Samla 22L - All-in-One - Compact Drybox, Silica gel container, MMU2 buffer, Storage, Auto-Rewind for 4 standard filament spools

Hello,

I have been using my Samla 22L - All-in-One - Compact Dryboxfor for more than a year. The operation is still problem-free. Now the time has come to add silica gel trays and small improvements. I incorporated the comments and here is a small summary of everything the new design offers:

Big Update 29.4.2024

• Sillicagel containers are fully compatible with older version V1 and V1b. Just print holders, screw it to the ribs and insert containers.
• 4 filament spools in the small 22L SAMLA box at the same time
  • 4x 1kg filament spool, up to 205mm diameter and up to 70mm thick
  • central axis for each filament separately
  • Compatible with plastic and cardboard spools (Prusa, Gembird,…)
• Spool Auto-Rewinder, replace the original MMU buffer
  • the excess filament is wound back onto the spool when changing colors
  • simple, functional and maintenance-free. It has never happened to me that the filament gets tangled or crossed
• Integrated separated containers for silicagel
  • Backwards compatible, you can print it and mount it to your SAMLA box
  • Large silicagel filling hole, secured by a 3d printed screw
  • Funnel for easy filling, tube for emptying without mess, as an accessories
  • Big handle and “rails” to fit in place
  • You can change silicagel in one container at once when regeneration
  • Up to 8 containers in one Samla 22L box, up to 90g silicagel each container (720g total)
• No M4 threaded rods, new spacers that hold the ribs in place With M4 screws. Simple assembly.
  • spacers have integrated rails for silicagel containers
• fewer types of mounting material, two types of M4 screws and nuts, one type of M3
• fixed small defects of the original end ribs
• Easy to print, no supports needed except 1 part
• No molding nuts

If you are looking for dryer only, use this link

If you are looking for Bracket for Thermometer / Hygrometer, use this link

Story and benefits

here is the story about this my awesome (hope not just another) filament drybox:

I bought mmu2s and thought about how to solve the drybox and how to get rid of the buffer. I don't like the system when the filament is placed in the holder like the one that comes with MMU2s - it has already happened to me that it fell out of the holder and the print got stuck. In such a holder, the filament is especially difficult to unwind, and I think it can start to cause problems with long ptfe tubes.

I prefer axis filament holder, because I think that unwinding the filament is much easier. 

All such holders that I found for the SAMLA box have only one long central rod and it is a problem to replace only one spool in the middle. 

My solution is to have a central axis for each filament separately. Thanks to this, it is possible to replace even just one filament separately. But if I wanted to have 4 spools in the small 22L SAMLA box at the same time, I had to invent a zig zag storage system.

Another task I solved was the buffer. The original Prusa Buffer is inconvenient and takes up space on the table. However, I found excellent inspiration: MMU2S filament buffer upgrade for Samla 22l Drybox. I believe that the shape of the filament holders (ribs), will help prevent tangling and jamming of the filament.

During my search for the perfect drybox, I found the last great inspiration: the Original Auto-Rewind Spool Holder. Thanks to this, when printing with the MMU2s, the excess filament is wound back onto the spool when changing colors. Everything works easily, there is no risk of getting stuck or knotted filament.

The system can wind back a little more than one turn. Full Prusament spool, the diameter of the filament is around 18.5 cm, circumference = one turn is 58 cm. If the spool is almost empty, the diameter is 10 cm and one turn is 31 cm. It may seem small lenght, but the insufficient winding is compensated by the high walls of the empty spool. There is no danger of tangling/pulling the thread from the spool.

Silicagel containers

The biggest improvement to my design is the addition of silica gel containers. You can place 1 to 8 separate containers, each of which can be filled with up to 90 g of silica gel, i.e. 720 g in total. Due to regeneration, it is possible to remove and insert containers separately, thanks to the integrated handle it is really easy. The containers have a large screw cap, the silica gel will definitely not spill out. Use a funnel to easily fill the container, use a larger or smaller tube to empty easily without mess (20mm tube is good for standard PET water bottle to store silicagel).

Read before printing

My Samla 22L - All-in-One - Compact Drybox is suitable for:

4x 1kg filament spool, up to 205mm diameter and up to 70mm thick. So It is compatible with many fillaments spools like Prusa, Creality, Gembird,... Please measure how thick the spools of your favorite brand are.

There is a little bit more space than 4x70mm, so depends on how precisely do you put the holder together, you can use it for 3x up to 70mm thick spools and 1x up to 74mm thick spool. Many spools are not straight, but crooked, so they need more space.

What accessories do you need for assembly?

