The challenge of moisture absorption poses one of the biggest hurdles while working with nylon filament. Understanding the appropriate drying temperature for nylon filaments is crucial to enhancing print quality and avoiding problems such as bubbling, brittleness, and warping. Due to its high hygroscopicity, nylon absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, which diminishes its performance properties. Thus, for successful 3D printing, one has to be diligent about drying and storing nylon filaments.
Why Does Nylon Absorb Moisture?
Nylon naturally tends to attract and retain water molecules due to its polar molecular structure, forming hydrogen bonding with moisture present in the atmosphere. The degree of absorption is dependent on external conditions such as temperature, humidity, and time of exposure. If nylon filament is improperly dried, the absorbed moisture can lead to cascading defects in printing, reduced tensile strength, and reduced heat resistance.
Drying Nylon Filament
When it comes to drying nylon filament, the best method is a filament dryer. This gadget circulates hot and dry air around the spool, allowing both for a perfect and fast drying of the filament. If a filament dryer is unavailable, moderate drying can still be performed with a food dehydrator or an oven. The usual nylon filament drying temperature ranges from 70°C to 90°C for about 4-12 hours, depending on the type of nylon filament. For checking if your filament is dry, weigh the filament before and after drying: if dry, it should weigh about 5% less than the wet filament.
Storing Nylon Filament
Store nylon filament in an airtight container with a drying agent such as silica gel or calcium chloride to prevent moisture from being re-absorbed. Vacuum- sealed bags, plastic storage bins, or specialized filament dry boxes are all excellent ways to keep filament dry. It is also a good idea to label the container with filament weight and storage date, as this will help keep track of the filament’s ever-changing condition and ensure it prints well.
Recommended Printing Temperature of Nylon Filament
Establish the correct temperature for the extruder and for the bed prior to printing. The temperature range for nylon 3D printer filament extrusion is typically 240 °C-280 °C, while the bed temperature range is set between 80 °C-120 °C. Because nylon has a high glass transition temperature for the filament material, it will warp if not adhered properly to the print bed. Surface adhesion can be improved while preventing any warpg with the use of adhesives like glue sticks, hairspray, or a PEI sheet. Furthermore, print with minimal cooling to avoid cracking and delamination.
Nylon Printer Maintenance
The extruder and nozzle should be cleaned properly after each print to remove any residual nylon that may block the nozzle in the future. Running a nylon cleaning filament through the extruder or performing a cold pull procedure will assist in getting rid of remaining material. Nylon’s abrasive property implies that you should frequently check parts of your printer, such as belts and nozzles, for wear and tear.
Recycling Nylon Filament
Shred and recycle failed or leftover nylon prints in the filament extruder by making new spools. Mixing nylon with any other plastics may be a bad idea because they may have different melting points. Experimenting with various types or colors of nylon will create interesting variations for filaments used in your next prints.
For ensuring excellent print quality and prolonged life of your filament, proper control of drying temperature, plus storage and printing methods of nylon filament, should be observed.