Advanced filtration system - fan speed  

RE: Advanced filtration system - fan speed

Hello! I agree with you, it was surprisingly loud.

In theory I suppose you could make it run slower by lowering the voltage given to it somehow, but that's going to require some sort of extra purchased hardware and some know-how.

That being said, I actually think the fan has to be that loud. It's the same with all air filter units that push/pull air through serious filters (more serious than just simple dust filters). The reason is because the filters are very tight and packed with filtration-stuff, so the air needs to have high pressure in order to be able to be forced through the filter. And in order to achieve that, you need to have a strong fan that's in turn noisy.

I'm not a filter engineer, but I believe this to be true.

My work-around for this problem has been to try and air-tight the enclosure as best I can by plugging up all the small holes and gaps. That way, most of the fumes get trapped inside the enclosure. Then, if I print with a non-hazardous material, I only turn on the fan towards the last 10 minutes of the print (or leave the fan running for like 10 mins after the print is done) in order to filter out all the air before opening the enclosure.

Important note: I consider normal PLA and PETG to be non-hazardous, and I consider ASA to be hazardous. But you'll have to take your own responsibility for that! I actually even have an air quality measuring device right next to my enclosure that I use to monitor the air.

RE: Advanced filtration system - fan speed

Hello,
yes, your explanations sound logical, presumably a high throughput / high pressure is required to ensure good filtration.
I only print with PLA/PLA+ and PETG, but the resulting odor bothers me a lot. With the filter, there is no longer any smell, which is great 👍 .
Perhaps a large fan - with the same air flow - would be quieter?

RE: Advanced filtration system - fan speed

Posted by: @lkwjoe

I only print with PLA/PLA+ and PETG, but the resulting odor bothers me a lot. With the filter, there is no longer any smell, which is great 👍 .
Perhaps a large fan - with the same air flow - would be quieter?

I think that the backplate for the enclosure (at least in the MK4 version) has some cutouts pre-made in case you want to place an exhaust fan there. I've been seriously considering placing a fan there that pulls air out of the enclosure, and leading that air out to one of my small ventilation outlets I have on my windows. If I were to do that, the exhaust fan would only have to be spinning very slowly and would probably be inaudible compared to the rest of the 3D printer. 

(I haven't done it though since my 3D printer is on the opposite side of the room as the window ventilation, but it should in theory work.)

I don't know if it's possible to somehow mod a larger fan onto the same air filter. You're basically saying "achieve the same volumetric flow of air being pushed through the filter by having larger blades with a lower blade speed". Yes, but I don't know if "same volumetric flow = same pressure". Maybe. If your 3D printer is close to a ventilation outlet, I think that's the easier solution though.