Filtration option -- will it work well?
There are updated photos of the "Advanced Filtration" option for the Core One now. The module will sit outside of the main chamber, mounted to the back panel over the regular chamber fan outlets. So it looks like it is not a recirculating filter.
How well do you expect this to work? The filaments with nasty emissions are also the ones which need the heated chamber, i.e. no (or minimal) airflow through that fan outlet. So how effective can the filtration be if there is little airflow through the fan and filter?
I assume it will be a compromise: Let the extra fan in the filtration module push a little air, accepting some reduction in the maximum chamber temperature that can be reached. To print PLA and PETG, maybe it will be necessary to remove the filtration module to restore full airflow. (No tools required, the filter module is just slid over four screws using "keyhole" slots.)
Is this an approach that has been used in other Prusa printers before? Does it work well?
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
Check out the release notes of firmware 6.3.1 for description how it works. Usually you will set it to start filtration after printing. And it will filter out the air while you wait for print to cool down.
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
Check out the release notes of firmware 6.3.1 for description how it works. Usually you will set it to start filtration after printing. And it will filter out the air while you wait for print to cool down.
Thanks, it had not occurred to me to check the firmware notes for documentation. Also took a look at the actual menus now.
In my understanding, you will typically have some filtration and air flow during the print, and you can optionally enable filtration for X minutes after the print -- possibly at a higher fan power, which can be set separately. I think you will need a bit of fan action during the print to avoid emissions through the various slits in the frame.
What I don't understand is why a separate fan is required at all for the filtration. It is probably optimized for pushing air against the higher resistance of the HEPA filter, while the built-in chamber fans are not good at that. But not a lot of airflow will be needed, so I would expect that the standard fans can provide that, maybe creating a bit more noise than the dedicated fan? Prusa has kindly prepared the firmware for that scenario as well, called "DIY filtration".
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
I have two self made filters that I use and one made for a "grow" tent. I use the first two for filament printers and the other for resin. Both work very well at reducing odor and according to my monitors, improve air quality.
There are updated photos of the "Advanced Filtration" option for the Core One now. The module will sit outside of the main chamber, mounted to the back panel over the regular chamber fan outlets. So it looks like it is not a recirculating filter.
How well do you expect this to work? The filaments with nasty emissions are also the ones which need the heated chamber, i.e. no (or minimal) airflow through that fan outlet. So how effective can the filtration be if there is little airflow through the fan and filter?
I assume it will be a compromise: Let the extra fan in the filtration module push a little air, accepting some reduction in the maximum chamber temperature that can be reached. To print PLA and PETG, maybe it will be necessary to remove the filtration module to restore full airflow. (No tools required, the filter module is just slid over four screws using "keyhole" slots.)
Is this an approach that has been used in other Prusa printers before? Does it work well?
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
I have two self made filters that I use and one made for a "grow" tent. I use the first two for filament printers and the other for resin. Both work very well at reducing odor and according to my monitors, improve air quality.
Thanks! As long as you can set a decent flow rate through the filter, I would trust the filtration to have an impact. But do you also use them in combination with a heated chamber? Can you find a good balance between not cooling the chamber down too much, but still having enough airflow through the filter to ensure that polluted air leaves the chamber through the filter and not through gaps in the enclosure?
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
What I don't understand is why a separate fan is required at all for the filtration. It is probably optimized for pushing air against the higher resistance of the HEPA filter, while the built-in chamber fans are not good at that. But not a lot of airflow will be needed, so I would expect that the standard fans can provide that, maybe creating a bit more noise than the dedicated fan? Prusa has kindly prepared the firmware for that scenario as well, called "DIY filtration".
The filtration fan is outside, it's not pushing air into the filter but pulling it out. I guess that chamber fans have high airflow but not enough static pressure for moving air trough the filter. So another fan with high static pressure is needed.
RE:
This is a letdown. I ordered it but will likely be redesigning it to recirculate the air. I prefer recirculating because it helps the temperature inside the enclosure to be more uniform. Plus you can't tell me on a really long print that particles won't leak out if the fan only runs at the completion of the print.... I guess we'll see.
I have a recirculating design on all of my other printers and am happy with their performance.
I'm envisioning utilizing the space on the side panels to pull air and recirculate back into the enclosure at the bottom so not too blow directly on the print.
Another issue is that it appears that the filter itself is different than the filter on the other printers, which stinks. I may end up redesigning to use the existing filter as well.
I'm just surprised that more thought was not put into the Filtration when the printer design was being created.
If my thoughts end up being wrong I'll gladly recant my disapproval, but we'll see when I actually receive it.
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
I built my own filtration system similar to this one. https://www.3djake.at/alveo3d/kit-fuer-bambu-lab
I bought the fan and the filter, the other parts I printed.
The tube where the air flows back into the housing is my own design.
It´s mounted on the side and powered by the prusa power supply, but it runs with about 18V using a step down converter.
As you can see I replaced the side window, because I did not want to cut out the original one.
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
I built my own filtration system similar to this one. https://www.3djake.at/alveo3d/kit-fuer-bambu-lab
I bought the fan and the filter, the other parts I printed.
The tube where the air flows back into the housing is my own design.
It´s mounted on the side and powered by the prusa power supply, but it runs with about 18V using a step down converter.
As you can see I replaced the side window, because I did not want to cut out the original one.
Nice work. This is similar to what I did on my xl and was similar to what I was thinking for the core one, except at the bottom. However along the top like that looks like a good option as well. I could easily get a piece of lexan CNC machined at work. What thickness are the panels?
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
I'll add that another concern is that it appears that it'll run differently than in the past with the firmware. It looks like it essentially will work in the same way as the ventilation fans do now, assuming it only comes on if the temp is too high. That doesn't seem like active filtration, more like passive.
That's not necessarily how I'd like it to work, but I guess I'll hold judgement until I see how it actually works.
RE: Filtration option -- will it work well?
That looks great.
The side panel is about 2mm thick.
I mounted a switch, which is not visible on the picture, so I turn it on manually when necessary.
The step down converter reduces the noise and now with 18V it´s still blowing quite strong.
Maybe on the weekend I will fo my first ABS print on the core one and I will see how it works.