Print-In-Place Desiccant Holder Pod Capsule

This Desiccant Pod is optimised for high-speed, low material printing on a filled build plate with zero supports!

Print a batch -> Fill them with desiccant -> Use -> Empty desiccant to dry in oven -> Repeat!

The print-in-place desiccant pod utilises a built-in door at the base to fill it with desiccant and to remove desiccant for re-drying. The door has a secure detent to lock it closed to prevent spilling.

The sides of the container are designed such that every layer is a continuous ring - so no interrupted paths on layers and faster print times! Despite the gaps, the walls are surprisingly strong! The wall holes won’t let anything larger than 2mm-diameter through.

The capsule fits inside the core of every spool I’ve tried, including the cardboard and Prusament spools, which have the smallest holes I've found. I works well in Tupperware boxes as well as zip-lock bags. 

The pod can hold about 60g of Silica Gel beads, but I only use 40-50g in mine.

I have included a special funnel with a flat side that fits nicely. It only takes a few minutes to print (in vase mode with 0 bottom layers).

Files Included

Desiccant Holder 0.6

Designed for a 0.6mm nozzle, with single perimeters of 0.6mm. It can be printed using a 0.4mm nozzle too, but takes longer as the walls are doubled up.

Desiccant Holder 0.4

The same as the 0.6 version, but the single-walls on the bumpy section are reduced to 0.4mm thickness for quicker printing. This is untested.

Funnels

5 funnel files are included:

• Solid - Prints in Vase Mode for speed, with 0 bottom layers. For best results, print upside down with an external brim.

• 0.4 / 0.6 / 0.8 - Designed to be single-wall prints that don't need their own build plate for vase mode, just add them to the plate with the pods!

• Funnel vasemode setup - A PrusaSlicer setup (⚠change to your printer profile!) that has the funnel with brim, vasemode and 0 bottom layers.

Full-bed PrusaSlicer Setup

16 capsules on one print bed, with variable layer height and settings applied.
⚠ WARNING: This setup is for a 0.6mm nozzle, please change to  your own printer profile!

Print Settings

For my Prusa MK3S with a 0.6mm nozzle, I used:

3 top layers , 2 bottom layers

2 perimeters

10% Gyroid Infill

My fastest speed profile (custom for Volcano hotend)

Variable layer height: 0.2mm for the base mechanism, 0.4mm for the main body (use 0.3 on a 0.4mm nozzle), and about 0.3mm for the top cone.

No Supports!

NO BRIM on the bottom, otherwise the door will seal to the outer shell and it will be a pain to open.