Air Filtering system

[paradiddle65]

If you've used ABS material before you'll know it gives off a bad smell that can make you noxious if inhaled. I have my printer in a very small room so the concentration of the fumes is very exaggerated. After going in and out of the room for several hours while printing, I did feel a little sick.


I can enclose the printer to contain the fumes, but I don't think that will be enough. So I wanted to pose a question to the 3DPB reprap community:

Has anyone implemented an air filtration systems into their reprap? What other methods have you used to avoid breathing ABS fumes? Is an airtight enclosure good enough?


thanks,

-Brian

[3dkarma]

Box, MDF on three sides and the top, acrilic on the front. HEPA vacuum particulate filter (Dyson DC01 - nice and cheap) with a 12v bilge blower fan (cheap and strong) sucking the air out. front acrylic panel is slanted to give a better view.

[paradiddle65]

Box, MDF on three sides and the top, acrilic on the front. HEPA vacuum particulate filter (Dyson DC01 - nice and cheap) with a 12v bilge blower fan (cheap and strong) sucking the air out. front acrylic panel is slanted to give a better view.

Seems like a pretty good setup!

Do you have issues with warping ABS? It would seem like the blower fan would suck out the heat from inside the enclosure as well.

[3dkarma]

The fan is on a speed controller. I keep it to the bare minimum to get some kind of suction while keeping drafts down.

[CaptainObvious]

I wonder if a container with activated charcoal inside the enclosure (or with the airflow from a fan) would absorb the fumes?

[3dkarma]

The charcoal won't attract the fumes to it - you have to have airflow through the filter.

[paradiddle65]

I wonder if a container with activated charcoal inside the enclosure (or with the airflow from a fan) would absorb the fumes?

Good idea! After you mentioned that I looked around other forums. People have built custom filters with loose granular activated carbon. Looks like its easy enough and worth a try. Plus a small fan can pull the fumes through the filter and create a small vacuum in the enclosure at the same time...