Analysis of Silica Gel Capability in Suppressing Humidity within Filament Storage Boxes via an Internet of Things-Based Monitoring Application

Harlan Kurnia AR; Yustria Handika Siregar

doi:10.55537/bigint.v4i2.1827

Authors

Harlan Kurnia AR Universitas Putra Indonesia YPTK
Yustria Handika Siregar Politeknik Cendana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55537/bigint.v4i2.1827

Keywords:

Silica Gel, Filament, ESP32, DHT11, Kodular, Firebase, IoT

Abstract

3D printing filament is highly sensitive to ambient humidity. Moisture absorption by the filament can degrade print quality, causing issues ranging from stringing to complete print failure. This study aims to analyze the ability of silica gel to suppress and maintain humidity stability within a filament storage box using an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system. The core control system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller integrated with a DHT11 sensor to detect temperature and relative humidity (%RH) inside the container in real-time. Sensor data is transmitted wirelessly via the ESP32's built-in Wi-Fi connectivity to a Firebase cloud database. Users can remotely monitor storage conditions through an Android application developed using the Kodular platform. The experimental method involved testing humidity reduction performance using varying masses of silica gel within an airtight container. Test results indicate that increasing the mass of silica gel significantly accelerates the rate of humidity reduction and extends the duration for which storage conditions remain stable at the ideal level—below 30% RH. The developed IoT system successfully achieved precise, real-time data synchronization between the hardware and the monitoring application without requiring a local display screen. This research offers a practical solution for 3D printer users to preserve filament quality while providing empirical data on the effectiveness of silica gel quantities as a desiccant.

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