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  1. #1
    Staff Engineer
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
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    Unless you know for certain the exit location of the bathroom fan, that option should be rejected. Our bathroom fans exit into the attic, which damages the insulation with moisture. We have them disconnected for that reason. Not good for ventilating a 3D printer either!

    You have a couple of options for constructing a ventilation/filtration system. To prevent localized airflow from compromising the print quality, you'll want to have large volumes of air moving slowly compared to fast moving small volume. This means a large enclosure for the printer, which may not be practical.

    Consider instead that you can build a ducting system to the window similar to the manner you suggest, but the fan should be large, perhaps floor-fan or window-fan sized. A common size in the US is a 20" box fan. You could place the fan with the exhaust aimed to the window, but placed close to the printer. It will "collect" air from around the area of the printer without creating fast moving cooling on your part. On the output side of the fan, plastic sheeting tapering to a box to match the window opening will direct the blown air, compressing it slightly before it exits the window. If you can match the window duct to the fan size or make it larger, all the better.

    Some people will create a box on the exit of the fan, and build filters into the walls of the box. Carbon filters (expensive) are pretty effective in removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) if the filter is so marked on the packaging.

    Some people will also create an enclosure, either exhausting to the window or to a filter box, but keep the air flow to a lower figure, in order to prevent the inappropriate cooling of the printed part.

  2. #2
    Thanks for your expert opinion. Although the 3D printer dealer suggested making a hole at the back of the case and put a fan inside, the manufacturer mentioned that doing so will void the warranty and as you mentioned, it could affect the print quality.

    As I live in a condo, making a hole in the window is also out of option. The most I can do is to just put the opening of the aluminum duct to face the window. For a large printer such as the Raise 3D+, is there another way? Perhaps have some kind of filter put inside the machine perhaps below the filament area or on the big plastic cover on top?

    How effective it is if I get a large bag of Carbon filter and use it to cover the entire printer? Not sure how effective such "passive?" method is. Note that there are four fans in this printer. Two at the extruders, one at the bottom of the machine and one at the side or back. If the Carbon filter bag is long enough to touch the floor, not sure if it would affect the circulation and cause damage to the printer. However, if I cover the printer up to the top of the casters, those nano particles could move around the apartment.
    Last edited by new3dprintinguser; 02-02-2018 at 09:12 PM.

  3. #3
    Staff Engineer Roberts_Clif's Avatar
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    How about a window vented AC Duct

    https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDet...735401/2754508

    Remember you have a 3D Printer 3D Print your own, wanted to give you an Ideal.

    I went with a thru the wall with a bathroom vent without a filter, was thinking about using 65mm gas mask filters and recirculating the air.
    I however live is a very dusty prairie environment and finally decided on the aforementioned Bathroom fan vent.

    Placed both 3D Printers inside a negative air pressure case. Negative air pressure environmental chambers can allow the chamber to be partially open, allowing for outside air to be drawn in and not allow the inside air to escape thru the opening. We only need a little negative air so don't run the fan full speed only enough to move air outside. I Use this manner you can vent the chamber air to the outside thru a window vent as shown above. If you want you could vent this thru a hepa filter of any vacuum cleaner. I even thought a filtering thru a 65mm gas mask filter back into the chamber.
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    Last edited by Roberts_Clif; 02-03-2018 at 07:16 AM.

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