Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?  

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I have not seen one. I guess your could use a HEPA next filter. I am not sure if it would with with fumes. Any other ideas?

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

My understanding is that there are 2 issues with printing, even with PLA.
1. There are micro particles that are released from the melting of the plastic
2. There are fumes/gases released from the melting of the plastic

So, going back to my days as a lab technician working at a Safety Products company there are different solutions to the above.
For the particulates you need some type of "mechanical" filter media to remove the particles, such as a "HEPA". There are different efficiencies associated with mechanical filter media and not all filters are the same. As these become spent the reduce the air flow thru the filter ... ie; they get clogged.

For the fumes/gases you need a chemical filter media such as an activated carbon. There are different types of activated carbon and they are good for different types of gases - Organics, Acid Gases, Ammonia, Formaldehyde, etc. As these become spent the allow more and more of the "gases" to pass thru the media.

So what you want is a "filter housing" that has a HEPA filter in front of activated carbon. The housing contains the activated carbon in such a way that all the air passes through the carbon and then out. Some people will put the HEPA filter after the carbon, but you don't want to do that as the particulates and cause the activated carbon to be spent/clogged faster.

One of the enclosures I was looking at building does this.
Here's the link to the enclosure: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2396990
Here's the link to the "filter" that is used: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2396990
I was going to make changes to the overall layout when I get around to building my enclourse

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

Probably the easiest thing would be to add off-the-shelf Hepa filtration with activated carbon to the enclosure--something like:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWYO1HG/ref=emc_b_5_t

I don't know whether it would be sufficient or not, but it would be better than nothing.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

David, that is a pretty big fan and is meant for a small room. In addition the fan will recycle the air inside the enclosure and not vent it out allowing heat to build up inside.

If you only plan on running it at the end of the print and have a big enough enclosure that probably won't be an issue. However, if you want it to be running while printing to keep the enclosure temperature below a set point then you'll need some way of venting hot air and drawing in cooler air.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

David, that is a pretty big fan and is meant for a small room. In addition the fan will recycle the air inside the enclosure and not vent it out allowing heat to build up inside.

If you only plan on running it at the end of the print and have a big enough enclosure that probably won't be an issue. However, if you want it to be running while printing to keep the enclosure temperature below a set point then you'll need some way of venting hot air and drawing in cooler air.

Regarding heat build-up, have a look at what Tom Sanlanderer uses as his "chamber" at time index 1:56 at:

i.e. he uses just a wooden box with a large hunk of foam to seal in the Prusa I3 MK3. It seems he's not at all concerned with heat buildup.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

There are car air purifiers that have both hepa and active carbon filters; they are more compact and may be sufficient for this purpose. (Haven't used one, not for a printer nor for a car, so I cannot comment on how good they are)

Regarding heat build-up, have a look at what Tom Sanlanderer uses as his "chamber" at time index 1:56 at:

i.e. he uses just a wooden box with a large hunk of foam to seal in the Prusa I3 MK3. It seems he's not at all concerned with heat buildup.

I would be worried about the PSU in that scenario... Even for the Lack enclosure, the PSU is moved outside.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I would be worried about the PSU in that scenario... Even for the Lack enclosure, the PSU is moved outside.

Fair enough. That's easily done.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

David, that is a pretty big fan and is meant for a small room. I

Yes, it may be overkill. How about this one instead? https://www.amazon.com/ieGeek-Freshener-Formaldehyde-Cigarette-Allergens/dp/B07DL3YJHK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

It's powered by a usb cable. The amazon reviews seem favorable.

It claims 90% efficacy. However, maybe if it recirculates the same air over and over, especially after a print has finished, it might eventually do better than that?

Is there something even better?

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

This enclosure looks very easy and quick to construct:

It's made simply with fluted polycarb and gorilla tape. He also shares info on the health effects of printing even PLA, which is interesting.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I tried using HEPA + activated carbon filters and found that they didn't do a whole lot. I could still smell the printer when in the same room, which told me I was still breathing in all of the nasty stuff produced by melting plastic. I eventually started venting outside. I run a 140mm fan full blast all the time, no matter the print material. I no longer smell anything, and don't fully seal the enclosure so that air gets sucked into the cracks to help with venting. The enclosure now maintains a temperature of about 29ºC/85ºF while printing PLA, PETG, and Nylon. If I need to print in a warmer environment I'll just slow the fan down, but I don't intend to print any ABS.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

David,

I don't think Tom Salanderer was concerned about heat build up for the quick tests that he was doing and for a short period of time that the printer would be in that quick enclosure test. Now, I've only really printed PLA since I've had my MK2S's and MK3, but plan on printing with ABS/PET in the future. So I'm only relaying information that I've read here and other places.
- the issue (potential) with heat build up is when you are printing larger objects. This allows for the temperature in the enclosure to reach and maintain its maximum. This could have a negative impact on the a few items - filament getting soft resulting in feed issues or jams in the extruder.
- there is also the issue with repeated and long term heat stress on the power supply and other electronics.

That smaller filter could be better - mount it on one of the sides of the enclosure (6" dia x2" depth) - let it run for a while after the print has finished.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I found what appears to be a knock-off of the IKEA Lack table for a mere $13: https://www.amazon.com/DHP-Parsons-Modern-Table-Black/dp/B005QLJL26/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1534532786&sr=8-6&keywords=ikea%2Black%2Btable&th=1

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

This may be due to regional differences, but the Ikea table is only $9 where I am from.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20011408/

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

This may be due to regional differences, but the Ikea table is only $9 where I am from.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20011408/

Even better! Thanks.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I have no idea what it costs, but here's a pre-made 3D printer enclosure that seems quite nice:
It even includes fire suppression, should a fire ever occur.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I have no idea what it costs, but here's a pre-made 3D printer enclosure that seems quite nice:
It even includes fire suppression, should a fire ever occur.

lol.... BASIC enclosure is $1,395. more advanced enclosures up to $2,995

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I tried using HEPA + activated carbon filters and found that they didn't do a whole lot. I could still smell the printer when in the same room, which told me I was still breathing in all of the nasty stuff produced by melting plastic. I eventually started venting outside.

What's interesting is that tiago.c ( https://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/user-mods-octoprint-enclosures-nozzles--f65/my-handmade-enclosure-for-prusa-t23384-s20.html ) runs his enclosure air through a filter and then exhausts it into the room, not outside. He claims he doesn't smell anything. So, I'm struggling to reconcile that with your opposite experience.

I certainly agree that the gold standard would be to exhaust to outside. It's just that it's awkward to do so. The enclosure would need to be near a window, and then you have to kludge into the window opening some kind of exhaust port. It's a doable thing, but just not so convenient. So, then the question becomes whether it's really necessary or not.

I like what tiago.c did, which was to utilize an air quality sensor. We need to put some numbers on how effective one solution is vs another, or else it's going to be too subjective.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

Assuming this is true:

then, I think the theory is to either pass the air once through an 18" bed depth of activated carbon, or else multiple times through a shallower bed depth. This at least quantifies the scale of the problem.

Unfortunately, most consumer grade air purifiers don't give information as to bed depth. I'm pretty sure that none of them are anywhere near 18" though.

Re: Enclosure w/ filtration for printing ABS indoors?

I certainly agree that the gold standard would be to exhaust to outside. It's just that it's awkward to do so. The enclosure would need to be near a window, and then you have to kludge into the window opening some kind of exhaust port. It's a doable thing, but just not so convenient. So, then the question becomes whether it's really necessary or not.

Pre-made window exhaust port