Do Delightstream membranes keep 3D printer filaments dry?

In fact, yes, they do. More than that, Delightstream membranes offer a long-term solution to filament drying without heat or maintenance. Of course, knowing a little more will deliver the best balance of cost and performance. Keep reading to find out more. 

Delightstream dehumidifiers use an ionic membrane for drying enclosures from under one litre to over 2m³. What is more, they are prevalent in industrial and commercial drying applications to protect electronics, photonics, artefacts and more.

For filament drying, the important points are that Delightstream membranes are small, cheap to run, and maintenance free. As a result, they will work with filament storage boxes and with continuous spooler feed boxes.

Markedly, their steady-state power consumption is around 3W, so a typical membrane has an average annual running cost of under £8 ($10 or €10) and a service life of up to five years. Just as important, the low running cost and negligible heat generation mean it will operate 24/7 without damaging the filaments.

Two jobs Delightstream is an active dehumidifier. Firstly, it dries the air in the storage or feeder box, then it draws moisture out of the filament. Over time, this is very effective and when correctly sized can maintain relative humidity levels of 15% or lower. See the membrane selection table below on sizing the membrane for your target humidity.

If you are using a heated dry box, it will remove moisture from the membrane much faster. Then transfer the filament to a storage or feeder box where the Delightstream membrane will keep it dry and reduce the electricity used.