Fume extraction...soldering & 3D printing..... a nice low cost solution ?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 01:52:38 pm
content: When soldering, or 3D printing using ABS filament it would be useful to have an air extraction device to remove the unpleasant fumes from the working area. My 3D ABS printing drives my cat and wife well away from teh room where the printer residesThere have been air extraction systems for welding and soldering fro many years but they tend to be large and expensive. A simple solution used by some is a fan sucking or blowing the fumes away from the user. These do not actually get rid of the gases in an enclosed space though, it just moves them elsewhere. I have some commercial fans units that contain an activated charcoal filter but to be honest that does not normally achieve a great deal.I needed something effective fro my 3D printing as the fumes do make your eyes water and I will be running two printers in parallel shortly, so twice the fumes emissionsI could see myself being banished to the garage with the printers so something had to be done.I did not want a permanent installation as I may move my printers over time. I remembered that showers often have what I call elephant hose extractors that isolate the fan from the bathroom. These units have a nice quiet axial impeller that sits between two lengths of 100mm diameter 'elephant hose'. The hoses can be stretched or cut to various lengths to suit the situation. They compress up very short and can have all manner of 100mm round vent fittings attached to the ends. The hoses are also very cheap to buy if you need longer lengths.A quick search on ebay found a unit that looks perfect fro my needs. I was very surprised and pleased when I saw the cost of these units. I chose a well known brand (Manrose) and it was only£16 delivered. The kit includes the fan module, 3 metres of 100mm elephant hose and two vent fittingsYou cut the elephant hose to whatever length you want or you could just attach it to one side of the fan module and just blow or suck the fumes away.The fan is the standard model without the timer but one is available with a timer if needed. It is powered from 240V ac which is nice and simple. No separate switch needed on my unit to activate the fan. Just plug it in a its starts.My order arrived today, along with a couple of additional adapters for the elephant hose ends. these cost around £3 each and adapt the round hose to a rectangle. I can place the rectangular part in a slightly open window to expel the fumes. Better than having to open the window 100mm for the hose. The kit is perfect for my needs. I just need to attach a mains cable to it. The air emanating from the printers top vent will be sucked away using one of the round to rectangular adapters and expelled through an opened window using the other adapter. I can accept having a window open for the time it takes to print an object. The whole system then compresses down to a neat size when not in use.The fan moves up to 85 cubic metres of air per hour and is rated at 17 Watts. My model is the Primero 100mm FD100S kit.The ebay sellers auction is here:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120876128406?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITI bought the additional elephant hose adapters here:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261825697713?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=560683813173&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITPictures attachedHope this helps others with a similar fume challenge.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 01:53:07 pm
content: Fan/impeller module detail

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 01:53:34 pm
content: 100mm elephant hose to rectangular duct adapter detail

author: bookaboo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 01:57:45 pm
content: I can't find it but I think it was on this forum wheresomeone had made a custom clear plastic curtain around their solder reflow oven then the fans extracting from that area. Looked like a near optimal solution.Edit, my memory has been jogged. It was Colin O'Flynn who did Chipwhisperer.https://youtu.be/-DMYJmB4naA?t=19m56s

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 02:07:52 pm
content: @bookaboo,Thanks for the link and idea to tent the printers. I shall look into sourced of free standing plastic tents for thr purposeFraser

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 05:32:46 pm
content: For the window what type is it? If it is a sash window then you could make a wooden spacer that simply allows the exhaust to be in the bottom with the window slightly raised. If it swings open then a sheet of acrylic of the right size to fit in the opening with a hole for the hose, as a way to prevent the smell coming right back in, should work as well.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 12:49:00 pm
content: @seanB,The window is a UPVC side opening type. I will be using a piece of high density sealed cell foam to fill the gap above. If it falls out, at least it will not hurt me or my wife if we are belowFraser

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2015, 04:34:39 am
content: Thanks for posting this, Fraser. I've been contemplating a similar arrangement with the vent output and a spacer placed in the window to exhaust the fumes. Should work nicely for occasional soldering. If I did a lot of it, I'd probably permanently mount the exhaust through the wall.