Silica desiccant electrical dryer

thingiverse

This is an electrical heater that I made to dry silica desiccant. Its intended use case is to dry the ready-made and filled desiccant boxes without the need to remove the desiccant from the box for drying. Link to silica desiccant box:http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2245855 Electronics is pretty simple: I have used a temperature controller, power socket, and power supply. I have hooked the controller output to an old heated bed from Lulzbot Mini printer. The temperature sensor is glued to the bottom of the heated bed. In my case it was necessary to use separate temperature sensor as the one in the heated bed works within different resistance range. The lid of the chamber has a humidity/temperature module similar to those I have used in the silica desiccant boxes. This makes it easy to follow the humidity and temperature inside the chamber. The design consist of multiple printed parts. While designing I paid special attention to make the heater simple to print but still maintain the possibility to use the heater in high temperatures. I have used the combination of regular PLA for large and complex prints and ABS for easier prints but with better temperature resistance. Finally I have used polycarbonate for the parts that are in direct contact to the heater element. I covered the lid of the box with aluminum foil for better temperature resistance and less heat transfer through the wall. I later modified my box to include a fan because humidity inside the chamber got too high and prevented an effective drying. LIST OF PARTS AND MATERIAL RECOMMENDATIONS: koppa_sivu_1_lyhyt.STL 2 pcs material: ABS koppa_sivu_1_pitka.STL 1 pcs material: ABS koppa_sivu_1_pitka_reika.STL 1 pcs material: ABS koppa_sivu_1_top.STL 1 pcs material: ABS mutteri.STL 20 pcs material: ABS kuivain_3.STL 1 pcs material: PLA Use denser infill than otherwise necessary, e.g., 15 or 20 %. This ensures less heat transfer through the wall. kuivain_1_bottom.STL 1 pcs material: ABS kuivain_1_top.STL 1 pcs material: PLA kuivain_2.STL 1 pcs material: PLA tassu.STL 4 pcs material: ABS/TPE/TPU tassu_petiin.STL 7 pcs material: PC tassu_petiin_temp_sens_height_5p50_holder_4p20mm.STL 1 pcs material: PC tray.STL 1 pcs material: ABS tray_keskitassu.STL 3 pcs material: PC tray_kulmajalka.STL 4 pcs material: PC tuuletin_pidike.STL 1 pcs material: PLA tuuletin.STL 0 pcs Model of the fan I have used in the design