3D printing, or additive manufacturing (AM), is a popular method for rapid prototyping and even small-scale manufacturing. Compared to CNC milling or casting, 3D printing is relatively fast and inexpensive. 3D printing allows engineering teams to employ the principle of "Fail Fast, Fail Cheap" for product concepts. To accelerate learning, elements of a mechanical project are printed early for performance and usability tests.
3D printers use a variety of materials from thermoplastic filament to powdered metal to concrete. Many materials have hazards associated with them that users should be aware of and trained to handle.
Most common 3D printing processes use a thread like plastic filament (called feedstock) that is liquefied via a heating element and which is then jetted through a nozzle. Prolonged exposure to fumes from some materials can be hazardous. Recent studies of 3D printers and thermoplastic feedstock have found hazardous vapors and gases are emitted during the printing process. The two most popular thermoplastics used, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PLA (Polylactic Acid), have been found to release ultrafine particles (UFP) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
UFPs, or nanoparticles, are particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in size (1 x 10-9 m). These are the same dimensions of biological molecules which mean they can be immediately absorbed by living systems. Reports say that inhaled nanoparticles can reach the blood, liver, and heart. Exposure to nanoparticles at high concentrations is associated with adverse health effects.
VOCs are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. The high-pressure nature means that large numbers of molecules are able to evaporate and enter the surrounding air. We are exposed to VOC pollutants in many ways every day from air fresheners to gas engine emissions. Studies of the materials used for 3D printing, such as ABS, PLA, and nylon can be a source of dangerous VOCs such as styrene, butanol, cyclohexanone, ethylbenzene, and others. In particular, heating ABS at a temperature typical for 3D printing results in high VOC emission. A study found that the particle concentration of ABS material was 33?38 times higher than PLA material. Health effects from VOC emissions include eye, nose, and throat irritation, nausea, and organ damage.
The good news is that emission exposure can be avoided with good ventilation. The University of Florida?s 3D Printer Policy allows one printer per standard office and no more than two printers for a standard classroom or workroom. The 3D Printing Safety fact sheet (PDF) from Carnegie Mellon University recommends that air volumes should be replaced four times per hour.
3D printed parts are built layer by layer. Each layer supporting the next. To model complex shapes, 3D printers employ support structures that are dissolved away after the print completes. Alkaline baths are often used to dissolve support materials. The bath is usually water and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). Caustic soda is corrosive and can cause chemical burns, scarring, and blindness. Proper handling, spill, and waste disposal precautions are necessary to safely handle alkaline baths.
Advanced industrial 3D printers employ gas atomized metal powder for applications within the aerospace, medical, and tooling industries. Metal powders can be flammable. Labs handling this material should use proper personal protective equipment (PPE), anti-static measures, and fire suppression equipment.
Duralabel provides numerous resources to help engineering labs operate safer. Visual communication, PPE, and spill control equipment can help staff stay safe around 3D printers and the hazardous chemicals used to dissolve support materials.
The following 3D printing precautions were collected from the recommendations published by Carnegie Mellon University, University of Florida, and University of Vermont: