XL full enclosure  

RE: XL full enclosure

I don't have any issues with stable temps in my enclose. Since most of the holes are closed I can just turn the fan off or slow it down so there is still enough pressure to prevent the particles from drifting into my house. 

RE:

BOFA sells a fume extractor that recycles the exhaust through the enclosure, which should greatly minimize temperature fluctuations within the printer enclosure.

https://bofainternational.com/us/find-products/extraction-systems/results/3dprintpro-3/

RE: XL full enclosure

I'm not saying that a commercial-grade fume extractor won't work. But I am saying that a $5 dryer hose, $2 of plastic, and a $15 (fancy) PC fan work really well for ensuring I don't end up with lung cancer.

RE: XL full enclosure

And now that I have looked into that filter specifically, it is just a fancy HEPA filter with activated carbon for almost $1,300. Considering HEPA is good for 0.1 micron particles and 3D printing can produce particles as small as 1 nm (0.001 micron), I'm going to stick by my "don't filter it, exhaust it" mantra. I know that my solution isn't perfect, but it works and it is cheap.

Posted by: @erik-3

I'm not saying that a commercial-grade fume extractor won't work. But I am saying that a $5 dryer hose, $2 of plastic, and a $15 (fancy) PC fan work really well for ensuring I don't end up with lung cancer.

RE: XL full enclosure

To those who say they want a special filter, they don't work.

For a carbon filter to work it needs to be changed regularly (sometimes weekly or even daily), most people assume it's permanent which causes more harm as they let the enclosures "filtered fans" push the fumes outside the enclosure.

Honestly the best solution to the fume issue is to have a well sealed enclosure and vent it after printing. If you print in a large enough area, the fumes will be diluted rather quickly.

If you want a perfect technical solution, I can whip something up, but that would cost a few hundred dollarydoos.

RE:

No offense but I hope that is sarcasm.   Do you have a scientific study to back that up?  I would prefer more than the word of some guy on the forum.  

Posted by: @erik-3

I'm not saying that a commercial-grade fume extractor won't work. But I am saying that a $5 dryer hose, $2 of plastic, and a $15 (fancy) PC fan work really well for ensuring I don't end up with lung cancer.

RE: XL full enclosure

I think this kind of filter is a bit of an overkill for FDM (my humble opinion). I think they serve a better purpose for resin printers and their obnoxious fumes.
For FDM I think something like this is enough:

https://www.alveo3d.com/en/product/alveoone-kit-2/

And to provide a bit more control maybe paired with some control panel like this one:

https://www.alveo3d.com/en/product/v2-controller/

After all, they are the ones being used by Prusa on their MK3-4 enclosure

Posted by: @mikeh-2

BOFA sells a fume extractor that recycles the exhaust through the enclosure, which should greatly minimize temperature fluctuations within the printer enclosure.

https://bofainternational.com/us/find-products/extraction-systems/results/3dprintpro-3/

RE: XL full enclosure

It's fairly obvious that you only need basic airflow to remove the VOCs generated from printing.

The risks for lung cancer from excessive VOC exposure is greater than no exposure, so the assumption it would help prevent lung cancer is accurate.

See below for the recommended scientific study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5686999/

Next time learn to make your own Google searches.

RE:

No offense taken. My health is my own, just as yours is your own concern. I prefer not to take any unnecessary risk. The jury is still out on just how dangerous to your health printing can be, so I err on the side of caution. 

RE: XL full enclosure

It is safe to assume that VOCs from plastic will cause harm, but it might be a leap to assume they will cause cancer.  Either way, we should reduce our exposure.  

Posted by: @drkmstr

It's fairly obvious that you only need basic airflow to remove the VOCs generated from printing.

The risks for lung cancer from excessive VOC exposure is greater than no exposure, so the assumption it would help prevent lung cancer is accurate.

 

See below for the recommended scientific study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5686999/

Next time learn to make your own Google searches.

 

 

 

RE: XL full enclosure

The three-dimensional (3D) printer is the basic office tool widely used around the world. The environmental effect due to 3D printer use is an interesting issue. Yi noted that “laser printers that emit ultrafine particles (UFP) suggest the need to characterize 3D printer emissions to enable reliable risk assessment.”

RE: XL full enclosure

As a scientist and clinician, I agree.  Lowering risk is what you are doing.  We have no conclusive evidence that 3D printing inside the most noxious of plastics will cause any harm, but we assume, based on prior exposures, that it might and is harmful in one way or another.  The problem with many of the studies is that they are based on industrial exposure that included much higher levels of exposure that we will see in our den.  This being said, I have a hepa filtration system on all of my printers that print ABS and most that print PETG.  

I really do not know if a Hepa and Carbon based filter will remove the particles, but it sure does remove the smell and lower my risk of coughing.

Posted by: @erik-3

No offense taken. My health is my own, just as yours is your own concern. I prefer not to take any unnecessary risk. The jury is still out on just how dangerous to your health printing can be, so I err on the side of caution. 

RE: XL full enclosure

I may just be a bit more sensitive to that sort of thing. Even printing PLA gets to me. I can feel it when I breathe. Not to mention the sickly sweet smell gives me a headache. So venting all fumes out a window is a major quality of life improvement for me.

RE: XL full enclosure

You have a similar response to my wife.  I can smell the sweet smell of PLA but it does nto effect me.  ABS makes me cough.  I can't stand it.   

https://www.printables.com/model/16996-airmanagerv2-recirculating-air-filter-for-3d-print

I do not vent them outside, but I could.  At first I just used smell until a Preventive MED physician suggested I used an environmental air qualiy tester.  I now use an air quality detector to test.  I have compared the air with and without the filter and it makes a huge different.  

