Using 3D printers indoors?

[HobbitFertang]

Hi Folks, 3D ignoramus here. Are 3D printers (e.g. Creality K1C) useable indoors, or do they smell and make lots of noise??

 

[PhilP]

Hi Folks, 3D ignoramus here. Are 3D printers (e.g. Creality K1C) useable indoors, or do they smell and make lots of noise??

Resin can be a little smelly, so you wouldn't want one in the kitchen or dining area..

You can make quite a mess with resin.. Which may be a consideration?

PhilP.

 

[HobbitFertang]

Resin can be a little smelly, so you wouldn't want one in the kitchen or dining area..

You can make quite a mess with resin.. Which may be a consideration?

PhilP.

So do the different mediums available vary regarding smell?

 

[PhilP]

So do the different mediums available vary regarding smell?

Yes, but I will defer to those with more experience..

You also need to be aware of dermatological effects of resin, and sloshing IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) about..

PhilP.

 

[DickyC]

Agree with Phil,

The resin printers are a very different beast to filament printers and you need a separate tank to the "toxics" in the printer to cure the resign once created (WASHING) , some do it with UV lights. If your using only a small printer you should be ok with working in a small area but make sure it its well ventilated. Gloves are need to be used im told and many people claim of a smell, even when curing ! this vid is good info on this.

, Cant comment on noise of Resin printers.

When i got my snapmaker (multi tool with Filament 3d) I paid extra for safety cage with fans and lights and all the bizz , It was huge and awkward and It was a pain to be honest so It was sold on ebay very soon after ! If using standard PLA filament you wont notice much smell on smaller projects but PLA is "brittle" so i dont use it anymore. I personally use hybrid ABS, this material does smell a little but I tend to print overnight in my work cabin and ventilate it well but never noticed any problems and its not unusual to have 4-8 hour print times. Noise on the 3d printer negligible

There are more harmful "fumes" from the MEK, glues and a plastic heater cutter i use, but then again 20 years of breathing in plastic fumes with my job my nose and lungs are fried now anyway !

 

[dunnyrail]

Hm making me double think about delving into 3d printing now. Probably would not have taken much to deter me! Happy with my lathe, milling machine, vertical drill and soldering iron oh plus yes I can do silver soldering.

 

[AlanL]

Hi Folks, 3D ignoramus here. Are 3D printers (e.g. Creality K1C) useable indoors, or do they smell and make lots of noise??

The printer that you quote is a filament printer and seems like a very good one too. Resin printers are totally different animals!

I use a filament printer in my spare bedroom and was wary of fumes while using the reportably smelly ABS filaments. When I first used ABS I had the windows fully open and the door closed. But the ABS filament that I use has no smell at all. This may vary with brand?

Having it indoors is probably a better enviroment because the filaments absorb moisture.

The more common filament, PLA has no fumes.

Anyone considering a 3D filament printer, don't hesitate. I've 3D printed far more items (not just for the railway) than I could have envisaged when I was considering buying one.

Alan

 

[GAP]

I have 2 printers in my hobby room and use mostly PLA+ filament there is no smell I also use PETG filament again no smell.
If you are worried about fumes use a fan on low speed to move the air around or open a window.

 

[ge_rik]

I have two filament printers and a resin printer in my workshop and haven't detected any fumes, but do keep it ventilated (ie I open a window).
My friend has a filament printer in his study which is next door to his kitchen. No complaints from either him or his wife.

Rik

 

[Paul M]

If something is heated, as in 3D printing, there must be some fumes, even if you can't smell them, so be very careful and have some sort of ventilation. My daughter has hers in our downstairs utility room/toilet and has the fan running whilst in use