SLA Discussion for 3D area

General
1

Discussion thread for setup of SLA

2

So what’s the plan for fumes and waste disposal?

3

I’ve read the other thread and I think a full commitment to the build of the ventilation system and waste management setup would go a long way towards convincing people on an sla printer. I understand the printer itself would have filtration, but that doesn’t account for all the time it’s not running or any messes made outside the printer itself.

4

Updates from our recent discussions:

  • Resin Printers:
    We agreed to maintain two resin printers, each equipped with proper filtration. The decision was based on cost and efficiency—these printers are relatively inexpensive, and since print times are long, having two machines helps eliminate bottlenecks and reduces user wait time.

  • Workspace Setup & Safety:
    We discussed adding a dedicated enclosure around the printers and wash station, along with a clearly defined “gloves-only” workstation using designated mats. This area would include a UV curing step to ensure any residual resin is fully cured before users leave, keeping the space clean and safe for the next person.

  • Enclosure vs. Dedicated Room:
    While a fully walled-off room for resin printing was considered, we determined that a wooden enclosure is a more practical use of space and materials. A full room would be excessive for our needs.

  • Resin Waste Handling:
    We reviewed disposal options and costs:

    • Local drop-off: $40 for up to 50 lbs

    • Third-party service: $25 per 5-gallon container + ~$400 transport fee

    Given the high transport cost, we would only use a removal service if we need formal documentation of disposal. and if we used them the plan would be to store waste in multiple 5-gallon containers and dispose of it periodically (potentially every 1–2 years during major cleanouts). Otherwise we use the drop-off as needed.

    It’s also worth noting:

    • Waste accumulation is slow—filling even one 5-gallon container takes a long time

    • Most waste will be isopropyl alcohol, not pure resin

    • A standard wash station holds ~1.5 gallons and can support 100+ prints

  • Storage & Safety Equipment:
    We discussed proper storage solutions for resin and isopropyl, including:

    • A flammables cabinet for storage

    • A flammables-rated disposal container for waste

  • Resin Type Standardization:
    We agreed to use one standard resin type across the space. We will not use water-washable resin, as it can introduce confusion and inconsistency for users.

5

These sound like great steps in the right direction!

I do have a few comments/recommendations:

  • I’m not sure about the estimated waste volume accuracy. I’m most familiar with formlabs resins and washing stations, but in my experience the IPA gets fairly unusable after 30-40 prints. Beyond that, the parts end up tacky even after curing. We generate about 5 gallons of waste a year, and with less printing than I would expect at Hive13.
  • Who’s going to transport the waste for dropoff? That’s not something I would recommend anyone carry in the cabin of a passenger vehicle.
  • General room ventilation should still be installed (think like a bath fan) even with the printers and wash station in an encloser. Something in the 150-250 cfm range should be plenty. This is recommended for spaces with FDM printers too.
  • I would recommend the enclosure not be plywood, use material(s) that can handle washdown. Perhaps build he enclosure around a commercial washdown shallow sink table, and have the inside surfaces be melamine or something similar so they can be sprayed down and wiped down thoroughly?
  • I’m not sure UV curing the work area will have the desired effect of neutralizing spilled pre-polymers. The reason for that is that the UV light in the printers and curing stations relies on a specific concentration of photoinitiators in the solution to catalyze the polymerization reaction. Most of the “mess” in my experience is not spilled resin, but spilled IPA that’s contaminated with resin, and this has a MUCH lower concentration of photoinitiators. Thus, because there is not sufficient concentration of photocatalyst, the UV exposure does not get rid of the monomer and oligomer pre-polymers. Once used, the resin work area will simply have to be treated as contaminated, and require gloves and safety glass for usage.