.chitu-blog,.chitu-blog *,.chitu-blog *::before,.chitu-blog *::after{box-sizing:border-box} .chitu-blog{width:860px;max-width:calc(100vw - 40px);margin:0 auto;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#1a1a1a} .chitu-blog p,.chitu-blog li{font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif!important;font-size:18px!important;line-height:1.67!important;color:#1a1a1a!important} .chitu-blog p{margin:0 0 20px!important}.chitu-blog h2{font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif!important;font-size:32px!important;line-height:1.25!important;margin:52px 0 20px!important;color:#111;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-.4px} .chitu-blog h3{font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif!important;font-size:24px!important;line-height:1.3!important;margin:36px 0 14px!important;color:#111} .chitu-blog ul{padding-left:25px;margin:0 0 26px}.chitu-blog li{margin-bottom:12px} .chitu-blog a{color:#1667d9;text-underline-offset:3px}.chitu-blog a:hover{color:#0d4faa} .chitu-blog .figure{margin:30px 0 10px!important;text-align:center}.chitu-blog .figure img{display:block;max-width:100%;height:auto;margin:auto;border-radius:4px} .chitu-blog .figure-caption{max-width:760px;margin:8px auto 34px!important;text-align:center!important;font-size:14px!important;line-height:1.5!important;color:#777!important} .chitu-blog .image-placeholder{padding:46px 22px;border:1px dashed #b7b7b7;background:#f7f7f7;text-align:center;color:#666;font-size:16px;line-height:1.5} .chitu-blog .editor-note{padding:14px 18px;background:#fff7e6;border-left:3px solid #e6a43d;color:#654d23;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;margin:18px 0 26px} .chitu-blog .cta{margin:36px 0 12px;padding:24px;background:#f6f6f6;border-radius:6px}.chitu-blog .cta p{margin:0 0 10px!important} .chitu-blog .cta a{font-weight:700} @media(max-width:749px){.chitu-blog{width:auto;max-width:100%}.chitu-blog p,.chitu-blog li{font-size:17px!important;line-height:1.65!important}.chitu-blog h2{font-size:27px!important;margin-top:40px!important}.chitu-blog h3{font-size:22px!important;margin-top:30px!important}.chitu-blog .figure-caption{font-size:13px!important}} You open a fresh spool of filament, use it for a few prints, and put it aside. Weeks later, you pick it up again, only to notice more stringing than usual, a rougher surface, or even popping sounds from the nozzle. Sound familiar? Moisture might be the culprit. Drying your filament can help, but moving it between the dryer and printer isn't always convenient, especially for longer prints or moisture-sensitive materials. What if you could keep your filament drying while you print? It's a convenient idea, but making it work in your existing printing setup can take a little planning. How Do People Set Up Their Filament Dryers? There's no single way to arrange a filament dryer in a 3D printing workspace. Some users keep a compact dryer beside their printer, while others work with larger drying units or multiple devices. The best arrangement often depends on the printer, the number of spools, and the available workspace. Different filament drying arrangements for different printing workflows. But placement is only part of the picture. If you want to print directly from a dryer, you'll also need to consider how filament reaches the printer's feeding system. That's where the connection between drying and printing becomes important. A More Flexible Approach with Chitu E1 The Chitu FilaPartner E1 offers several options for integrating filament drying into a printing workflow. Its two drying chambers can be separated and positioned independently, with individual temperature control. Together, they accommodate up to four spools, with drying temperatures reaching 70°C. E1 also supports printing directly from the dryer, allowing filament to continue drying while feeding into the printer. While the detachable chambers provide flexibility in placement, connecting E1 to a printer's existing automatic feeding system may require additional adjustments. That's what our technical team explored with the Snapmaker U1. Putting It to the Test: Chitu E1 + Snapmaker U1 Our technical team developed a print-while-drying setup connecting Chitu E1 to the Snapmaker U1's original automatic feeding system. Rather than replacing the original automatic feeders, the modification relocates both feeders to the right side of the printer, allowing filament to feed from E1 through the adjusted tubing arrangement. Chitu E1 and Snapmaker U1 in our tested print-while-drying setup. What Does the Modification Involve? The modification retains the U1's original automatic feeders while adjusting their mounting positions and connections. Three main components are needed: A GH1.25 15-pin extension cable: Provides additional reach for the relocated feeders. Two longer PTFE tubes: Connect the filament path from E1 to the repositioned feeders. A 3D-printed mounting bracket: Based on an existing community design on MakerWorld . The installation involves removing the original feeder modules, adjusting their cable connections, and securing them in their new positions using the printed bracket. Once the feeders are mounted, the PTFE tubing can be routed from E1 to the relocated feeding system. Some original components can be tricky to remove, so the modification is best suited to users comfortable working with printer hardware. The relocated feeders and adjusted filament routing on the Snapmaker U1. What We Learned During Setup One important finding was that longer PTFE tubing isn't necessarily better. During initial testing, a 1.5 m PTFE tube sometimes required a second feeding attempt before filament loading was completed. Using a shorter tube helped avoid this issue in our setup. Filament routing matters, too. Rather than following a fixed distance between E1 and the printer, we focused on keeping the PTFE tubing in smooth, gentle curves without sharp bends. With these adjustments, our team successfully completed a print while E1 was actively drying the filament. FAQ Is this a plug-and-play modification? Not quite. You'll need to remove and reposition the original feeder modules, install a 3D-printed bracket, and adjust the cable and PTFE tubing connections. Some familiarity with printer hardware is recommended. Can I use longer PTFE tubing? Yes, but excessive length may affect automatic filament loading. In our testing, a 1.5 m tube sometimes required a second feeding attempt. We recommend using only the length necessary for a smooth filament path. Will this modification affect my Snapmaker U1 warranty? This modification involves changes to the printer's original hardware and may affect warranty coverage. We recommend checking Snapmaker's warranty terms or contacting its support team before proceeding. A Setup That Works Around You A print-while-drying workflow involves more than choosing a filament dryer. It also means considering how the dryer connects to your printer's existing feeding system. Our Chitu E1 and Snapmaker U1 modification offers one practical example of adapting existing hardware for a different filament arrangement. With the right connections and careful filament routing, you can explore a workflow that better suits your printing needs. Build your own print-while-drying workflow with the Chitu FilaPartner E1. View E1 product details →