I have recently obtained a friend’s old Formlabs Form 2 SLA printer. I I am an absolute beginner to printing, but I am pretty excited to get into it.

However, the only place that I would realistically be able to put it is on my desk in my bedroom. From everything I’ve read, I need a better ventilated space with more tolerance for a mess than I could possibly provide.

I think that the right call is to just sell it and save up for some FDM printer, but at the end of the day, I have the SLA printer in hand.

I am asking whether these concerns about resin printers are really that bad and if I am actually fine to start learning printing with what I have in my bedroom.

  • @adminAEnglish
    4•2 months ago

    I converted the closet to a 3D Printing area, adding a bathroom-style ceiling vent fan and shelf to hold the 3D printer, resin, cleaner and accessories.

    I will tell you I can’t smell anything with the doors shut, and the vent does a good job of removing the smell during printing.

    Can’t recommend TeachingTech’s “Resin 3D printing beginners step by step guide” enough, that was basically the model I followed, including hanging paper towel holders on the inside doors and getting silicone mats to prevent spills.

    Also, gloves. Every time. Every time I open that closet the first thing I do is put on gloves, even to touch the tools. I have no idea what still has resin on it, so I trust nothing in there.

    • @NoneYa@lemm.eeEnglish
      5•2 months ago

      Can’t stress the use of gloves and a mask for safety when using resin. I got some resin on my latex gloves one time, happened to go outside and I could feel the resin baking in the sun within seconds of the sunlight hitting the glove.

      I can’t imagine what that would have felt like if I didn’t have gloves on.

      I have a painter’s mask with the disposable filters and it is a must have as well. I can’t smell the fumes with it on but can smell the lingering fumes immediately when taking it off.