My $2 humidity sensor is the very best 3D printing improve I’ve made

There are some ways to tinker with 3D printers. You can mod the software program, add further lights, construct filter containers, and a lot extra. What if I advised you that I made a decision to purchase a easy $2 humidity sensor earlier than doing the rest to my 3D printer—together with shopping for further filament? Here’s why a humidity sensor is essential in my 3D printing setup.

Wet filament prices greater than the sensor does

I’d somewhat spend $2 now than reprint later

An inexpensive spool of filament is about $12. One spool. Then, you concentrate on a number of spools that might all be ruined by making an attempt to print when it is too moist.

You see, printing with moist filament could cause numerous issues. For occasion, it may trigger elevated stringing, tough surfaces, and even weak components. This is all stuff that I would like to keep away from when 3D printing. I’d somewhat not pull a component off the construct plate that appears respectable however is weaker as a result of it has air pockets from moisture.

So, for the price of a single spool, I’d somewhat decide up a humidity sensor in order that manner I can see at a look if my filament probably must be dried or not. Since getting the hygrometer to maintain in my AMS, I’ve by no means had a problem printing with moist filament. I’ve SUNLU’s AMS heater on prime of my AMS 1 and it makes it simple to dry the filament if the hygrometer stories too excessive of a humidity.

The different good factor is the hygrometer would not have to remain in my AMS. I can place the $2 humidity sensor anyplace I need to measure the humidity in that space of my workplace. This even contains in dry storage, which I do not actually use all that usually. But, the good factor is it can go there if I would like it to.

My AMS already reads humidity, simply not as a quantity

The AMS 2 Pro confirmed me what I used to be lacking

My first AMS was Bambu Lab’s unique mannequin, which does not present an precise humidity share. Instead, it reveals A via E (dry to moist) and the extent is not pure humidity. It combines water content material, temperature, and relative humidity right into a “rating” of kinds.

The downside is, this precise calculations of the rating aren’t actually outlined anyplace. There’s no actual technique to inform how humid the atmosphere is. Temperature may play an enormous function in what the rating is, and also you’d by no means comprehend it. Sadly, that is all of the first-generation AMS can do although.

When I got my AMS 2 Pro, I discovered that Bambu Lab mounted this and now correctly reveals humidity share of the unit as a substitute of an arbitrary degree. This is a good repair, nevertheless it would not assist my older AMS that I nonetheless have.

So, that is why including the $2 sensor to the older AMS was a significantly better choice for me than promoting that previous AMS and shopping for a brand new one. It already works high-quality and I did not must spend tons of to get humidity readings, which is a win in my guide.

The quantity tells you in regards to the field, not the spool

It’s a desiccant alarm, not a moisture check

Now, the one factor that I needed to drill into my very own head after getting this hygrometer: it would not inform me what the moisture content material of the filament is, simply what the relative humidity within the AMS is.

When I see the humidity share begin to climb, it indicators a number of issues. For starters, I must verify my desiccant to verify it would not have to be refreshed. It’s attainable that Tennessee is simply being extremely humid and the entire home is humid, nevertheless it’s additionally attainable that the AMS wants refreshing.

It additionally indicators to me that I ought to undoubtedly dry the filament if it is a print I care about (and not a random toy). While low relative humidity (what the hygrometer reads) does not imply the filament is dry, a excessive relative humidity is a reasonably good indication that the filament could have absorbed some moisture.

The factor to recollect is a hygrometer cannot know the filament’s moisture share, it simply measures the air round it. But, if the air across the filament is consistently moist, and the filament is hygroscopic (like TPU or nylon), then there’s a good likelihood the filament has extra moisture in it than it ought to.

When unsure, dry it out.

The sensor goes within the cart earlier than the following spool

A hygrometer is an easy and low cost device that each maker ought to have readily available. At such a low price, it is a should to maintain from ruining longer prints.

Personally, I do not thoughts redoing a small print that solely took half-hour. But, I’ve some prints that took a number of hours and had been ruined as a result of I used to be utilizing moist filament.