3D Printing Safety

[nickp75 193xp 2]

Hi folks

First post here and just looking for some advice about resin 3D printing.

I have seen a lot of minis I would like to 3D print and been thinking about getting a resin printer but I am quite concerned about the health hazard potential of the liquid resin and cleanup.

For those experienced with resin printing, do you need to have the printer in a well ventilated room? Does it need to be away from where ppl would sit or work? How serious is it if there is a resin spillage? What do you do with spilt liquid resin I.e disposal?

I have googled this and been put off getting a printer so far because of it but I know this is a very experienced community so would really appreciate your feedback on it.

Btw I live in a flat so don’t have a place like a garage or shed outside to set up a printer area.

Finally are there 3rd parties that will print minis for you from purchased stl files?

Thanks in advance.

[turbocoolerParticipant 4103xp 2]

So, I will give you my experience in Resin 3D printing vs FDM.

I had many of the same concerns as you.  I did a lot of research and here is what I have found.

If you use water soluble resins, the fumes are not bad.  I have a spare room and I just keep the window open and you do not have an issue.  In the summer you can use a fan on low and it will be enough to remove any fumes.

For cleaning, you can find a few videos on YouTube.  Via those vids I found you can use Simple Green, Mean Green or other Green Cleaning Products and a sonic cleaner and they do just as good a job without using IPA at all.  When done you use a bucket and toothbrush as a final rinse.

YOU MUST ALWAYS USE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING UNCURED RESIN.  This is a MUST.  You should also use a mask when opening and pouring any resin but a simple painting mask is enough.

Now about the disposal part.  You can use filters and filter out the Simple Green or Mean Green or similar products.  What remains in filter or tub you used to clean you can simply leave in the sun.  Once the resin is cured, it is inert and you can safely dispose of it in your regular garbage.  You may have already thrown out other consumer resin product and not have even known you did.

You will need a UV light to cure the resin and you can find out to make your own resin box on OTT or YouTube.  A simple 5 liter pale lined with aluminum foil is good.  You can find the UV lights on Amazon.

Once your items are cured in 3 to 5 min., you must wait a day and then prime them because after that point if they continue to gather UV light they will eventually become very brittle.

There are companies like Shapeways that can do the printing for you but they will be far more expensive than if you did it yourself.

The hazards are real, but in my opinion manageable.  For example, regular oven cleaner or some house hold cleaners can be just as toxic.  You wear gloves, you wear a mask if required, you open up a window and you can deal with the concern.  I see resin printing as no different.  Gloves, masks, open windows and dispose of things safely.

Hope that helps.

[nickp75 193xp 0]

Thank you for that very thorough and insightful response to my questions. It has certainly given my a lot to think about and review before taking the plunge into 3D printing.

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