1 Topic by Deella

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Topic: ABS Fumes

First I would like to thank everyone that helped me get my printer up and running.  It's definitely been an out of the box 'experience' but I'm now burning up ABS and making a bunch of terrible looking prints like there is no tomorrow - I'm seriously excited here!

My question now is about ABS fumes, I've seen some teasers that the fumes may be a (little?) toxic.  In other forums I seen some articles about about this but nothing that seems to raise it an issue.  My SD2 is set up in a family room, it is reasonably well ventilated, although now that it's winter the house is closed up more.  Since I'm still learning and still have some problems with sticking I often sit by the printer while it's running to keep an eye on it.  Any thoughts or pointers to posts that I may have missed on this subject would we appreciated. 

I don't know if this is an issue, but don't have the cover on the printer, I did for a while but found it made access too hard and it looks like the case rubs against one of the guide rods, so for now I have removed it, concentrating on print quality not looks.

deella

2 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: ABS Fumes

I haven't seen anything that really suggests that ABS fumes are harmful other than if something is synthetic and smells bad, it must be toxic.  If it bothers you, you can make an acrylic case (which will help print quality) and set up and fan and filter for it.  Here's mine - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:34754

3 Reply by rickk

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Re: ABS Fumes

I spent a fair amount of time looking this topic up, and did not come to any solid conclusions.
Some people complain of head aches using ABS - in my book that means it can't be great for you.  I don't know if that translates into toxic, or simply an irritant.
I gave up trying to decide and now I run exclusively PLA.  It has a very faint smell (even when it smokes) and is not nasty smelling like ABS.  This keeps my family happy.  I have not had any issues printing with it, or the parts produced.

If I was living alone - I would be printing ABS (as it seems more durable and can be used in more applications).  I have done (and continue to do) plenty of things that are slightly toxic - like spray painting, grinding things, soldering, etc. so printing with ABS would just be another one of those activities.

If you decide to switch to PLA - do some research on the differences.  Lower melting temp (can't make things that get near heat), less flexible, different printing settings, etc.  Also - I have seen people complain of clogging if you switch between ABS and PLA a lot, I guess they are not real compatible with each other.

4 Reply by cckens

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Re: ABS Fumes

I have a large living room that I print it.  I use ABS and I don't usually smell anything until I pop the sides off the printer to remove the print.

Fumes in a small area would have me concerned but where I print is near a door and a breezeway in the house.  So long as I air the room out after the print (so far I haven't printed anything that went longer than 2 hours), I don't even notice the smell.  I have a wife, 2 kids and an infant.  No problems with them so far.

That being said, an enclosed case is definitely worth working toward.

I bought 4 sheets of 11x14 acrylic from home depot ($16), a small roll of weather stripping ($2) and a set of Neodyn magnets 3/8in ($14 from magcraft).  This allowed me to seal off the case using the magnets and remove it just as easy.  To make it a no-brainer, I created and printed a set of brackets to hold the magnets to the acrylic (the magnets sit in a recess in the brackets against the acrylic) and hot-glued the brackets to the same places on all 4 pieces.  Applied the weather stripping to the areas between the brackets to seal it and now I can take the pieces off and replace them and not have to worry about which goes where.

Do I wish I had a door?  Sure, but this solution was easy on the pocketbook and I assembled it in about 2 hours.

5 Reply by shabby

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Re: ABS Fumes

Give this a read http://www.instructables.com/id/Is-3D-P … HCN-from-/

6 Reply by nickythegreek

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Re: ABS Fumes

cckens, can you post a pic of your setup somewhere?

7 Reply by ysb

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Re: ABS Fumes

shabby wrote:

Give this a read http://www.instructables.com/id/Is-3D-P … HCN-from-/

great information.

thanks

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8 Reply by Deella

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Re: ABS Fumes

I really like the plexiglas case ideas, definitely will be putting that on my to do list.  The Instructables article was very informative, at least I'm pretty sure we will not be seeing law firm adds something like "if you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and have an ABS printer.....any time soon :-).

I wonder if you can add a filter (and what kind) or if it needs to be vented to the outside?

9 Reply by Tomek

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Re: ABS Fumes

For me it's not the ABS! It's the fact I've been washing my hands with acetone and practically drinking the fumes!


I used to not worry so much about acetone because I used it once a month or even much less. But now that it's a staple in my weekly adventures, I need to pay more attention to the fumes. 


Has anyone had success with something safer, like 91% denatured alchohol?  Is it strong enough?