Original set from MMU2s or equivalent:

• Ikea Samla 22l with a lid (Ikea code 80102976)
• 8 pcs of Ball Bearings 608 (z/zz) - you can use Ball Bearings from MMU/2/3 Spool holder
• 4 pcs of 8mm shaft shortened to cca 79mm (70mm filament chambers) or 83mm (74mm filament chamber) - you can use shafts from MMU2/3 Spool holder
• duct tape
• maybe glue
• Screws DIN 7985 
  • M4x20 - 8 pcs
  • M4x14 - 6 pcs
  • M4x10 - 20 pcs
• Screws DIN 965
  • M3x10 - 8 pcs
• Nuts DIN 934
  • M4 - 10 pcs
  • M3 - 8 pcs

Print settings:

Measure your 8mm shaft diameter: Shaft from MMU2S have not exactly 8mm, but only 7,85mm. Print proper size pieces: rewinder hub, rewinder spiral and shaft end

Print files from folder are  based on your shaft diameter

     1.Print PLA, 0.2 mm layers with 15% infill. No supports needed:

• 2x - End ribs
• 3x - Middle ribs
• 4x - Rewinder Hub
• 2x - 2xDryer_AIO_Holder_Middle (for up to 4x silicagel container)
  • If you wanted to have up to 8 silicagel container print
    • 2x - 2xDryer_AIO_Holder_Right
    • 2x - 2xDryer_AIO_Holder_Left

     2. Print with PLA, 0.1 mm layers with 13% infill. Supports needed, buildplate only:

• 4x - Shaft end

    3. Print with PLA, 0.1 mm layers with 13% infill. Supports for top part - shaft end only needed:

• 4x - Rewinder spiral + shaft end

Assembly:

A. Spool Rewinders, 4x

1. Print Rewinder hub, rewinder spiral and shaft end(size depends on your shaft diameter 8mm, vs. 7.85mm), 
2. Insert 2x Ball Bearings 608 to each Rewinder hub
3. Put together Rewinder hub and Rewinder spiral pieces
4. Seal the parts with duct tape
5. Insert 79-83mm long, 8mm in diameter shaft into sealed parts, make shure that shaft can't rotate into this part. If rotate, insert nuts M3 and short M3x10 screw, or use glue
6. Put printed Shaft end into the other side of the shaft

B. Buiding the frame by steps

1. Print
   • 2x - End ribs
   • 3x - Middle ribs
   • 4x - EndRib_Spacer_74
   • 2x - Dryer_AIO_Holder_Middle
2. Use 8pcs of M4x20 to screw End ribs, EndRib_Spacer_74 and Middle ribs together
3. Use 6pcs of M4x14 and 6pcs of M4 nuts to screw Middle ribs together

C. Insert an fix the frame into SAMLA box

1. Insert the frame into the Samla box
2. Insert all 4 Spool Rewinders to the frame (without filaments)
3. Measure and adjust the spacing between the individual ribs at their ends. Correct distances are 74mm, 70mm, 70mm and 74mm.
4. Mark drilling holes on your Samla box based on the frame
   • Minimum are 4 at the End ribs sides
   • Optimum are 14 at the End ribs sides and top ribs holes on the front and back sides
5. Remove the frame from the box
6. Drill 4mm holes
7. Insert the frame and fix it by M4x10 screws

D.  Completion

1. Mount PTFE Tube Passthrough. You can also use my Tube Passthrough and PTFE drilling template. My scenario is non-standard, I have the Samla box under my desk, that's why I made a special design.
2. Insert Fillament spools on Spool Rewinders and insert it to the frame
3. You can also add rubber seal on the lid and print clips to hold the lid
4. Finish.

E. Silica gel containers

• There are several design of Silica gel containers holders
  • 2xDryer_AIO_Holder_Middle - dual version for up to 4 silica gel containers, two for each side. This model is also supporting element of the frame. Print 2 pcs of holders and mount it in the middle of the frame, using steps by manual: B. Buiding the frame by steps
  • 2xDryer_AIO_Holder_Left /Right  - for up to 8 silica gel containers. Don't print Middle model, just print 2pcs of Right and 2 pcs of Left model.
  • 1xDryer_AIO_Holder_Middle - basic, solo version - simple version. All 8 holders can be connected from it and all other versions can be replaced with it.

• If you have previous version of Samla 22L - All-in-One - Compact Drybox you can use Silica gel containers upgrade without problems.
  • If you have M4 rods, please remove frame from Samla box and change frame with Dryer_AIO_Holder (left / right / middle - it is up to you). Screw it into frame with M4x14 screws
  • If your Samla box don't have M4 rods, you can insert up to 8pcs of 1xDryer_AIO_Holder_Middle without removing the frame. Screw it into frame with M4x14 screws
  • You can also use short holder variants placed in separate folder

1. Print Dryer_AIO_Body_SideHoles, 0.2mm layer is OK, no supports needed, follow print orientation
2. Print Dryer_AIO_Holders according to your needs
3. Print Dryer_Screw99% (99% size fits better than 100%)
4. I recommend also printing the funnel and the tube. The 20mm tube is compatible with a standard PET water bottle. You can pour silica gel into a clean, empty and dry bottle during storage. Dryer_Funnel60_99%, Dryer_Tube20_99%

Happy printing!