Printable View
I have PowerSpec Ultra 3D printer at home. Two teachers want to buy a good 3D printer for schools. I think that the 3D printer for schools should be enclosed. One teacher has woodworking shop in the basement at the program for mentally handicapped people. Any suggestions for best 3D printer for schools? I think they want to spend $2,500.00 or less on the printer and supplies.
Yes! FDM printers need to be enclosed !!
Research is showing that as the plastic comes out of the extruder, there is a fine mist of plastic particles expelled into the air. An enclosure will contain this. I would also FILTER the air in the enclosure of the printer too once printing is done.
Also, an enclosure will keep the air hot around the print job substantially reducing the likelihood of the print disconnecting from the base plate. This will increase the success rate of your print jobs.
Even if the 3D printer is enclosed, I'm worried about woodworking dust going into any openings in the enclosure like the "T" shaped opening for filament tubes and wires in the top cover of my printer. Also, spools of filaments are usually exposed.
I'd suggest a Printrbot Play. It's inexpensive so you can buy a few of them, and students don't really need a large build area since they'll want their prints to not take too long.
https://printrbot.com/shop/assembled-printrbot-play/
PLA is non toxic so don't worry about enclosing it. The power tools in the wood working shop are a hell of a lot more dangerous than getting burnt on a hot end.
Nobody knows if 3d printed pla is non-toxic or not.
It's all down to long term exposure and currently there are no figures.
So far all the published studies have come down as ALL 3d printed materials not being entirely safe on a long term basis.
That said - for any length print most people aren't near the machines all the time.
But you can't categorically say they are 100% safe.
Printer wise, if you've got that kind of money the I'd go for something larger and better than a small printrbot.
And i certainly would not keep it in an active wood shop.
Bad enough seeing what happens to computers in such places, I'd hate to see the kind of crap that would build up on the motors, pulleys and screws somewhere like that.
But should be easy to build a perspex cage to keep them in and keep the dust out.
I agree that it's always better to have 2 or more. If going for a printrbot - and there's no reason why not, then go for the top of the range plus.
Build volume is fairly important and any large prints can be run over night.
That would leave you enough for a couple of wanhao duplicator 2.1 i3's as well and enough money to stock up on filament.
Or get a replicator clone for any dual prints. You could afford a creator pro and the printrbot plus.
I certainly wouldn't worry about enclosures, but then you might have to if it's a school, all those daft H&S regulations. One worth looking at is the cel robox. It's fully enclosed, has some very cool features and is fully certified for use in schools.
http://www.cel-robox.com/
And I think they're bringing out extra tool heads in the near futire as well. So has potential to be used as a laser engraver and maybe some small cnc stuff.
PLA is made from vegetable sugars is it not. Probably as toxic as breathing in wood dust. Polycarbonate I hear is quite toxic though, among other kinds of filament
take a look at the davinci 1.0 or any davinci models. its cheap and enclosed:
http://www.amazon.com/XYZprinting-Vi...SIN=B00SO6O6TI
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffmorris
It's the undisclosed additives to improve printing performance that are the issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by KallenX
And some wood dust is extremely toxic. Something you learn when you do wood turning.
The Up Box has is enclosed and has a built in air filter specifically to reduce air pollution.
Hi guy, You can see Cubicon printer, This is 3D Desktop Printer to suit with school/ office/ small workshop.
First in Korea to Mount Clean Filters : your Health is Also in Our Interest.
HEPA Filter : H13 HEPA class, removes at least 99.97% of airborne
particles 0.3 μm in diameter
Deodorizing filter : filters harmful gases
Purafil catalyst : filters organic compounds generated from copy printers
http://3d-smartsolutions.com/san-pham/may-in-3d/
Cubicon is the best 3D printer for schools. No tonxic
but importing stuff from korea - is going to make it a lot more expensive.
The Up Box has is enclosed and has a built in air filter specifically to reduce air pollution.
The CELRobox looks good, it would be my second choice after the Ultimaker Original.
I can guarantee that it is engineered well (made in Holland) and needs only minor replacements/maintenance.
It has a great build volume and relatively small footprint. Being made of wood it will fit nicely in a woodworking shop as well.
I would not worry about the PLA particles, the fumes contain very little toxic ingredients especially when compared to 3D printing ABS.
It is fully biologically degradable and the smell is pleasant. So far IMO nothing has beaten the Ultimaker for generic 3D printing purposes.
If you're worried about respiratory's safety, you're just paranoid.
You will unlikely work 24/7, especially in school environment, most of them are still noisy and will distract the people. But then, with insecticide found in fruits, smog in city, orther nasty crap found in water; the people should be worrying what's more relevent.
Just because you can eat something does not mean you can breath it. For example, rice hull fiber is GRAS (generally recognized as safe) according to the FDA. However, I suggest you not breath it. Water, critical for life as we know it. I, again, suggest you not attempt to breath it.Quote:
Originally Posted by KallenX
Toxicity and breathability are completely dissimilar aspects of something and not necessarily mutually inclusive of each other.
Also, just because something is made from something else that isn't toxic does not infer that the resulting product is also not toxic.
I agree with everyone here that enclosed is probably best for a 3D Printer in school. There are quite a few options for this. Here are a few I would recommend.
AIO Robotics Zeus
https://www.3dprinteruniverse.com/co...eus-3d-printer
Zortrax M200
https://www.3dprinteruniverse.com/co...200-3d-printer
Flashforge series
https://www.3dprinteruniverse.com/co...s?q=Flashforge
And lastly, even though it is not enclosed it is easy to use and quite cheap allowing you to get multiple printers
M3D The Micro
https://www.3dprinteruniverse.com/co...cro-3d-printer
Here is a 5% off coupon for any 3D Printer as well. Use code ZAKI7ZKFSB7Q
Let me know if there is anything else you may be interested in and I'll see if I can get you a discount.
You don't need to buy a printer that has its own enclosure. Most printers can be enclosed by construction of a suitable enclosure to surround it, commonly out of plexiglass or polycarbonate. If your school has a wood shop, well, there ya go. They can build you an enclosure quite cheaply.
I would also recommend an enclosed 3D printer if you don't want to build your own enclosure. But yeah in a school where safety is important its nice if its enclosed because the printers do have hot working parts which could be a safety issue. For schools you also don't really have to spend so much on one 3D printer, I would say just buy a couple of cheaper FDM printers so more people can use them and you'll get more out of your money.
For schools i would say get a couple of Qidi tech dual extruder 3D printer.Its enclosed,one of the top sold 3d printers and is a dual extruder 3d printer which lets you print with 2 different color materials at the same time making it a bit more colorful. If you have any problems the company has excellent costumer service which is very helpful.
Here is a review of the printer if your interested http://3duality.com/top-color-3d-printers-under-1000/
I would suggest go for Createbot Supermini seen at prices low as $273
Check out the Zortrax M200
Jeff, just sent you a PM.
AXIOM 3D Printer is a good 3D Printer for schools. Because it is easy to use, maintain and set up. We have 3D Printers here, which can be use for education.