Silica desiccant box for a filament spool

thingiverse

This is a desiccant box design I use when storing my spools in vacuum bags. Each spool is stored separately in its own bag along with the box. This design features adjustable clip contacts that allow it to fit most spools comfortably. To seal the box and monitor the condition of your stored filaments, you'll need a humidity/temperature LCD module. These modules are affordable, costing less than $1.50 each, and can be found on Amazon.com or Aliexpress by searching for "humidity temperature LCD." Be sure to purchase the correct module without an external sensor wire. I use three different clips in parallel with color-coded variations. This way, I always have a supply of clips available that match both new and worn desiccant boxes. When filling the box, start by using the large opening on top of the display. Once the display is installed, continue filling through the round hole assisted by the "tratti_v2.stl" filling tool. The rounded hole can be sealed with an earplug. The "silicabox_suoja_v3.STL" tray fits perfectly inside the silicabox and is useful for storing replacement silicaboxes in sealed plastic bags. This design includes a 3-mm filament clip that I use in conjunction with silica desiccant boxes. The clip has a closed end that's friendly to vacuum bags, and its design allows it to fit snugly into the recess on top of the desiccant box. By positioning the clip next to the desiccant box underneath, you can eliminate sharp edges within the vacuum bag that might damage it. Print settings: For all items except the tray, I used a 0.5-mm nozzle and PLA material. The tray, however, is printed with ABS. I printed the box at a layer height of 0.38 mm without supports. You can also check out my related project: an electrical drying chamber for silica desiccant boxes, available on Thingiverse at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2247977 Update (Aug 18th, 2017): I've added a new box variant called "opaque" along with its source files. This opaque box is designed for use with non-colored silica beads that lack toxic moisture indicators. It can also be printed from ABS instead of PLA, which is often more affordable and has a higher melting point, making it easier to recharge the silica beads inside the container.