In this guide · Part 7 of 7
Key takeaways
- Hot nozzles and beds can burn, so let them cool before you touch them.
- Print in a well-ventilated area, and use an enclosure or air purifier for ABS, ASA and resin.
- Always wear nitrile gloves and eye protection when handling liquid resin.
- Never pour liquid resin or used cleaning liquid down the drain.
- Keep an eye on your prints and follow your manufacturer's safety guidance.
Is 3D printing safe?
Yes, with sensible precautions. The main hazards are heat, moving parts, electricity, fumes and fine particles released during printing, and, for resin printing, chemicals. Each of these is easy to manage once you know about it.
How to use a filament (FDM) printer safely
- Heat: the nozzle can exceed 200°C and the bed can exceed 100°C. Let them cool before you touch them or remove a print.
- Moving parts: keep fingers, hair and loose clothing away from the printer while it's running.
- Fumes and particles: PLA gives off very little, but ABS, ASA and some engineering materials release more. Print in a ventilated room, and use an enclosure with a filter, or an air purifier, for these materials.
- Fire safety: supervise your first prints, keep the printer on a non-flammable surface away from curtains and paper, and fit a working smoke alarm nearby.
- Electrical safety: use the supplied power supply and cables, don't modify mains wiring, and keep firmware up to date, because it includes important thermal safety features.
How to use a resin printer safely
- Protect your skin and eyes: wear disposable nitrile gloves (not latex) and safety glasses whenever you handle liquid resin or uncured prints (safety and PPE).
- If resin touches your skin: wash it off straight away with soap and cold water. Don't use IPA on your skin.
- Ventilate: use resin in a well-ventilated room, away from living and sleeping areas, ideally with an air purifier or extraction. Follow the resin's safety data sheet.
- Handle IPA carefully: isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable. Keep it sealed and away from heat, sparks and naked flames.
- Keep resin away from food, children and pets: store it in its original bottle, and never use kitchen utensils or food containers for resin work.
- Clean up spills promptly: wipe with paper towels, then clean the area with IPA or resin cleaner while wearing gloves.
How should you dispose of resin and 3D printing waste?
- Never pour liquid resin, used IPA or wash water down the drain.
- Cure resin waste before disposal. Leave failed prints, supports and resin-soaked paper towels in sunlight or under a UV lamp until they're fully hard.
- Reuse cleaning liquid. Leave used IPA in sunlight so the resin in it cures and settles, then pour off the clear liquid to use again. Dispose of the hardened sludge as cured waste.
- Follow local rules. Contact your local council about disposing of uncured resin and solvent. Workplaces should follow their own waste procedures.
- Recycle where you can. Empty cardboard spools are usually recyclable. Some recycling systems can turn filament waste into new material.
3D printing in schools and workplaces
Schools, colleges and businesses should carry out a risk assessment before introducing 3D printers. In practice, that usually means:
- Choosing enclosed filament printers and PLA for general use
- Putting printers in a well-ventilated area, with filtration where needed
- Supervising students and training staff in safe use
- Keeping resin printing to a dedicated, controlled area with suitable PPE
- Keeping material safety data sheets available and following the manufacturer's guidance
3D printing glossary (A–Z)
Plain-English explanations of the 3D printing terms you're most likely to come across.
Additive manufacturingThe technical name for 3D printing: making objects by adding material layer by layer.
Bed levellingMaking sure the nozzle is the same distance from the build plate everywhere. Many printers do this automatically.
Bowden extruderAn extruder mounted on the frame that pushes filament through a tube to the hotend.
BridgingPrinting a straight line of filament across a gap between two points, with nothing underneath.
BrimExtra lines printed around the base of a part to help it stick to the bed.
Build plateThe surface a print is built on, also called the bed or print bed.
Build volumeThe largest size of object a printer can make, given as width × depth × height.
CADComputer-aided design: software for creating 3D models.
CuringHardening a washed resin print under UV light so it reaches full strength.
Direct driveAn extruder mounted right above the hotend, which is better for flexible filaments.
Elephant's footA slight flare at the bottom of a print, caused by an over-squashed first layer.
EnclosureA cover around a printer that keeps the temperature steady and contains fumes and noise.
ExtruderThe motor-driven mechanism that grips the filament and pushes it into the hotend.
FDM / FFFFused deposition modelling / fused filament fabrication. The two names mean the same thing: printing with melted filament.
FEP filmThe clear, non-stick film in the bottom of a resin vat that UV light shines through.
FilamentThe plastic thread, wound on a spool, that FDM printers melt to make parts.
FirmwareThe software built into the printer itself that controls its hardware.
G-codeThe list of instructions a slicer creates for a filament printer.
Heated bedA build plate that heats up to help prints stick and reduce warping.
HotendThe heated part of an FDM printer that melts filament and pushes it out through the nozzle.
InfillThe internal pattern that fills a print. More infill makes a stronger, heavier part.
IPAIsopropyl alcohol, used to clean build plates and wash resin prints.
Layer heightHow thick each layer is. Thinner layers give more detail but take longer to print.
MSLAMasked stereolithography: a resin printing method that uses a screen to cure a whole layer at once.
NozzleThe small metal tip that molten filament comes out of, most commonly 0.4mm wide.
OverhangPart of a model that sticks out over thin air and may need support.
Post-processingAnything done after printing, such as removing supports, sanding, painting, washing or curing.
RaftA thin base printed under a part to help it stick and stay flat.
RetractionPulling filament back slightly during travel moves to reduce stringing.
SlicerSoftware that turns a 3D model into layer-by-layer instructions for the printer.
STL / 3MFCommon 3D model file formats. 3MF can also store colours and print settings.
StringingFine hairs of plastic left between parts of a print.
SupportsTemporary structures that hold up overhangs while printing. You remove them afterwards.
VatThe tray that holds liquid resin in a resin printer.
WarpingWhen the corners of a print lift and curl away from the bed as the plastic cools.
Z-offsetA fine adjustment of the gap between the nozzle and the bed for the first layer.
Frequently asked questions
Are 3D printer fumes harmful?
PLA releases very low levels of emissions. ABS, ASA, some engineering filaments and liquid resins release more fumes and fine particles. To keep exposure low, print in a well-ventilated area, and use an enclosure with filtration or an air purifier for these materials.
Is 3D printing safe for children?
Yes, with adult supervision. An enclosed filament printer using PLA is the best choice for children and classrooms. Children shouldn't handle liquid resin or work with resin printers unsupervised.
What gloves should I use for resin printing?
Use disposable nitrile gloves. Latex and vinyl gloves don't give the same protection against resin. Change your gloves if they tear or become heavily contaminated.
How do I dispose of resin safely?
Cure any resin waste fully in sunlight or under UV light until it's hard, then dispose of it according to your local council's rules. Never pour liquid resin or used cleaning liquid down the drain.
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