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Characterization of Emissions in Fab Labs: An Additive Manufacturing Environment Issue

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  • Shirin Khaki

    (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G-SCOP, 38000 Grenoble, France)

  • Maud Rio

    (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G-SCOP, 38000 Grenoble, France)

  • Philippe Marin

    (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G-SCOP, 38000 Grenoble, France)

Abstract

The emergence of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, such as 3D printing and laser cutting, has created opportunities for new design practices covering a wide range of fields and a diversity of learning and teaching settings. The potential health impact of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from AM technologies is, therefore, a growing concern for makers. The research behind this paper addresses this issue by applying an indoor air quality assessment protocol in an educational fabrication laboratory. The paper presents the evaluation of the particle emission rate of different AM technologies. Real-time monitoring of multiple three-dimensional Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) printers and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) laser cutters was performed in different usage scenarios. Non-contact electrical detectors and off-line gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to detect VOCs. The results show that the emitted particle surface area concentrations vary between 294 and 406.2 μm 2 /cm 3 for three-dimensional printers, and between 55.06 and 92.3 μm 2 /cm 3 for laser cutters. The experiments demonstrate that the emission concentrations were highly dependent on the filtration systems in place. The highest quantities of VOCs emitted included Cyclohexene and Benzyl Alcohol for PLA, ABS and TPE 3D printers, and formic acid and Xylene for PMMA laser cutters. The experiment concludes that signature emissions are detectable for a given material type and an AM technology pair. A suitable mitigation strategy can be specified for each signature detected. Finally, this paper outlines some guidelines for improving indoor air quality in such specific environments. The data provided, as well as the proposed indoor air quality protocol, can be used as a baseline for future studies, and thus help to determine whether the proposed strategies can enhance operator and bystander safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Shirin Khaki & Maud Rio & Philippe Marin, 2022. "Characterization of Emissions in Fab Labs: An Additive Manufacturing Environment Issue," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2900-:d:762486
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luís Mendes & Anneli Kangas & Kirsi Kukko & Bjarke Mølgaard & Arto Säämänen & Tomi Kanerva & Iñigo Flores Ituarte & Marika Huhtiniemi & Helene Stockmann-Juvala & Jouni Partanen & Kaarle Hämeri & Konst, 2017. "Characterization of Emissions from a Desktop 3D Printer," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(S1), pages 94-106, November.
    2. Attaran, Mohsen, 2017. "The rise of 3-D printing: The advantages of additive manufacturing over traditional manufacturing," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(5), pages 677-688.
    3. Parham Azimi & Torkan Fazli & Brent Stephens, 2017. "Predicting Concentrations of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds Resulting from Desktop 3D Printer Operation and the Impact of Potential Control Strategies," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(S1), pages 107-119, November.
    4. Martin Baumers & Joost R. Duflou & William Flanagan & Timothy G. Gutowski & Karel Kellens & Reid Lifset, 2017. "Charting the Environmental Dimensions of Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(S1), pages 9-14, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Asma Mecheter & Faris Tarlochan, 2023. "Fused Filament Fabrication Three-Dimensional Printing: Assessing the Influence of Geometric Complexity and Process Parameters on Energy and the Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Noura Al-Mazrouei & Ali H. Al-Marzouqi & Waleed Ahmed, 2022. "Characterization and Sustainability Potential of Recycling 3D-Printed Nylon Composite Wastes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-13, August.

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