In terms of ABS fumes, I'm planning on pumping mine out my window with a small fan and a plexiglass case, and some vinyl tubing for the pump.   The only times things really get bad is when I overextrude and too close to the bed, and my nozzle is just smearing ABS everywhere until it clogs.  But now that I'm moved into my small dorm room, I think I'll need the air pump.

10 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: ABS Fumes

For acetone I keep a respirator around and just hold it against my face for the few seconds I need it.  With the presto at least, you don't really get the fumes until you turn it on.  From start to pulling out the basket and walking away is less than a minute so it isn't too inconvenient.  It's also only a few seconds to pour out the vapor when done.  You can actually see the refraction as it pours out, it's really cool.  Outside only, of course.  If I smooth something and don't use the respirator I'm likely to get a scratchy throat, so I try to be consistent with it.

11 Reply by cckens

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Re: ABS Fumes

Nicky,
Missed the post last night... I'll capture and post as soon as I get home tonight.

I may just include the clip files, but they're rather quick-and-dirty as I needed something fast.

12 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: ABS Fumes

Similar topic, may be some other useful information in here.

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/762/absp … pregnancy/

13 Reply by cckens

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Re: ABS Fumes

For Nickythegreek (and other interested parties)

http://kenzden.com/download/Panel.jpg
The panel is 11x14 acrylic.  1/4" weatherstripping  lines the area where the case opening is to try and trap the fumes in the doodle.  There are 2 kinds of bracket.  A U-shape for the edges and a kind of L-type for the bottom corners. The brackets are printed with a recess in the middle of one side of the brackets.  This holds the magent without my having to remove it.  Placed and hot glued to keep them steady. 

http://kenzden.com/download/Solidoodle-cckens.jpg
As you can see, the 4 sides of the case are interchangeable so that I can remove any or all at will.  The magents are far enough away from the metal to allow easy removal, but close enough to hold pretty strongly.  The top of the case is not raised, but it doesn't seem to affect filament feed.  I've had one "jam" as the spool got caught on something and stopped laying plastic for the top 10 or so layers of a print.  I use the standard printed bushing (found on the site and thingiverse) and I feed the roll from underneath the spool.

I may end up removing the 1/4" stripping and replacing it with 1/2" as it's not completely sealed, but it works well enough for something that was put together on the spur of the moment.  I still need to find the bracket STLs, but I'll post them is anyone is interested.

14 Reply by caswal

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Re: ABS Fumes

Does anyone know what precautions are taken in ABS injection moulding factories, and the factories that produce ABS plastic from its raw components?

The fumes to me seem to be quite negligible, compared to any time I have done any form of spray painting.

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15 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: ABS Fumes

I will say that I get a headache if I'm sitting right over the machine watching like I did for the first couple days.  There's something to it but I'm not sure if it's just an irritant or something else.

16 Reply by Manx

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Re: ABS Fumes

caswal wrote:

Does anyone know what precautions are taken in ABS injection moulding factories, and the factories that produce ABS plastic from its raw components?

The fumes to me seem to be quite negligible, compared to any time I have done any form of spray painting.

if you have a closed case build a charcoal based air filter and you should be fine

17 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: ABS Fumes

All the MSDS forms that I could find online said pretty much the same thing that at worst it can be a respiratory irritant and under prolonged exposure can cause headaches and nausea.  A study in 1988 by the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health) determined that it was not a carcinogen (cancer causing).

With that said, if you're getting a headache from it, move to fresh air.  If you get eye or throat irritation, ventilate the area better or put a filter like some have suggested. 

What doesn't kill you gives you a headache.

18 Reply by DePartedPrinter

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Re: ABS Fumes

cmetzel wrote:

What doesn't kill you gives you a headache.

+1

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19 Reply by elmoret

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Re: ABS Fumes

I vent to a window:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/942/post … t-station/

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20 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: ABS Fumes

elmoret wrote:

I vent to a window:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/942/post … t-station/

I would love to try that, but I only drink Dr. Pepper.  Will that work?  smile

21 Reply by ronsii

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Re: ABS Fumes

cmetzel wrote:
elmoret wrote:

I vent to a window:

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/942/post … t-station/

I would love to try that, but I only drink Dr. Pepper.  Will that work?  smile


lol or mt.dew ???

22 Reply by sampeacock22

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Re: ABS Fumes

Hi,
thanx to share  great information. It is very helpful. Well Done!