3D printing technology, as an innovative technology in modern manufacturing industry, has been widely used in various fields. In the 3D printing process, filament as a key consumable, its performance and quality directly affect the printing effect and the quality of the finished product. In order to ensure the best condition of the filament, oven treatment is a common and effective drying and maintenance method.
Choose the right oven
Not all ovens are suitable for processing 3D printed filament. First of all, you need to choose an oven that can accurately control the temperature to ensure that the filament is dried at the appropriate temperature. Ordinary household ovens may not be able to control the temperature precisely, so professional industrial ovens or modified ovens are recommended, which often have more accurate temperature control.
Temperature setting
Different filaments require different drying temperatures. Common 3D printing filaments such as PLA (polylactic acid) are usually dried at a temperature of 40-45 ° C, while ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) and nylon require a higher temperature, about 80 ° C. When setting the oven temperature, make sure that the oven reaches the target temperature before putting in the filament. This is because all ovens will have a slightly higher temperature than the target when heated, and if you do not pay attention to this, it may cause filament damage or performance degradation.
Drying time
The drying time is usually 4-6 hours, depending on the type of filament and the initial humidity. Too long or too short drying time will affect the performance of the filament. Insufficient drying time, there may still be moisture inside the filament, resulting in bubbles, fractures and other problems during printing; If the drying time is too long, the filament may become too dry and fragile, which also affects the printing effect.
Placement of filaments
When placing filaments in the oven, avoid entangling or squeezing filaments around each other. Special filament racks or homemade brackets can be used to evenly distribute the filament inside the oven to ensure that each section of filament can be evenly heated. In addition, the placement of the filament should be away from the heat source of the oven to prevent local overheating.
Oxidation prevention
At high temperature, the filament is prone to oxidation reaction, which affects its performance. In order to avoid oxidation, you can put some antioxidants in the oven, such as activated carbon or silicone desiccant. These substances can absorb the oxygen in the oven, reducing the possibility of filament oxidation.
Cooling process
After drying, the 3d printer filament needs to cool naturally in the oven to room temperature. Do not take out the filament directly at high temperature to prevent the deterioration of the filament performance caused by sudden temperature changes. Natural cooling can not only reduce the internal stress of the filament, but also avoid deformation caused by rapid temperature change.
Storage of filaments
The treated filament should be stored in a dry, ventilated, and light-free environment to prevent the filament from absorbing moisture and oxidizing again. It can be stored in a sealed bag or a dedicated filament box to ensure that the filament remains in good condition until the next use.
Through the above precautions, the oven can be effectively used to process the 3D printing filament, improving the performance and printing quality of the filament. The correct oven treatment method can not only extend the service life of the filament, but also reduce the failure and waste in the printing process, bringing more efficiency and better results to the 3D printing work.