Is it going to prevent a health condition?  I hope so but only time will tell.  

Posted by: @erik-3

I may just be a bit more sensitive to that sort of thing. Even printing PLA gets to me. I can feel it when I breathe. Not to mention the sickly sweet smell gives me a headache. So venting all fumes out a window is a major quality of life improvement for me.

RE: XL full enclosure

Please read the study folks.

"Hence, the risk for carcinogenesis due to exposure to emitted 3D printers should be 3.44 times higher than simple exposure to urban environmental pollution. The estimated individual life time cancer risk equal to 4.45 × 10−4 or this mean in a life time, there will be 4.45 cancerous cases per 10,000 people exposed to 3D printer. This rate is significantly high and brings attention for further public health concern on the present widely used tool in any office, 3D printer."

Honestly all you need to do is vent the enclosure after printing. However if you really care about all particulate and VOCs, then I would recommend employing HEPA and activated carbon filters (change the carbon filters every 30 days). 

Best of luck!

RE: XL full enclosure

Forgot to add "and also keep an eye out for other sources of particulate and VOCs such as candles, cooking (open flame or vaporized oils), etc."

RE: XL full enclosure

I have read it more time than you and probably under stand the limitations and quality of the study much better.  I have experience in Performing medical research and preventive medicine.  

There is a potential risk and link.  It is not definitive, but worth lowering your risk.  

Posted by: @drkmstr

Please read the study folks.

"Hence, the risk for carcinogenesis due to exposure to emitted 3D printers should be 3.44 times higher than simple exposure to urban environmental pollution. The estimated individual life time cancer risk equal to 4.45 × 10−4 or this mean in a life time, there will be 4.45 cancerous cases per 10,000 people exposed to 3D printer. This rate is significantly high and brings attention for further public health concern on the present widely used tool in any office, 3D printer."

Honestly all you need to do is vent the enclosure after printing. However if you really care about all particulate and VOCs, then I would recommend employing HEPA and activated carbon filters (change the carbon filters every 30 days). 

Best of luck!

RE: XL full enclosure

Posted by: @cwbullet

I have read it more time than you and probably under stand the limitations and quality of the study much better.  I have experience in Performing medical research and preventive medicine.  

There is a potential risk and link.  It is not definitive, but worth lowering your risk.  

Posted by: @drkmstr

Please read the study folks.

"Hence, the risk for carcinogenesis due to exposure to emitted 3D printers should be 3.44 times higher than simple exposure to urban environmental pollution. The estimated individual life time cancer risk equal to 4.45 × 10−4 or this mean in a life time, there will be 4.45 cancerous cases per 10,000 people exposed to 3D printer. This rate is significantly high and brings attention for further public health concern on the present widely used tool in any office, 3D printer."

Honestly all you need to do is vent the enclosure after printing. However if you really care about all particulate and VOCs, then I would recommend employing HEPA and activated carbon filters (change the carbon filters every 30 days). 

Best of luck!

 

It's as if we're disagreeing that we agree. 🤣 

RE: XL full enclosure

We agree more than we disagree.  I think it is important to protect yourself.  I am not certain on 30 day filter replacement.  I use them for 3-6 month and they still reduce VOCs.  Do be honest, they still seem to work when I throw them out.  

Posted by: @drkmstr

 

Posted by: @cwbullet

I have read it more time than you and probably under stand the limitations and quality of the study much better.  I have experience in Performing medical research and preventive medicine.  

There is a potential risk and link.  It is not definitive, but worth lowering your risk.  

Posted by: @drkmstr

Please read the study folks.

"Hence, the risk for carcinogenesis due to exposure to emitted 3D printers should be 3.44 times higher than simple exposure to urban environmental pollution. The estimated individual life time cancer risk equal to 4.45 × 10−4 or this mean in a life time, there will be 4.45 cancerous cases per 10,000 people exposed to 3D printer. This rate is significantly high and brings attention for further public health concern on the present widely used tool in any office, 3D printer."

Honestly all you need to do is vent the enclosure after printing. However if you really care about all particulate and VOCs, then I would recommend employing HEPA and activated carbon filters (change the carbon filters every 30 days). 

Best of luck!

 

It's as if we're disagreeing that we agree. 🤣 

RE: XL full enclosure

I agree.

Posted by: @cwbullet

We agree more than we disagree.  I think it is important to protect yourself.  I am not certain on 30 day filter replacement.  I use them for 3-6 month and they still reduce VOCs.  Do be honest, they still seem to work when I throw them out.  

 

Posted by: @drkmstr

 

Posted by: @cwbullet

I have read it more time than you and probably under stand the limitations and quality of the study much better.  I have experience in Performing medical research and preventive medicine.  

There is a potential risk and link.  It is not definitive, but worth lowering your risk.  

Posted by: @drkmstr

Please read the study folks.

"Hence, the risk for carcinogenesis due to exposure to emitted 3D printers should be 3.44 times higher than simple exposure to urban environmental pollution. The estimated individual life time cancer risk equal to 4.45 × 10−4 or this mean in a life time, there will be 4.45 cancerous cases per 10,000 people exposed to 3D printer. This rate is significantly high and brings attention for further public health concern on the present widely used tool in any office, 3D printer."

Honestly all you need to do is vent the enclosure after printing. However if you really care about all particulate and VOCs, then I would recommend employing HEPA and activated carbon filters (change the carbon filters every 30 days). 

Best of luck!

 

It's as if we're disagreeing that we agree. 🤣