Home 3D printers and lasers are safe when they're set up sensibly. These are the habits we follow in our own studio and recommend to every customer who prints at home.
Fire safety
- Fit a smoke alarm near (not directly above) your printer or laser.
- Keep a fire extinguisher within reach, and a fire blanket for small fires.
- Put printers on a non-flammable surface and keep paper and spare filament clear.
- Never leave a laser running unattended, even for a minute.
Fumes and ventilation
PLA produces very little odour. ABS and ASA give off fumes and fine particles, so print them enclosed in a ventilated room. Lasers always need extraction to the outdoors.
Electrical
- Plug printers straight into a wall socket or a quality surge-protected board, not daisy-chained double adaptors.
- Check cables and connectors on the heated bed now and then for wear.
Kids and pets
Nozzles run at 200 °C or more and beds at up to 100 °C. Enclosed printers, or a printer on a high shelf, keep little hands and curious paws safe. Lasers should always be enclosed or in a locked room.
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