The quality of the air in your printer’s casing is essential, not only for health reasons, but also to optimize print quality. There are two main solutions: extraction filtration or recycling. This article will help you understand the differences, advantages and disadvantages of each solution, to guide you towards the choice best suited to your situation.
Extraction filtration consists of extracting the air inside the chamber, including the fumes and particles generated during printing, and discharging them to the outside. This system is particularly suited to environments where air quality is a concern, such as enclosed or shared spaces.
1. The Advantages
- Suitable for DIY and non-waterproof cases.
- Ideal for temperature stabilization when printing materials such as PLA, PETG, and TPU.
- Designed to reduce risks when accessing the machine during printing.
2.The limits of a non-watertight extraction system
- Requires panel cut-outs: To install this type of system, it is often necessary to cut openings in the casing panels, which can complicate installation.
- Fixed location: Once installed, the fan is in a fixed position, which can limit flexibility in space planning inside the housing.
- Airflow management: If the box is not completely sealed, it may be more difficult to control airflow, increasing the risk of warping during printing.
II. Recycling filtration
Recirculation filtration works differently: the air is filtered and then reintroduced into the chamber, maintaining a stable temperature while filtering out particles.
1. Benefits
-
- Thermal stabilization: Recycling is ideal for prints requiring high, constant temperatures, such as ABS, ASA or PC. By reintroducing filtered air into the chamber, it maintains optimal conditions for these materials.
- Noise reduction : This system is also designed to reduce noise pollution, an advantage if you work in an environment where noise is an issue.
- Simple installation: Although it requires a watertight casing to be fully effective, recycling is an easy solution to install and use.
2. Disadvantages of the filtration and recycling system
- Requires an airtight housing: To be effective, the system must be installed in an airtight housing, which limits its versatility.
- Reduced accessibility: The design of the system may make access to the inside of the housing more difficult.
- Bulky inside the cabinet: The system takes up space inside the cabinet, which may limit the space available for large prints.
III. Which system to choose?
The choice between extraction and recycling depends above all on the type of casing and materials you use. If you mainly print with materials such as PLA or PETG, and your casing is not completely airtight, extraction may be the best option to guarantee good air quality and avoid distortion.
For those who print with materials requiring higher temperatures, such as ABS or PC, a recirculation system will be more suitable, as it effectively stabilizes temperature in a hermetically sealed environment.
Features AlveoONE
- Attaches to one side of the 3D printing box.
- Filters ambient air entering the box during printing.
- Ideal for non-watertight 3D printing housings.
Features AlveoONE-R
- Mobile box that fits inside the printing enclosure.
- Recycles the air inside the cabinet, creating a closed circuit.
- Suitable for airtight or semi-airtight housings.
