[Closed] Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?  

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

I got this one from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VGIGVY
So far the smell reduced drastically so I assume the small particles are filtered good as-well.

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

Hello, I plan to use a 3D printer in my room. My room is small and in the condo, I cannot open the windows. I can only slide open a small window. I don't think air circulation is good as the air seems to blow in parallel to the window rather than perpendicular to it. Due to various policy, I cannot drill a hole to modify the window to take out the toxic particles. Initially I plan to print in PLA due to safety reason. I read that although PLA releases less toxic materials than ABS, it still does. I have three options (please let me know if there is other option).

1. When I do the printing, put it in the bathroom and turn on the ventilation fan. Due to the size of the bathroom, I cannot close the door. Do you think this will work well?

2. Can I put some kind of small HERA purifier machine that also filters VOC next to the printer. Will such machine be able to suck in and absorb toxic materials?

3. Make a simple enclosure with carbon filter perhaps on 2-3 sides of the printer and hope that such "passive" filter would absorb the toxic nano-particles.

4. Open to suggestion

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

I wouldn't recommend using a 3D printer in a same small room you're sleeping/living.
Beside the toxic fumes which are produced by different types of filament, there are also nano particles. Keep in mind that you're printing over a long period of time (10,20,30,40... hours/days). It's a lot of contamination which can't be healthy. There are not so many statistics so far, but if you consider all the common air pollution and cancer source discussions it should be pretty obvious what the long term results you will get.

My advise is either don't do it at all or make a real good enclosure with all the filters available and push the air out of the window.

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

Well,

as far as I can say prrinting in a small room works pretty well. I don't know why everybody puts the printer on their desks (just, why? 😐 ): Put it in a cupboard! It is quiet, it is enclosed and I even don't smell ABS when it is printing. You like the look? Take a cupboard with a window!

By the way I am living and sleeping in a 14 m² dorm room... with the printer in a cupboard. Absolutely no problem.

About nano-particles and condensing fumes you are absolutely right: You can see the condensed fumes on the extruder and on the bed in direction of air-flow from the cooling fan for the extruded filament.

May someone now tell my why to make such an effort building a filter for fumes which then also may not work properly? Why not just close the enclosing completely?

Works pretty well with a cupboard and I consider it somewhat safe since there is no DIY venting solution which may more pollutes my air than cleaning it. :geek:

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

...
By the way I am living and sleeping in a 14 m² dorm room... with the printer in a cupboard. Absolutely no problem.
...

And that's the reason why some people still think it's perfectly fine to do this ...
There are people who drink a lot, smoke a lot without any problems. But that doesn't mean it's healthy and good for your body. We are melting plastic in our homes sometimes 24/7 without any regulations. Nobody is checking what kind of cheap plastic you get and what's inside.
There are reasons why most of the makers take it serious and doing it either in garage, good ventilated place or with any kind of filtration.

If you don't want to take a risk to get sick because of that, take any precaution. There are solutions with enclosures and filtration even for a 14 m² room.

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

I am getting more and more aware of those not very well communicated effects of melting plastic.

There are some scientific papers and reports from firms I've found:

From what I've read (and I do not understand a lot)

If you use an air purifier like mentioned in a previous comment (I assume things like that: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VGIGVY?th=1 ) then SentryAir quotes this
“So far it is already possible to give some tips and suggestions, such as using the printers in ventilated places, even better if provided with an air exchange system with a primary power of at least 3 volumes of the room per hour.” (Merlo, Mazzoni)

The problem with those purifiers is that based on the SentryAir article, the HEPA and ULPA filters might actually trap UFPs quite well (even if not intentionally designed to work for nano meter scale) but you will need HEPA und ULPA filters not commonly found in those purifiers.

“Among all the tested filters the HEPA cellulose filter used in nuclear monitoring, the HEPA H14 and the ULPA U15 showed the best efficiency for smaller particles.” (Golanski, Guiot, Rouillon, Pocachard, Tardif 2009)
Unless clearly stated I do not assume that houshold filters are HEPA H14 and ULPA U15, although they are commercially available and quite expensive.
Afaik in the USA HEPA seems to imply the HEPA filter class H13.

I found a web shop (german) selling those filters for about 75 € / 90 $. (For completeness: HS-Mikro SF-AL, Gr.:305x305x69 mm, EN 1822 Kl. H14) and their application is clean rooms, etc.

Unclear to me is the effect of less effective filters integrated in those purifiers, if they are HEPA H13 a study would be required to analyse to what extent it achieve filtration and whether compared to a H14 (and ULPA U15) it might suffice for desktop printing.

Additional aspects require consideration: If a less-than-optimal ventilation system (air purifier, makeshift enclosures without proper sealing and filtering) is implemented it might actually has a bigger impact on health as it might imply that spending more time next to the "now filtered" printer is safe now (although it might not)

Unfortunately I could not find anything related to PETG.

And that's only about UFP. Insights on VOC emitted by 3d printers and effectiveness of carbon filters is also needed.

I highly doubt that I am able to make proper makeshift UFP and VOC trap or filter without measuring equipment whose cost will make up for the unspecified filtering effect it might provide.

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

Here is what I am planning for the enclosure I am currently building.

Regards,
Martin

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

@Martin very nice looking concept!

Could you make some horizontal cuts to visualize how your exhaust is supposed to work? I am very curious.

Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?

It relies on the venturi effect.

At the exhaust section the static pressure is high and at the inlet section the static pressure is low.

Regards,
Martin