Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
Hi guys,
I'm using my printers in my "geek cave" where I also do remote work when I'm offsite, and printing ABS in this condition is not the best regarding the potential ABS particules.
There are a lot of ideas here to make nice and shiny enclosures, but what are the options to filter the fumes from ABS you are aware of ? Are these options really efficient ?
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
I too really want to add this to my enclosure. Mine are in my office and would rather not have the window kept open come the winter.
I also do not want to be drilling holes in the wall or through my double glazed window to fit a vent. From what I have read the carbon filters can be very effective. I am not sure if it catches the particles or masks them.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
Just found an interesting make on thingiverse, based on a standard vacuum HEPA filter. A simple fan seems to be undersized in this case, and a powerful bilge pump is then needed:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7152
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
A pump? Yikes. Wouldn't a fan capable of delivering high static pressure suffice?
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
A pump? Yikes. Wouldn't a fan capable of delivering high static pressure suffice?
I don't know, it's what the maker of this is relating.
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
From what I have read a HEPA filter alone is not enough, you need a carbon filter too.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
A pump? Yikes. Wouldn't a fan capable of delivering high static pressure suffice?
A HEPA Filter often needs a much higher cfm (cubic feet per minute) to force the air through it and you need to know what the one you use is rated at. The best PC style fans max out around the 250cfm point and while some HEPA filters will work from about 150cfm upwards others need 3000cfm!
Activated carbon filters are good for things like ABS, PET, Nylon etc, but they really only remove the odors not the toxic particulates...
The perfect system has both HEPA and an Activated Carbon Filter. Have a look at this page about a commercially available 3D Printer filtered enclosure: http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2015/3/1/finally-a-3d-printer-filter-accessory . It uses a Carbon Filter AND a HEPA filter with air flow provided by two 120mm blower fans (larger versions of the print fan blower on the Prusa i3). Have a look at the PDF Datasheets on site: http://www.cfpdirect.co.uk/products/hepa-filters/ . The U class HEPA filters that are needed for 3D Printers require from 150m3/h to 1800m3/h air flow.
Most of the enclosure extractors that you see online are purely air movers, with no filtering or the filtering they have is not actually good enough to remove the toxic particles.
There's no reason you couldn't build your own version of the one on http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2015/3/1/finally-a-3d-printer-filter-accessory as the parts are fairly easy to source and the case could be made out of traditional materials or 3D printed. It recirculates the air within the enclosure so no messy pipes or inconvenient holes in the wall!
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
A pump? Yikes. Wouldn't a fan capable of delivering high static pressure suffice?
A HEPA Filter often needs a much higher cfm (cubic feet per minute) to force the air through it and you need to know what the one you use is rated at. The best PC style fans max out around the 250cfm point and while some HEPA filters will work from about 150cfm upwards others need 3000cfm!
Activated carbon filters are good for things like ABS, PET, Nylon etc, but they really only remove the odors not the toxic particulates...
The perfect system has both HEPA and an Activated Carbon Filter. Have a look at this page about a commercially available 3D Printer filtered enclosure: http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2015/3/1/finally-a-3d-printer-filter-accessory . It uses a Carbon Filter AND a HEPA filter with air flow provided by two 120mm blower fans (larger versions of the print fan blower on the Prusa i3). Have a look at the PDF Datasheets on site: http://www.cfpdirect.co.uk/products/hepa-filters/ . The U class HEPA filters that are needed for 3D Printers require from 150m3/h to 1800m3/h air flow.
Most of the enclosure extractors that you see online are purely air movers, with no filtering or the filtering they have is not actually good enough to remove the toxic particles.
There's no reason you couldn't build your own version of the one on http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2015/3/1/finally-a-3d-printer-filter-accessory as the parts are fairly easy to source and the case could be made out of traditional materials or 3D printed. It recirculates the air within the enclosure so no messy pipes or inconvenient holes in the wall!
Do filters really 'require' a minimum amount of flow to work?
From reading around a bit, I am under the impression that they filter better at lower air flow rates than at higher rates.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
Have a look at this DIY solution for around about ~ $500:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-laser-cutter-fume-extractor/
For around $200, this look good:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?143725-DIY-air-filtration-unit-for-lt-200
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
These look reasonable:
http://www.htgsupply.com/categories/ventilation-odor-control/carbon-filter-fans-combo-systems
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
Would an ioniser help?
Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
I decided to build my own and use a high-end vacuum filter cartridge and the 2 spare impeller fans (same as the fan that blows at the extruded filament) that I have lying around.
Have not built it jet, but bought the parts.
The filter I will use is a combined HEPA + carbon filter.
http://www.godfreys.com.au/sauber-si200-hepa13-carbon-filter-1
It cost AU$30.-
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
My plan is to put a clothes dryer vent through the wall, attach a fan directly the vent, and run dryer vent hose to the enclosure. seal the enclosure pretty well but not perfectly and run the fan whenever printing, it should work pretty well I think.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
There seems to be several options, some seems a bit overkill, some seems questionable regarding efficiency.
