# Toxic? Where to put printer? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158 "2017-03-02T22:00:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![billb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/billb/32/5587_2.png) [@billb](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/billb)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 10:06am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/61 "2019-10-28T10:06:43Z")
All my surfaces are covered with polythene sheets which can be replace when necessary. ---
**Author:** ![henryhbk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/87869e/32.png) [@henryhbk](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/henryhbk)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 11:16am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/62 "2019-10-28T11:16:44Z")
> [@billb](#): > > All my surfaces are covered with polythene sheets which can be replace when necessary. OMG, are you my great aunt? Now I know why all the couches were covered in plastic, she was really secretly into SLA printing! or ---
**Author:** ![Komy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/komy/32/10068_2.png) [@Komy](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Komy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/63 "2019-10-28T17:16:04Z")
told you I think I red somewhere on forum ---
**Author:** ![gloss151](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5daacb/32.png) [@gloss151](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/gloss151)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/64 "2020-04-16T22:01:15Z")
The box it came in can act as an enclosure. Just place the printer on the floor and the box over the top of the printer when in use. Seal the holes in the box with some tape. This is my temporary solution while i have this printer at home during the pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![Sethcim](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/sethcim/32/16361_2.png) [@Sethcim](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Sethcim)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/66 "2020-06-01T17:05:22Z")
It’s pretty nasty, and some resins are worse than others. I’ve found the elastic to be unbearable, while the clear isn’t that big of deal. It’s fine to visit it, but you’ll want to create at least a little bit of exhaust ventilation from the room its in. If you have something like a laundry room with an exhaust fan, that would be ideal. Make up a solution based on your available spaces, but you don’t want to sleep with the fumes! ---
**Author:** ![tiwillti](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/tiwillti/32/16758_2.png) [@tiwillti](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/tiwillti)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/67 "2020-09-27T19:04:40Z")
I keep my Form 2 in a small room with my [AeraMax](https://houseweather.org/best-air-purifiers-for-asthma/#product_3) air purifier turned on. So no dust, no smell, everything is fine. ---
**Author:** ![luben111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@luben111](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/luben111)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 3:41am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/68 "2020-09-28T03:41:10Z")
The resin is toxic to some degree and it’s not advisable to be in long contact with it - nobody can predict what will happen if you’re exposed on the fumes for long period of time. Plus - the resin smells bad. Personally I placed my Form3 into a cabinet (single section wardrobe from IKEA), drilled a hole on top and placed weak air extraction (get standard 15W/220V extraction fan and place 330nF/630V capacitor in series with the fan to reduce the speed). The air extraction is taking the air from wardrobe out from the room through air corrugated aluminium pipe like this one: > **[Aluminium Corrugated Air intake Hose 028129087AL \> Beetle , Beetle Cabrio |...](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aluminium-Corrugated-Air-intake-Hose-028129087AL-Beetle-Beetle-Cabrio-/183113835304)** > > Beetle 1961-1979 : Beetle Cabrio 1961-1979 : Karmann Ghia 1961-1979 : T2 Bay 1968-1979 : T2 Split 1961-1967. Aluminium air hose. 5/205 VW Beetle 1947-1967. 4/130 VW Beetle 1968-1979. Beetle parts. Beetle Cabrio. This solution guarantees no smells from the resin in the surrounding area. Keeping the printer in dark, sealed cabinet also prolongs the life of the resin: 1. Prevents from dust 2. Prevents from UV light - some UV light penetrates the printer cover and can semi cure the resin (this is well visible if you keep the printer next door to windows or under direct sunlight). ---
**Author:** ![Index3D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/848f3c/32.png) [@Index3D](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Index3D)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/69 "2020-10-08T18:03:57Z")
There is so much bogus info. going around about the toxicity of photopolymer resin that it’s a wonder we haven’t all turned green and croaked. My advice is to download the MSDS for each resin you print and read it. From what I’ve learned doing so… it can cause redness and irritation of the skin and if your sensitive to it, it can actually cause a rash. If you drink it on a regular basis, it can cause birth defects in your offspring. So my take away… 1. ware gloves 2. don’t drink it 3. if the smell bothers me, I open a window. That said, we cover the unit with a box turned upside down when not in use… primarily to shut out all light and preserve the resin in the build tank. ---
**Author:** ![luben111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@luben111](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/luben111)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/70 "2020-10-08T19:54:21Z")
Long (chronic) exposure on some chemicals can cause serious health problems in long term. The resin might be harmless (just irritation or redness) if you have accidental contact with it, but may accumulate and slowly deteriorate your health. ---
