1 Topic by lesueurp

  • lesueurp
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2014-03-27
  • Posts: 5

Topic: PLA and moisture

I've read that the moisture can lead to bubbles in the the extruded filament and that it can affect the mechanical properties of the  filament but I've not seen much about how it affects the extrusion process itself. There are plenty of warnings about the need to pre-dry PLA pellets prior to extrusion. So what exactly is the effect of moisture on PLA extrusion? Does it make it harder to extrude or make the filament diameter more difficult to control or what?

Has anyone had any success extruding PLA without pre-drying?

2 Reply by elmoret

  • elmoret
  • Filastruder
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-10-11
  • Posts: 6,048

Re: PLA and moisture

Filament diameter variation can go from +/-0.05mm (dry) to +/-0.20mm (not dry).

The above is in reference to 1.75mm filament. Some people hit 0.05mm without drying, but that means the resin was already dry when they got it and didn't absorb moisture.

Moisture turns to steam, which causes pressure (flow) spikes.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

3 Reply by grace_siridi

  • grace_siridi
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2014-06-30
  • Posts: 6

Re: PLA and moisture

Hello Friend, because PLA will absorb moisture, pre-drying is more suggested if it is exposed in the air for a long time. Packing the filament with polybag after printing is better.

4 Reply by tonycstech

  • tonycstech
  • tonycstech
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2014-08-02
  • Posts: 315

Re: PLA and moisture

Can you get good extrussion without winder ?
Gravity seem to be ruining the diameter no matter how high or how low i go as well as vertical or horizontal. Same garbage random diameter all the way caused by its own weight unevenly pulling its self down.

my thingiverse http://www.thingiverse.com/tonycstech/designs
my 3d models http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Artists/tonycstech