CS, I've been processing figs like crazy for the last two weeks, until the starlings found the tree & cleaned me out yesterday. I think I'm grateful. The instructions that come with the American Harvest Dehydrator says that figs have a natural protective wax coating, & to dry them whole you must dip them into boiling water for 1 -2 minutes (depending on the thickness & toughness of the skin. This time frame was given for a whole list of waxy fruits.) As to time... The machine I've got says 10 to 15 hrs for their small "snackmaster" and 8-13 hrs for the "gardenmaster": this is for figs that have been halved.
Good luck! - Gael