The rapid development of 3D printing technology has promoted the progress of related material processing equipment, among which filament dryer, as an important equipment to ensure the quality of 3D printing, are particularly critical to monitor the conditions of operation.

First of all, proper temperature control is the basis for the stable operation of 3D printing filament dryers. Filament materials, such as PLA, ABS, etc., have different performance at different temperatures. The dryer needs to ensure that the filament is optimally-dry before entering the printer to reduce bubbles and deformations during the printing process. Generally, the drying temperature of PLA filament should be controlled at 50-60 ° C, while the ABS filament requires a high temperature of 80-90 ° C. Real-time monitoring of the temperature in the drying chamber and ensuring that its fluctuation range is within ±2 ° C is an important condition to ensure the drying effect.

Second, humidity control is also crucial. Filament materials are extremely sensitive to humidity, and a humid environment will cause the filament to absorb water, which will affect the print quality. The ideal humidity level should be controlled below 20%. For this reason, the dryer should be equipped with an efficient dehumidification system and real-time monitoring of internal humidity. The advanced dryer also automatically adjusts the dehumidification force through the humidity sensor to ensure that the filament is in a low-humidity environment.

In addition, the control of wind speed and air volume can not be ignored. Appropriate wind speed and air volume can ensure that the hot air inside the dryer is evenly circulated, so that the filament is evenly heated. In general, the wind speed should be controlled between 0.5-1.5 m/s, and achieved by adjusting the fan speed. At the same time, the size of the air volume should be adjusted according to the volume of the drying oven and the number of the filament to ensure the maximum drying effect.

Moreover, drying time is also one of the important conditions for monitoring. The drying time required for filaments of different materials and diameters varies. Generally, thin diameter filaments have a shorter drying time, while thick diameter filaments require a longer drying time. In addition, the initial humidity of the filament also affects the drying time. Under normal circumstances, the drying time is controlled at 3-6 hours. Monitoring the drying time and adjusting it according to the actual situation can effectively improve the drying efficiency and save energy.

In addition, the oxygen level is also one of the conditions that needs to be monitored. The low oxygen environment can effectively prevent the oxidation reaction of the filament during the drying process and ensure the mechanical properties of the filament. Therefore, the dryer should be equipped with an oxygen monitoring device, and the oxygen content is controlled below 1%. A low oxygen environment can be created by filling the drying chamber with nitrogen or inert gas.

Finally, the operation status monitoring of the equipment is also essential. Real-time monitoring of various parameters of the dryer, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc., and through data recording and analysis, timely discovery and solution of equipment operation problems, to ensure the stable operation of the dryer. In addition, regular maintenance of the dryer, such as cleaning the filter and checking the operating status of the fan, is also an important measure to ensure the long-term stable operation of the equipment.

In summary, the monitoring and operating conditions of the 3D printing filament dryer include temperature control, humidity control, wind speed and air volume control, drying time control, oxygen content control and equipment operating status monitoring. Through strict monitoring and reasonable adjustment of these conditions, the drying quality of the filament can be effectively improved, thus improving the performance and accuracy of 3D printed products.