I've seen reference to 3D printers putting off dangerous fumes and recommendations for venting.
To what extent are you concerned with issue? Do you have ventilation for your 3D printer? If so how are you doing it? If you have ventilation, how many CFM?
Building out a new workshop wondering what to do about this.
Bill
Replies sorted oldest to newest
3D SLA printers that use liquid resin are the ones needing venting, at least that's what I've read. Have a coworker who has printed a few things for me using a filament 3D printer (a Bambu Lab model) and he says he doesn't need venting.
depends on the quality of the resin.
most cheaper resins require venting or some elastic resins do as well.
Otherwise, I have not vented any of the FormLabs resins since 2015.
I've read that venting might be needed for certain FDM materials, but the only two I've used so far are PLA and PETG, neither had enough fumes for me to worry about it. When I get to ABS or nylon, I have a venting scheme worked out with an unused outside vent pipe from my back workshop.
As I understand it, resin gets vented and ABS printed on FDM gets a carbon filter or venting.
I would be much more concerned if I were printing 24/7. I wouldn't want to work in a print farm of resin or FDM (even PLA) unless it was vented or I was wearing a mask for fine particulates. This topic always fascinates me. I had great-great uncles with 40+ years in a coal mine and lived into their 90s without any problems. I worked with cigarette smokers that had over 20 years in a foundry with silica. I was a short distance from the East Palestine fume cloud and never noticed a thing while other people couldn't even go outside from it.
I don't think there's any harm in venting. On the one hand, you'll be safe if we do find out the microplastics/fumes are harmful. On the other hand, you can microwave sauerkraut in your shop without a care if we find out the microplastics/fumes are harmless.
I have a resin printer. My understanding is the resin fumes are toxic. I purchased a grow tent, a 4" diameter flexible duct, and a small 12v fan with a sleeve that fits inside the dryer duct. The grow tent has openings to accept the duct. The printer is inside. I print without the fan running and the tent zipped up. When printing is complete, I exhaust the tent to the outside through an open window.
FDM, Not Vented... although, I could if needed. I use PETG, PLA, TPU, Nylon and Delrin. I'm not igniting it and I can't smell it. Then again, I'm usually far-off doing some other chore when printing.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
