Berlin — BigRep GmbH, a manufacturer of large-format 3D printing equipment, introduced an industrial filament dry cabinet to maintain optimal storage conditions for materials like nylon and thermoplastic polyurethane that need a humidity-controlled environment.
Some 3D printing filaments will absorb airborne moisture, which can increase rates of printing error, nozzle clogging and machine downtime.
BigRep's new Shield brand dry cabinet exceeds the industry standard of 1 percent humidity and can maintain 0.1 percent humidity by looping air through a controlled desiccant chamber without the use of heat, according to a news release.
The BigRep Shield reduces misprints and material waste by 20 percent and saves up to 50 percent on repair costs caused by clogging and extruder damage, the release also says.
The industrial-sized storage chamber holds up to 60 kilograms of filament, which is enough material for a month of 24/7 printing.
The Shield avoids workflow disruptions, according to Sven Thate, BigRep managing director.
"Environmental conditions, normally outside of your control, play a huge factor in the printability of the filament. We want our customers to produce quality prints every time, which is why we saw it important to provide a solution and especially a big one that can hold a lot of material," Thate said.
BigRep collaborated with Amboss+Langbein, a manufacturer of drying systems for plastics manufacturing, on the product and used a Siemens control system.