I’m thinking of making a dry box for my printer, however I have some questions:

  1. Will using PVC pipe as a “roller” (if that’s the right word) that I’ll place my filament spools on be good enough? Or do the spools need to go on something more concave? Maybe I can cut some grooves for the spools to sit in? I know there are dry boxes that use like holders that you screw in, but I want to limit the amount of holes in the box.

  2. Does filament have to be spaced or can I put the spools in the box to where there is no gaps but they can still move freely?

  3. Does it matter if I use M6 or M10 pneumatic couplers to feed the filmanet through or is it just personal preference?

  • @chrischryseOPEnglish
    1•1 year ago

    For my first dry box I’m currently using a 1.5 diameter PVC with 8 spools I haven’t noticed any sagging (should I upgrade to a bigger PVC pipe though just in case?)

    I just don’t trust it as much as I thought and don’t want as many holes which is why I was wondering if I could place the filament for muy second dry box on like two PVC pipes and have them be used as a roller

    • @bigredgiraffeEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      I mean if it’s working then it’s probably fine, two tubes would be interesting, I would think that would be a hassle when you have to take it in and out to change the filament. I ended up switching to using rollers on the bottom because of that anyway. I was going to try that one I linked before but I started designing my own similar one that used 1/2” EMT and bearings as rollers, I should finish that hah.

        • @bigredgiraffeEnglish
          2•1 year ago

          Yeah that is similar to what I was thinking but 4 individual sets of rollers, one for each spool. This version would be annoying in a drybox because all of the filament spools will probably spin at the same time which will make them all unspool since you will probably have them fed into 4 couplers and not clipped like on a shelf. Might work though if you don’t plan on having one output for each box and switching the “active” spool but I try to not open my dry boxes in general to keep air moisture out.

          • @chrischryseOPEnglish
            1•1 year ago

            Ah thanks for the input…I didn’t think about all spools spinning the samed until you mentioned it so I just decided to print the individual rings that I would put the bearings in then I’m gonna put them on a metal rod.

            Also not sure you would know, would i be fine printing the bearings to use or should I get metal ones

            • @bigredgiraffeEnglish
              1•1 year ago

              I have never tried it but I am real curious for low speed things like that, I think it would come down to your printer being able to print something small enough. There are a bunch of print in place bearing designs on printables that I have run across too.

              I usually use 608 bearings for that kind of thing because they are really cheap on Amazon as well since those are used in roller skates and skateboards and stuff. I am definitely curious though so you should reply if you try it out :D