What is the purpose of "Filament Drying"?

Filament drying plays a crucial role in the 3D printing process, specifically in the context of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). The primary purpose of filament drying is to remove moisture from the filament material. Many types of 3D printing filaments, particularly those made from hygroscopic materials like nylon, PLA, or PETG, can absorb moisture from the air over time. When the filament contains moisture during the printing process, it can lead to various print defects, such as bubbling, stringing, warping, and poor layer adhesion.

When moisture in the filament is heated during printing, it can vaporize and create steam, which disrupts the melting and extrusion process, ultimately affecting the quality of the final print. Hence, drying the filament before use ensures a consistent and high-quality output. It is essential to maintain the integrity of the filament and produce optimal prints, making moisture removal a critical step in FDM.

The other options presented, while they touch on related aspects, do not accurately reflect the core purpose of filament drying in the context of improving print quality. Enhancing speed or color, as well as preventing damage to the printer, are not primary concerns addressed by the drying process itself.