How much ventilation is enough for PETG?
Hi,
I am new to 3D Printing. Just having assembled my i3 MK3S I am doing the first prints with the Enclosure V2 from the blog article. Primarily more for aesthetic (everything looks nice and clean) and ergonomic (carrying the whole set up from one room to another). And for fun 😀
However I am starting to dig in the whole topic of emissions. I read these two studies (1,2) which are referenced in various blog articles around 3D printing sites. I also researched various threads here on the forum, including the one about filtration.
I am starting to get a little concerned as a result. I am not planning to use ABS or Nylon, or any of the other emitters. PLA is probably enough for me in the long term, even tough I am currently printing the enclosure parts in PETG JetBlack and I ordered a couple of PETG spools with the printer. In neither studies PETG was analyzed and based on the nozzle temp I don't expect it to be as bad as ABS. But particles are some VOCs are still a concern. I don't want to risk anything, as my family lives in a house. We don't have a garage or a shed, so the printer sits in the only room of our basement that has a window (light shaft).
During prints nobody is in the room and the window is usually wide open while the door is closed. I use Octoprint to monitor the printer via a webcam. The printer is literally next to the window (see picture). Temperatures in the room are around 19-21 degrees celsius, depending on the outside temperatures (currently between 8-15 degrees celsius). I haven't experienced any warping yet but I haven't gotten to the big PETG parts with long print duration of the enclosure either. After the print job is done I let everything cool down for ~30 mins to room temperature and then get the print result from the steel sheet. The window stays open angled over night.
I am unsure about the circulation as it is a basement and only one window. When I open the window during these ambient temperatures the air feels refreshed and colder after about 10 mins, so I assume there is at least some airflow. But the question is, is it enough? Our tumbler and dryer are in the same room and sometimes clothes will be on the clothes horse on the opposite site of the room. Would UFPs stick to the clothes? Would VOCs somehow stick to it and pose a longer thread? I guess I ultimately need something like the OdourBox but I am wondering if I am putting my family in danger already. The enclosure has several jobs that run 20+ hrs.
RE: How much ventilation is enough for PETG?
I use the 3d Upfitters enclosure without any optional filtration. I don't have any analysis equipment except for the human olfactory gas analyzer. 😉
I've found that the enclosure does a good job of controlling the odor of ABS, as far as keeping the detectable fumes mostly in the box. PETg seems to have no discernible odor at all, to me, anyway. PLA has an almost sweet odor, but it's also not detectable outside of the box.
The printer is in a home office on a counter, with normal residential forced-air HVAC.
RE: How much ventilation is enough for PETG?
PETG is know for low UFP output. It's lower than PLA. Additives (e.g. carbon fibre) can change this.
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RE: How much ventilation is enough for PETG?
I have a fair PM 2.5 meter right next to my MK3 - PETG does not register on the meter more than perhaps a few single digits: nominal 2.5 of 15 with printer off, and maybe 18 when printing. If there is byproducts, they aren't as bad as the smoke making it from California to Idaho - which raises my 2.5 to > 50.
RE: How much ventilation is enough for PETG?
I use a enclosure, and have made filter inside the enclosure, 1 is a vacuum filter hepa and 1 is carbon /black filter for things you smell.
I know it does not clean everything, but it keeps dust inside the enclosure.
If you want to make it better, make a hole to the outside, and suck air from the printer to the outside, make the fan(noise) on the outside)(at the moment not possible where i live)
Leaving the window open, and cold air hitting the printer could result in warping, even pla will warp.
RE: How much ventilation is enough for PETG?
Thanks for the responses so far y'all. It seems emissions on PETG are still somewhat unexplored, but thanks for the pointer to the UFP. I didn't have any problems with warping yet but will likely order an OdourCube setup with filters. Will still vent everything out the window for longer printers.