To be able to tinker or adjust any implementation, I am wondering what could be the affordable way to measure particles in the air ? Using just our nose will be mostly judgement by techno-placebo effect, certainly not the best way :/
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
There seems to be several options, some seems a bit overkill, some seems questionable regarding efficiency.
To be able to tinker or adjust any implementation, I am wondering what could be the affordable way to measure particles in the air ? Using just our nose will be mostly judgement by techno-placebo effect, certainly not the best way :/
Note to my schizophrenic self: watch this: http://www.howmuchsnow.com/arduino/airquality/ and http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-measure-particulate-air-pollution-and-share/
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
I wish i could vent the fumes to the outside but its not gonna happen in my rental apartment.
I'm planning to make an IKEA box out of 2 BESTA pieces. Make it almost airtight, put the PSU outside of the box, place a fan to the Rambo and watch the temperatures. At the end of the print I'm gonna vent it with a hose to the outside through an opened window via a fan.
I know that the steppers can endure a temperature of 40-50C.
What do you guys think, will an almost airtight wooden box heat up more than 50C without inlet or exhaust?
I'm still planning all of this since my MK2 is on backorder.
I don't think it will be important for PLA since the fumes are not dangerous and i will just open the front to vent while printing.
But it will become important for ABS (smell, toxicity of fumes maybe?)
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
What I'm thinking about is to make a ventilation with two possible output, external for PLA printing, and internal for recycling for ABS printing, with a kind of big valve that can be reoriented.
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
What I'm thinking about is to make a ventilation with two possible output, external for PLA printing, and internal for recycling for ABS printing, with a kind of big valve that can be reoriented.
Maybe this would be something? https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1013616
Perhaps combine it with a good 140mm fan.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
I've got my filter running now.
PLA printed enclosure for a vacuum cleaner HEPA+Carbon filter, with 2 of those fans used to cool the extruded filament to push air through the filter.
12V power supplied by the additional outlet under the black (printed) cover around the power supply.
Re: Filtering ABS fumes options for enclosure ?
The OpenScad code for the box:
$fn=35;
// Lid
// Baffles to push filter down
translate([25.6,0.1,118])
rotate([0,0,45])
cube([4,36,6]);
translate([121,141.5,118])
rotate([0,0,45])
cube([4,36,6]);
translate([28.5,167,118])
rotate([0,0,135])
cube([4,36,6]);
translate([123.9,25.6,118])
rotate([0,0,135])
cube([4,36,6]);
difference(){
union(){
translate([-2,-2,127])
cube([128,174,6]);
// inner thicker part
translate([0,0,124])
cube([124,170,3]);
}
// screw holes
translate([2,2,-5])
cylinder(r=2, h=140);
translate([2,168,-5])
cylinder(r=2,h=140);
translate([122,2,-5])
cylinder(r=2,h=140);
translate([122,168,-5])
cylinder(r=2,h=140);
// larger holes to remove corners of inner lid
translate([2,2,124])
cylinder(r=5, h=3);
translate([2,168,124])
cylinder(r=5,h=3);
translate([122,2,124])
cylinder(r=5,h=3);
translate([122,168,124])
cylinder(r=5,h=3);
union(){
// Screw holes for lid
color ("red"){
translate([22.5,154.1,50])
cylinder (r=1.5, h=200);
translate([46.98,104.6,50])
cylinder (r=1.5, h=200);
translate([65.2,115.6,50])
cylinder (r=1.5, h=200);
translate([101.53,15.9,50])
cylinder (r=1.5, h=200);
translate([77.03,65.4,50])
cylinder (r=1.5, h=200);
translate([58.77,54.4,50])
cylinder (r=1.5, h=200);
// Cutout for baffle
translate([107.025,60.4,127])
cube([3,5,6]);
translate([13.98,104.6,127])
cube([3,5,6]);
// Holes for air inlets
translate([82.1,61,120])
cube([24,7.78,16]);
translate([18,101.5,120])
cube([24,7.78,16]);
}
}
}
// Box
//to make screw holes
difference(){
union(){
// screw cylinders
translate([2,2,0])
cylinder(r=4,h=26);
translate([2,168,0])
cylinder(r=4,h=26);
translate([122,2,0])
cylinder(r=4,h=26);
translate([122,168,0])
cylinder(r=4,h=26);
// box
difference(){
// outer box
translate([-2,-2,-4])
cube([128,174,30]);
// hollow inner box
cube([124,170,30]);
// cutout in bottom plate
translate ([5,14.5,-10])
cube([114,141,34]);
}}
// screw holes
translate([2,2,-5])
cylinder(r=2, h=40);
translate([2,168,-5])
cylinder(r=2,h=40);
translate([122,2,-5])
cylinder(r=2,h=40);
translate([122,168,-5])
cylinder(r=2,h=40);
}