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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 19, 2025

3D Printing - Evaluating Particle Emissions of a 3D Printing Pen
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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.

Journal of Nanoparticle Research : an Interdisciplinary Forum for Nanoscale Science and Technology
|September 23, 2021
PubMed
Summary

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Reducing particulate emissions from 3D printers using low-cost enclosures and engineering controls.

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Aerosol science and technology : the journal of the American Association for Aerosol Research·2023

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:

Keywords:
3D printingAir samplingEngineering controlsExposure assessmentOccupational health effectsPrinter emissions

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  • 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.