Verifying you really have PETG  

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

Posted by: @thejiral

Distinguishing PETG from PLA should be relatively straight forward. If you print something and smell those lovely unhealthy fumes (also PLA isn't exactly health improving but not that bad, compared to other polymers). 

PETG is considered benign. It puts out fewer UFPs than PLA. It doesn't put out known carcinogens and styrene like ABS. Lots of people prefer PETG over PLA specifically because they have fewer health problems with it, though how much of that is placebo effect is unknown.

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

@bobstro

If I sell the side effect, 30% or more of folks will develop it on ingestion of a sugar pill.  I guess the same could be true to smells.  

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

Posted by: @cwbullet

[...] If I sell the side effect, 30% or more of folks will develop it on ingestion of a sugar pill.  I guess the same could be true to smells.  

I have seen a number of posts from people complaining about "health problems due to UFPs" produced by their 3D printer who amazingly have no issues eating near a microwave or sitting near a laser printer that produces many times as many UFPs. Not saying UFPs are good or even harmless, but there are multiple exposures in daily life.

It is interesting that some people can't stand PETG, and others are just as adverse to PLA. 

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

Posted by: @bobstro

It is interesting that some people can't stand PETG, and others are just as adverse to PLA. 

 

Strange or interesting is probably the right term.  

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

I can't report any health problems, but I had the impression that the PETG was slightly headache inducing. I did not really study that though and soon enough got my enclosure with air filter in working order, so the only thing I still smell sometimes, a bit, is PLA as that prints better with the enclosure slightly opened.

Supposedly the Prusament PC blend produces some odor but I still don't know what it would be. As I keep the enclosure shut from start until it has cooled down again.

In any case my point was that PLA has a very typical smell or flavour to it which is quite distinct from the PETG I know.

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

I run one of those electrostatic air cleaners in my shop.  When I print ABS, the outside vent is on, and I run in an enclosure with an additional hepa/carbon filter running inside the print chamber.

I can definitely smell the difference when I print PLA.  I mostly print PETG and don't notice a smell like I do with PLA.  But each brand and color can have a slightly different set of additives. 

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

Posted by: @bobstro

Posted by: @cwbullet

[...] If I sell the side effect, 30% or more of folks will develop it on ingestion of a sugar pill.  I guess the same could be true to smells.  

I have seen a number of posts from people complaining about "health problems due to UFPs" produced by their 3D printer who amazingly have no issues eating near a microwave or sitting near a laser printer that produces many times as many UFPs. Not saying UFPs are good or even harmless, but there are multiple exposures in daily life.

It is interesting that some people can't stand PETG, and others are just as adverse to PLA. 

 

Those are the folks that grew up sniffing that sweet smell of freshly printed ditto paper.  Yum.  Nothing like huffing IPA and methanol to get a kid moving on a nice spring morning.

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

I think the best way is to tap an identical print from each on a tooth. The PLA will have a higher audible tone - that is sound cleaner and more precise. To me the petg actually feels softer. 

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

@john-6

Interesting - like biting 24 caret gold?

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

Posted by: @john-6

I think the best way is to tap an identical print from each on a tooth. The PLA will have a higher audible tone - that is sound cleaner and more precise. To me the petg actually feels softer. 

Yes, PETg does seem a bit softer to me too, plus more of a shiny surface.

RE: Verifying you really have PETG

Posted by: @cwbullet

@john-6

Interesting - like biting 24 caret gold?

Not a bite but a tap on the tip of the front tooth like you might do with sunglasses to see if the lens us plastic or glass. I have never bitten gold of any caret!!!