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3D Printing - Evaluating Particle Emissions of a 3D Printing Pen
Published on: October 9, 2020
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Reducing ultrafine particulate emission from multiple 3D printers in an office environment using a prototype
Kevin L Dunn1, Duane Hammond1, Kevin Menchaca1
1National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Avenue MS R5, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA.
Summary
Ultrafine particle emissions from 3D printing were measured. A novel engineering control significantly reduced particle concentrations by 98%, making 3D printing environments safer.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing
- Aerosol Science
Background:
- 3D printing processes, particularly fused deposition modeling (FDM), are known to emit ultrafine particles (UFPs).
- Elevated concentrations of UFPs pose potential health risks in indoor environments.
- Characterization of emissions from various filaments and printers is crucial for understanding exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize airborne particle and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from different 3D printer and filament combinations.
- To assess the effectiveness of a novel engineering control for capturing emissions at the extruder head.
- To evaluate the impact of the control on UFP concentrations in both single-printer and multi-printer environments.
Main Methods:
- Emission rates and particle characteristics (geometric mean diameter) were measured for multiple FDM printers and filaments within a test chamber.
- A custom-designed engineering control was installed at the extruder head of a MakerBot Replicator+ printer.
- Particle concentrations were measured with and without the control in a single-printer setup and a simulated makerspace with 20 printers.
Main Results:
- Emission rates varied significantly across printer and filament types, ranging from 0.71 × 107 to 1400 × 107 particles/min.
- The engineering control demonstrated a 98% reduction in UFP concentrations when tested with an individual 3D printer.
- In a simulated makerspace, the control maintained particle counts below background levels (< 1000 particles/cm3), compared to exceeding 20,000 particles/cm3 without controls.
Conclusions:
- 3D printing with FDM technology releases significant amounts of UFPs, with variations depending on the printer and filament used.
- A low-cost, extruder-mounted engineering control is highly effective in mitigating UFP emissions from 3D printers.
- Implementing such controls can substantially improve air quality and reduce potential health risks in environments with active 3D printing operations.
