Inside Spool Desiccant Holder

thingiverse

I was searching for a desiccant storage solution that would work perfectly with my spools of filament. After trying out numerous different ideas, I finally landed on this concept. Inspired by some other innovative designs, this container holds desiccant packets in a cylinder that fits snugly inside a spool core. Why design specifically for packets? The drying temperature of the desiccant is higher than the deformation temperature of PLA. As a result, if I used raw beads, I wouldn't be able to dry them in the printed spool core and would have to scoop out the loose beads to dry them. The packets were much easier for me to work with - I simply dump them on a cookie sheet, let them dry, then drop them back into the cylinder. I found that 50g packets fit nicely in the 70mm and 60mm cylinders, but you can use smaller packets if needed. Since I just use Ziploc bags, which are prone to holes and tears, I prefer to use the little EEEkit hygrometers available on Amazon. It's much easier for me to see the dryness of the air with these hygrometers than with color-changing desiccants. One of the top covers provides a snap-in spot for the Hygrometers. I've provided 60mm and 70mm tall cylinders that fit most spools and will be close to flush with the spool sides. Because the top has a wide flange, they won't fall through the spool when you take them out of the Ziploc bag. I've included two different screw-on tops: one for use with a hygrometer and another for use without. I added the .step files exported from Fusion360 per request, but I'm not sure if they are usable. This design is pretty durable and strong, but it uses fairly minimal material. Useful links: Hygrometers - The EEEKit 5 pack: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BLY177S Desiccant - The packs I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K3B6BX7 Inspired by: Inside Spool Silica Gel Container: (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3222374) Silica gel - container: (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2560068) Silica gel container with bigger and more holes: (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2620470) Silica Gel Container: (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2717500)