Clamps for DIY Sterilite bin filament dryer

Want to dry a ton of filament on a budget with little to no hands-on time? Follow along to build your own DIY filament dry box. This thing is a clamp that secures the lid of a Sterilite bin (32 quarts) with a gasket to reduce the amount of moisture that can enter the bin. When I add metal canisters containing activated alumina desiccant and a humidity sensor to a bin containing filament and then clamp the lid closed, the humidity decreases until it levels off somewhere ~1-2%.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Creality

Printer:

Ender-3 V3 SE

Rafts:

No

Supports:

No

Resolution:

0.4mm nozzle

Infill:

16% (gyroid)

Filament: Overture PETG Starry Blue

Notes:

Model notes:

- Clamp is 0.51mm tall, allowing for exactly 17 0.3mm layers

Additional slicer settings:

- 5 top and 5 bottom layers

- Temperatures: 235C nozzle, 75C build plate (textured PEI)

- Print speed: 60mm/s infill, 50mm/s walls, 30mm/s initial layer

- Retract at layer change (1.5mm at 45 mm/s)

- No print cooling

- Skirt only (no bed adhesion needed)

Materials needed to complete

- Sterilite storage bin with gasket:

- I used a 32 quart bin that can be purchased from Walmart , Target , and likely other locations as well. Best price seen: $10 USD

- The 54 quart may be able to be used as well since the built-in latches are in the same locations as the 32 quart bin. NOTE: I have not tested these clamps on other bin sizes.

- Desiccant:

- 2-pack Silica gel desiccant container ( Amazon , best value for money among similar options). Best price seen: $16 USD

- Pros: self-contained, single purchase, reusable (by heating in oven), color-changing to indicate when reheating is needed.

- Cons: Lower total of moisture able to be absorbed

- 1-pack Activated alumina desiccant container (pre-built, Amazon ). Best price seen: $15 USD

- Activated alumina desiccant container (DIY, makes 10 canisters)

- Metal canisters Amazon , pack of 12. Best price seen: $19 USD

- I drilled extra holes in my canisters to allow better airflow and moisture absorption

- Activated alumina Amazon , 2 lbs / 1 quart -- this is enough to fill ~10 of the above canisters. Best price seen: $18 USD

- Humidity sensor - Amazon - $7 USD

- The lowest value I've seen it display is 10% humidity