It is an AMS, where I redesigned the case, with a removable bottom cover. The bottom cover makes it easy to access the plumbing if something goes wrong. Just tip it on its side with all the spools still in it and pull off the bottom cover. I use the same gasket as the lid to ensure a sealed container. I’ve been using it for a couple of days now and with my Dry Pods, the humidity has been holding at 10%. I also made the case a little taller, so it can handle 204 mm spools, and the spool tray is a LOT easier to get in and out.
In the image the thing on the bottom is an active dryer that I designed, where I used a C r e a l i t y Pi 2 filament dryer as a doner. The dryer unit can replace the bottom cover and provide an integrated drying function. If I print my new Cases for all my AMSs I will be able to rotate the Dryer through them as needed without even having to disturb a print. Sort of like the Polymaker dryer which is shared between filament holders, but at a larger scale. I’m printing this now in PETG-HF, and I’m hoping it can handle the two 80W heater elements. I did some test prints and so far nothing has melted.
I also redesigned the spool tray with vents, so when the dryer is attached, the air can circulate around the filament spools. In the front, out the back, with some of the air recycling. The tray also includes all the extra slots that a Hydra provides to support smaller spools.
The only problem is this is all a LOT of print time and filament. The case and bottom cover takes 33.5 hours, the vented spool tray 17 hours, and the dryer 19 hours…These are all with 0.20 Standard settings. I could probably get it done much faster if I went to 0.28 settings and ludicrous mode if I wanted to give up some surface quality and component accuracy.
I should have it all working in the next couple of days. And any feedback would be appreciated.
Optimize the design to reduce the amount of time and filament required (first one not being a real issue, but the second might be) then share your file with the community. There might definitely be makers out there who would love a chance to rework your design and come up with (possibly) improved remix.
Thanks! I plan on posting the files, once I have all the pieces working. People complain so much when something doesn’t fit easily.
Could you suggest any methods for reduciung the amount of filament that supports use without compromising surface quality too much?
If cost (time and filament) is not an object I’d use PETG for PLA interfaces and vice versa for the case, but switching filament kills print times. And I need a reasonably smooth surface for the double-sided sticky tape on the gaskets to adhere to.
I’m able to print the spool trays and all the parts for the dryer without enabling supports now, but I’m making another pass at them, manually adding built in supports to clean up a couple perfectly usable , but ugly spots (e.g., hanging fuses under long overhangs). I’ve found that PLA does a better job of spanning horizontal gaps than PETG-HF, making the support requirements vary as a function of filament type. So I have been optimizing for the PETG case.
Filament and cost wise, if it’s for testing and trial purposes, I’d go for PLA only (including for supports). Once the technical aspects are cleared, defined and tested, for the final product I’d go for PETG with PLA for supports. As for methods, I’d start by printing at a reduced scale (1/3) for test and improvement. It would also allow you to experiment to get exactly what you want of it. From the images you’ve shared looks very promising. I’m tempted to give it a try once is defined and published.
one thing i would love to design is a dryer that automatically rotates the spools as they are drying to maintain an even heating if there is such an option out there already pls someone send me in the right direction lol thanks
