Desiccant containers for Spool Tank

Two desiccant containers are identical (not left- or right-specific parts) and hold about 3lbs of silica-gel combined. Taller roller brackets are required to free up space under the roller for the containers.

Solid spots on the bottom side are made for sticky ½" (12.7mm) silicon pads/bumpers (like these).

Please pay attention to how 3mf files are configured. I used custom layers and infill parameters for the mesh panels, to expose infill as a mesh.

This allows to print mesh much faster than if it was modeled in a solid body. Initially I tried to design mesh/slats in Fusion 360, but the print time was almost twice longer than with slicer mesh “hack”.

There are 3 project files for slicer (brackets, box, lid). You will need to print: brackets x 1, box x 2, lid x 2. Install extended brackets first, then slide two desiccant containers, then replace the rollers.

Feel free to change any parameter, or import STL-models separately into the slicer of your preference, but please be careful with placement of the  mesh panels relative to the box or lid.

If you going to import STL - make sure to import both STL files from either Box or Lid folders into the same slicer project and center then on the sheet to ensure proper relative positioning. In this case - don't forget to customize solid layers and infill for the mesh screen to get the desired mesh size. I don't recommend using Triangles infill, since in combination with orthogonal ribs it creates an optical illusion of ribs being skewed.

Boxes on the photo are printed in Prusament clear PETG in 0.2mm SPEED mode with 15% infill. Mesh panels are configured with 0 top and bottom solid layers, 60% grid infill. 60% grid infill is dense enough to not let fragments of the silica-gel beads to pass through, yet very passable for the air.

Lid can be secured to the box using one 3mm x 8mm self tapping screw. Normal 3mm machine screw may work too. Screw isn't really necessary, given very tight friction fit between two halves. 

Not many life events are as frustrating as spilling silica-gel, so I purposefully made the halves to fit tightly, to prevent spillages.

Use a flat screwdriver to pry two halves apart in multiple locations on all sides, then just pull/wiggle the lid off while holding the bottom by the lip.

2026/04/24: Added a 180x180 version of the box to fit on a bed of Prusa Mini (see Mini folder). I haven't tested this model - please inspect it thoroughly in the slicer before printing.