Bought an SLA printer? USE PPE!

[u/ZippyTheRobin]

[u/ZippyTheRobin]

http://imgur.com/gallery/35J964O ^more images^, rash is plenty of other places but I'd prefer not to show y'all those.

For those not familiar: the photopolymer resins used in SLA printers (especially those used in cheap printers like Anycubic, sparkmaker, elegoo etc) where the lower intensity UV requires more aggressively reactive resins) are cumulative toxins. That means (simplified) that for the vast majority of people, enough exposure will make you allergic to the resin. This can manifest both through skin reactions and systemic reactions (what you see here- a rash in all high bloodflow areas of the body, caused by fume exposure).

I got this rash from working on an anycubic photon while wearing elbow-length nitrile gloves, a face shield, goggles and a hybrid vapors mask. It happened because when I was young and stupid, I didn't wear that gear. These days, if the resin is bad enough even the brief microexposure that comes from breathing the fumes coming off my gloves while removing PPE is enough to cause a reaction. If you want to be easily able to keep using resin printers (or any epoxy resin) by the ripe old age of 22, please invest in some good PPE and ventilation when you get your first resin printer. Trust me, it's not worth the time/money saved upfront.

ALSO, since I know there are plenty of people in the 3d printing industry that peruse this sub, please don't market your resins as "safe" to appeal to family buyers. Looking at you, elegoo. It's not only irresponsible, it's a crime and if enough people end up like me you will find yourself facing a serious lawsuit. Once again, consequences are not worth the upfront "benefits" for your companies or the industry.

[u/[deleted] → u/ZippyTheRobin]

One thing about those elbow-length gloves is that people will finish working with them, then reach inside their left glove with their contaminated right glove and gunk up the inside of it pulling it off. Keep your own pair, or if they're in a shared work area like a makerspace teach people how to use them properly.

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/[deleted]]

They're disposable, and I always remove them by pulling from the fingers.

[u/Iowa_Dave → u/ZippyTheRobin]

I'm not a doctor, but I've seen this before.

It looks like Contact Dermatitis to me.

Back in my days as darkroom tech I'd work with a lot of different chemicals for developing film and paper. Some people could dunk their hands in the chemicals with no apparent effects. Others could get a few drops or touch equipment used in processing and develop a rash. Sometimes people would develop a sensitivity over time based on exposure.

I've gotten resin on my hands accidentally with zero noticeable effect. I try to minimize exposure of course, but a little counter goes off in my head every time it happens. I've developed chemical sensitivity over time. Eventually with B&W paper fixer if I got any on my hands, I'd immediately taste it in my mouth.

Edit: After closer reading - How can you make sure this was due to fume inhalation and not touching a surface that was contaminated by a small amount of resin? We'd have to clean the lab like mad to make sure people didn't pick up trace amounts of chemicals.

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/Iowa_Dave]

You've gotten it on your hands without effect because photopolymer resins are a cumulative toxin. With enough exposure, practically everyone will become sensitized. I can confirm I didn't have skin contact because I wore my PPE for the entire duration of work- collected them from outside the work area, removed them outside the work area. The only contact I had was any seepage around my mask (no mask is perfect), plus inhaling the fumes coming off my gloves while I removed my PPE.

[u/phab3k]

What is PPE?

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/phab3k]

Great question, acronyms suck! Personal protection equipment. Gloves, mask, goggles, face shield, work coat etc.

[u/BillieRubenCamGirl]

Thanks so much for this info. All too many people don't take my warnings seriously when I talk about venting fumes etc.

It will be good to have something to link to.

Would you might if I add your post to the resin page on the subreddit wiki?

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/BillieRubenCamGirl]

Sure, happy to be an itchy martyr if it keeps others from making the same mistakes.

[u/CakeTheBandit]

That resin gets to ya, gets even worse if you get the same spot again

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/CakeTheBandit]

Wasn't even skin contact! Posted a detailed description comment just after you replied, this is a systemic reaction from brief respiratory contact. Once you're sensitized, you're basically permafucked if you want to keep working with SLA. PPE is serious business.

[u/[deleted]]

Is there a formal test for SLA resin allergy (like with food allergies)?

I have that, but FAR worse on my elbows, and I work in an office that has three SLA printers operating with no external ventilation (fume-hood or otherwise). It's got me thinking that the fumes are circulating through the AC, and maybe this could be the cause? For reference: I have changed my diet, to little effect.

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/[deleted]]

Jesus, that's a serious OSHA violation in the US. I would not be surprised if the printers are causing your issue. Unfortunately the only test I know of is to end exposure for ~1wk and see if condition improves. I would definitely talk to whoever is responsible for the printers being used in such a way, and remember that you have the right to file a complaint against your employer if they don't make changes.

Edit: the above assumes you're in the US, but similar codes apply in the EU and most industrialized nations.

[u/Vlerherg]

Damn. I just recently acquired a used Nobel 1.0 and have been loving the print quality, but not the smell and mess of post processing. Have been FDM printing for years with beloved PLA. After seeing this and other posts on the topic it makes me a bit worried, since my printer is in a small enclosed workshop with no active ventilation unless I open the door (with 110F plus temps, it is not often during the summer). Thinking I might fabricate an active system to vent fumes from the enclosure to the outside of the shop and keep the cover over the resin/print area at all times, then don the old mask and open the door when removing for post. I already wear the mask and gloves when handling prints pre-cure, so I am good there.

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/Vlerherg]

Absolutely build or purchase a ventilation setup.

[u/DocPeacock]

Think I'll stick with FDM for now

[u/FantasticEmu]

Is it safe after it’s cured?

[u/ZippyTheRobin → u/FantasticEmu]

Depends on the resin, but theoretically it's pretty safe. By "cured", I don't mean straight off the printer. Parts should be cured fully in sunlight or under a UV lamp after printing. The dust is still harmful if sanding or doing other post-processing though.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/elmins → u/[deleted]]

He's on dat sticky icky

.... near UV resin.

[u/Diabeticon → u/[deleted]]

I liked Resin when it first came out but the few times I've tried it it wasn't as good. Something definitely changed at the production side and it's never as clean as it once was.