Resin Printing is killing you.
Resin Printing is killing you.
Please, use adequate ventilation (with a heat exchanger if you need to keep A/C in the room) if you're going to be resin printing inside. I don't want to see all of you guys get cancer from this hobby.
Fuck this video. Dude claims it’s killing you and offers zero reason as to why or how. Pure clickbait bullshit here folks
Let's say the chemicals aren't healthy. Disclaimer: RTFM (MSDS and technical datasheet) and consult with professionals.
There are a few issues here at play. One major issue is that repeated exposure has a risk of sensibilization. Once this happens there is no way back. Your life will change.
The consumer industry has already moved. I remember explaining to Anycubic sales what an MSDS is and why I need it (if you need a good argument in such conversations: REACH). These days you can download it on their website.
To this day the packaging might not be CLP conform. At least their marketing got better: Water washable has now a section about waste treatment but plant-based resin is still advertised as "low odor and safe to use" or "truly environmentally friendly". Worst of all they still suggest that the odors are safe to breathe as everything is soybean-based: The truth is they aren't and neither is it soybeans. What once was soybeans is heavily modified.
Sadly this is not just an Anycubic issue.
Btw. If you use Anycubic though resin: According to their MSDS they switched the product and kept the name the same (approx. 2 years ago).
Did you actually watch the video?
He literally presents a list of reasons around 5:12. Then he goes on to describe how formaldehyde already affects him.
Resin priting can be a lot of fun, but he's correct: that shit is toxic. It needs to be respected, and he's also correct in pointing out the carbon filter on many printers is basically a placebo for the consumer.
Still don't believe him? Fine. Go checkout the small book that is the set of warnings with this stuff from a resin producer: https://entropyresins.com/safety/epoxy-safety-tips/
He mentions VOCs within the resin, just because you can't wrap your head around why inhaling "volatile organic compounds" can be bad for you, does not mean it's wrong. Take proper precautions to ventilate the area while printing resin, please.
volatile organic compounds
Perfume and air fresheners are VOCs, you need to know specifically what ones.
You clearly have no idea what that even means.
When you cook food there are voletile organic componds. Almost everything you smell are voletile organic compounds. Parfums are voletile organic compounds. Your air is full of voletile organic compounds.
It doesn't say shit about how bad something is for you.
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Explain what you mean by use heat exchangers?
Probably an ERV or HRV for ventilation.
you might be interested in this https://www.openerv.org/
Yep, it's basically a simple air-to-air heat exchanger. Applicable to any hobby that will generally put fine particulate matter into the air. Laser cutting, woodworking, etc. Generally an overall good thing to have for a shop.
It's essentially a heat/cooling recovery unit so you're not simply pumping your A/C out into the world and wasting energy. It allows you to swap the air in a room out, without losing its cool/heat by simply pumping in outside air. The video explains what he used.
I'm just going to leave this here https://youtu.be/ht4tbCiFxeM?si=fQuV-vS4V0crt6Hf
Thanks. I'm no expert at this chemistry, but this is the better reference IMO
Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/ht4tbCiFxeM?si=fQuV-vS4V0crt6Hf
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.
He says even as a trained chemist, he does not understand resin completely and its full risks.
Even if you're printing with anything but PLA, you should be ventilating well, since it obviously releases chemicals into the air -- you can smell it. PLA does as well, but from the smell it seems like a much different one.
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Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/watch?v=fjhmXzvbyfA
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.
What is the correct way to ventilate the 3D printers? How can you ensure accidental contact with resin won't ruin your life?
The correct way is basically this: Get a ventilation fan, and exhaust the air around the resin printer to the outside of your home. Learn proper safety procedures, with correct nitrile gloves, and VOC-rated respirator and use that to ensure you don't get resin on your skin. Resin print in the garage if possible. Resin likes warmer temperatures anyhow, it helps the chemical reaction occur. Make sure this ventilation fan is AT the window, because you don't want any of the pressurized air to leak back into your living space. You want it to suck air out of the room and vent it outside.
An upgraded system is going to cost more, but if you're in an air conditioned area - it will save you air conditioning costs. You need a heat recovery ventilator, and typically that will come with 2 blower fans, this isn't absolutely necessary but would be the "correct" way to do it. I'd opt for this if you're resin printing inside your home office and it's going to be a permanent thing, or if you're running lots of resin printers at once.