**Author:** ![Delta001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@Delta001](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Delta001)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/71 "2020-11-20T19:45:00Z")
I have recently started working with the Formlabs printers. I am still researching into the resins, however I have always had a strong sense of smell, and I can smell them all. Yes Grey does seem to be the least offensive and some a outright strong. As someone else stated, if you can smell it then those are fumes/vapour. Resins aside, what IS something you should be worring about is Isopropyl Alcohol, IPA. At the concentrations you should be using 90%+, most likely around 99% even, is dangerous. IPA is readily absorbed by the skin, in fact it opens your pores which is why you don’t use IPA to wash resin off your skin should that happen. You know the warnings about eye protection, thats not just about splashing IPA in your eyes, its also about the fumes/vapour getting into your eyes and your body. When you read articles on IPA, you might see three letters CNS used, and wonder what they are talking about. CNS stands for central nervous system. There are certainly plenty of articles on the net to read. From my local safety protection store I purchased a breathing mask with filters rated for organic vapour and eye goggles that look a bit like ones skiers use, as recommended by the store. The filters last 3-6 months depending on use. There are alternatives to IPA, unfortunately I cannot find the article right now but there is a chemical they use in submarines that releases no vapoour, but does the same job. There are also plenty of reviews on youtube of comparisons to other products which give a better finish to the print than IPA. ---
**Author:** ![rkagerer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/439d5e/32.png) [@rkagerer](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/rkagerer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/72 "2020-11-20T20:34:31Z")
The approved alternative is TPM. There are tradeoffs, although given alcohol pricing at the moment using TPM for the bulk of your wash process is bound to get you many more washes per dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Kenyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Kenyi](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Kenyi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/73 "2020-11-21T06:53:49Z")
Hi i had the same problem build an enclosure for the printer I have mine on my livingroom and zero smells every time I print. > [@Safe to print at home?](http://forum.formlabs.com/t/safe-to-print-at-home/29159/20): > > Mine is an IKEA SEKTION Base cabinet frame, white21x24x30 " It’s mounted upside down all sides are sealed with silicone Amazon AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S4, Quiet 4” Inline Duct Fan with Speed Controller. Asin B07JB292JC Amazon Weather Stripping for Door,Insulation Weatherproof Doors and Windows Soundproofing Asin B076Z9591D Amazon Stainless Steel Spring Loaded Toggle ASIN B07GKHD61X Home depot Dryer Easy Dock Store SKU #130905 Home depot 4 in. Inline Vent Draft Blocker SKU #100005… ---
**Author:** ![Delta001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@Delta001](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Delta001)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/74 "2020-11-21T21:29:16Z")
> [@rkagerer](#): > > The approved alternative is TPM TPM is the only alternative they have tested. Its not a case of that is the only alternative that works. ---
**Author:** ![Delta001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@Delta001](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Delta001)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/75 "2020-11-21T21:57:20Z")
For those looking, all resin Safety Data Sheets can be found here: > **[Compare Formlabs SLA 3D Printers Tech Specs](https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-3/tech-specs/#data-sheets)** > > Find complete technical specifications tables for the Form 3, Form 3L and Form 2 3D printers including printing properties, hardware, software, and more. Formlabs state there are no volatile solvents in their resins. However I’ve gone through quite a few data sheets so far and all have in them as a precautionary measure: P261 Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray Methacrylate Monomer seems to be the main ingredient across the resin range. You can read for yourself what the EPA has to say about that: > **[methyl-methacrylate.pdf](https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/methyl-methacrylate.pdf)** > > 197.98 KB ---
**Author:** ![rkagerer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/439d5e/32.png) [@rkagerer](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/rkagerer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/76 "2020-11-22T00:03:21Z")
> [@Delta001](#): > > TPM is the only alternative they have tested. Its not a case of that is the only alternative that works. Formlabs tested a bunch of different solvents. They have an article and a blog post about it here: - [customer\_v2](https://support.formlabs.com/s/article/Solvent-Compatibility) - [Cleaning Resin 3D Prints: Alternative Wash Solutions for SLA Parts | Formlabs](https://formlabs.com/blog/alternate-wash-solutions/) I used the word “approved” because IPA and TPM are the only ones they officially recommend and have released guidelines for. I agree that doesn’t mean others won’t work. I know at least one person who uses DPM (followed by an IPA dunk) because it’s easier to source where they are. ---
**Author:** ![Delta001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@Delta001](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Delta001)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 7:15am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158/77 "2020-12-02T07:15:08Z")
Simple Green was the stuff used in Submarines with no air contaminants. Interesting review videos here for IPA alternatives: [Previous page](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/toxic-where-to-put-printer/12158.md?page=3)