle that no one wants! This is quite common in brass nozzles.
To make matters worse, you will also notice warping or cracking if the nozzle’s material is cheap, as well as increased friction that requires it to work harder. All of these issues will ultimately make it impossible for your nozzle to work, or at least the prints won’t be in their ideal results.
Avoiding Nozzle Destruction – Using a Filament Dryer
Since we already know the hidden villain, there is a tip you must use to avoid any nozzle issues or printing issues due to wet filament in the future. Using a filament dryer doesn’t just improve your print quality, but it ensures that you are getting the best and consistent results.
Here are some of the benefits of using a filament dryer:
- Smoother Prints: Since there is no popping or hissing sound, your 3D prints will be smooth. You won’t need to worry about over- or under-extruded prints.
- Better Nozzle Temperatures: By using a filament dryer, there won’t be inconsistent nozzle temperatures. This will decrease the wear and tear over time.
- Better Nozzle Interiors: With less residue and carbon buildup, your nozzle will not be clogged, and it will increase the longevity.
One of the best filaments you can use is Chitu Systems’ FilaPartner E1. With this filament, you can not only dry your filaments beforehand, but it also has the option to dry up to four spools with a 1 kg weight each.
With two chambers, you can set the temperature of these filaments to be dried at a different temperature, ideal for multicolor printing. Once you use a filament dryer, your prints will have better quality, and your nozzle won’t be destroyed.
Final Verdict
Wet filaments can not only ruin your prints but also components of your 3D printer. So, by using a filament dryer, you can avoid any future issues. If you’re looking for more 3D printer accessories, consider checking out Chitu Systems and their extensive catalog of products.