Smart Filament Dryer with In-Print Heating Support

This is a custom-built dry-and-seal storage box designed for my A1 Mini 3D printer. It features integrated heated drying with temperature control, allowing continuous filament drying even during printing. Compared to the official AMS HT, this DIY solution is significantly more cost-effective — and arguably even more powerful in functionality!
The entire system is built around the SONOFF TH Elite 16A smart temperature controller, combined with a PTC heating module and a turbine fan. With the help of a temperature and humidity sensor, it automatically maintains optimal drying conditions to ensure consistent print quality.

Features:

• 💰 Lower Cost — Total DIY cost is around ¥150（About ＄25）, and real-world heating performance is comparable to the AMS HT.
• 💡 Easy to Assemble — Minimal components required. No complex wiring or electronics knowledge needed — if you can twist wires, you can build this.
• 🌀 Print While Drying — Unlike the AMS HT which stops heating during prints, this DIY version can dry filament while printing.
• 🔒 High Airtightness — Excellent sealing for long-term filament storage; works even better when combined with desiccant packs.
• 📈 Real-Time Temp & Humidity Monitoring — Live readings accessible via app, plus logging and historical chart support for environmental tracking.
• 📱 Smart Integration Ready — Supports remote alerts when temperature or humidity exceed limits. Easily integrates with platforms like Home Assistant for custom automation and control.

Model Includes:

(All parts are support-free and printable in single-color FDM printers — except for the drying box lid. PETG or ABS is recommended, as internal temperatures can get high during heated drying. PLA may soften or deform.)

• Drybox Base ×1
• PTC Mount ×1
• Turbine Fan Top Cover ×1
• Drying Box ×1
• Drying Box Lid ×1
• Sensor Bracket ×1
• Sensor Wire Clip ×1
• Sensor Wire Lock Screw (left & right halves) ×1
• Sensor Wire Lock Nut ×1
• Spool Holder Base ×2
• Spool Holder Axle ×2

Additional Parts Required (to purchase separately):

These are hardware components that are not 3D printed and must be sourced separately in order to complete the build:

Installation Notes:

Please refer to the installation guide for step-by-step instructions. The wiring is very straightforward — but you will need to drill a few holes in the rice container, so a bit of DIY spirit and confidence will go a long way. 😊

Performance Test:

I have tested the full setup at different temperature zones (from bottom to top: PTC air outlet – center of the spool area – top of the spool). After around 10 minutes, the system reaches thermal equilibrium with minimal temperature differences between zones.

Compared to the Bambu AMS HT, there’s no noticeable gap in uniformity — and in fact, the internal temperature distribution is more even than many commercial filament dryers.