3D printing has recently become a very popular hobby thanks to commercially available 3D printers. But many hobbyists are unaware of the toxic fumes, dangerous VOCs, and ultrafine particles that are spread into the air during 3D printing.

Industrial 3d printers utilize extensive ventilation and filtration systems to deal with these toxins and VOCs. These systems are not viable for small home workspaces or labs.

For smaller spaces, Air purifiers can substantially reduce the number of toxins, VOCs, and burning odors in the rooms. Air purifiers can also filter the ultra-fine particles UFPs generated during resin printing.

Here is the list of best air purifiers for 3d printers.

3 Best Air Purifiers for 3d Printers

IMAGE	PRODUCT	DETAILS
TOP PICK	Levoit Core 400s	CADR: 260 cfm Filtration Stages: 3 Area coverage: 403 sq. ft Filter life: 12 months	Check Price
BUDGET PICK	Winix 5500-2	CADR: 250 cfm Filtration Stages: 3 Area coverage: 360 sq. ft Filter life: 12 months	Check Price
Editor’s pick	Medify Air MA-40	CADR: 330 cfm Filtration Stages: 3 Area coverage: 420 sq. ft Filter life: 3 – 6 months	Check Price

1. Levoit core 400S

The sleek and stylish design of the Levoit Core 400s will look great sitting next to your 3D printers.

It comes with an H13 true HEPA filter which can easily remove ultrafine particles released during 3d printing.

The high-efficiency active carbon filter will help neutralize odors, VOCs, and dangerous fumes released by a 3D printer during printing.

Levoit Core 400S is one of the quietest air purifiers on the market. At the lowest fan speed, the noise level is 42.1db (the sound level of a refrigerator), and at the turbo fan speed, the noise level reaches 59.9 dB (the sound that an air conditioner makes). This quiet operation is best for a workspace, as you can focus on other tasks without being bothered by the sounds.

The Levoit core 400s has a CFM of 260 and can purify rooms up to 403 square feet. At the turbo fan speed up to 260 CFM, it takes in a power of 35 watts; at low fan speed, it takes in a power of 5.8 watts. The Levoit core 400s is an efficient air purifier.

Smart App features provided in the Levoit Core 400s make it unique. The advanced controls provided in the app make the air purifier even better in day-to-day use. 3D printers sometimes take a long time to print 3d structures. The timer option provided in the app can help schedule the air purifier to turn off when the 3D prints finish.

Levoit Core 400s purifier comes with an air quality sensor and indicator. The air quality sensor measures real-time particles and displays the data in the smart app. This is a very neat feature that lets you check the room’s current air quality at any time.

The Levoit Core 400s Air purifier also comes with a filter replacement indicator. It has a single combination filter. Filters usually last up to 12 months.

The air purifier also has an auto mode that can switch fan speeds according to the air quality in the room. In Sleep mode, fan speed is the quietest. This is great when you want extra silence in the room

Levoit core 400s is packed with features; it’s quiet, it’s efficient, and it removes dangerous ultrafine particles and fumes efficiently.

Features

260 CFM is enough for 403 Sq ft
Sleek and Modern design.
It’s Quiet and Energy Efficient
A pre-filter for capturing large dust and debris
True HEPA filter for ultrafine particles
An Activated pellet-based carbon filter that removes 3d printer fumes and VOCs effectively
Long filter life 12 Months
Filter replacement indicator
Air quality sensor and indicator
Auto mode and Sleep mode
Smart App with voice control
Scheduled timers can be used to schedule time for long hours 3d printing so that the unit shuts off afterward.
Warranty: 2 years

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2. Winix 5500-2

The Winix is our second-best choice for 3d printers. It offers a budget price with valuable features, and it gets the job done.

It has a washable pre-filter that catches medium to large-sized particles. Next comes the washable AOC carbon filter made from activated carbon granules to remove toxic odors, VOCs, and fumes.

The pellet-based carbon granules are placed in a honeycomb mesh, ensuring maximum gasses and toxins adsorption. The Winix washable AOC carbon filter is a unique feature from its competitors. The carbon filter is supposed to be washed every three months, and the pre-filter every 2-3 weeks.

Last but not least comes the true HEPA filter, which traps ultrafine particles released by the 3d printer.

The Winix also uses Plasmawave technology which is an ionizer. It creates ions that attach to odors and VOCs, removing them from the air.

It comes with an odor sensor and an air quality indicator. It’s also equipped with a remote. It also has an automatic fan speed setting. It’s also very energy efficient.

The Winix has a CFM of 250 and can handle rooms up to 360 Sq/ft. At low speeds, its noise level was 42.7dB at the turbo setting; its noise was 66.4 dB. It’s also an efficient air purifier; it draws only 55 W at max speed.

The Winix air purifier has a filter life of 1 year. Its design is a bit outdated but durable and gets the job done.

Features

It has a CFM of approx 250 CFM filtering rooms up to 360 sq/ft
It’s Quiet and Energy Efficient.
It uses a 3-stage filtration process With a
True HEPA Filter. Also, it comes with Plasmawave technology (Ionizer) which can be turned off if not required. CARB Certified.
Washable Pre Filter That increases the life of other filters
Washable Advanced Odor Control (AOC) Carbon Filter (only washable carbon filter on the market) filled with 1 lb of carbon pellets.
Air Quality Sensor and Filter Replacement Sensors.
Auto Mode(Automatic fan speed) and Sleep Mode (display turned off when lights are out)
Warranty Period: 1-2 years
Filter Life: 12 months

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3. Medify Air MA-40

Modify MA-40 introduces a sleek design and small size. It can sit right next to your 3d printers and blend in beautifully.

It is a three-step filtration process and uses a single combination filter. First comes the pre-filter which removes large particles.

Next, it uses a HEPA age 13 filter to remove ultrafine particles released by your 3D printer. The H13 HEPA filter removes 99.9% of particles from the air.

And in the last stage, the air is flown through a pellet-based carbon filter. The carbon filter is perfect and removes VOCs, odors, and fumes from your 3D printer.

The unit can operate on three fan speeds. At the maximum, it has a CFM of 330, which draws in 68W.

The Modify air purifier also has a timer feature for up to 8 hours. This can be used to schedule the air purifier to turn off when your resin prints finish.

Its filter replacement indicator shows you when to change the filter. Filters last about six months. Sleep mode and child lock are some of its other features.

Features

Three levels of filtration
Stage-1: Pre Filter removes large particles like fibers etc
Stage-2: high-efficiency H13 true HEPA filter to remove up to 99.9 percent of particles up to 0.1-micron level.
Stage-3: substantial carbon filter having carbon pellets to remove odor, smoke, and formaldehyde
a CFM of 330, and it can clean up 420 sq ft in 15 mins
The timer feature lets you do long 3d printer prints and set the air purifier to turn off after printing.
It has a sleek touch screen, sleep mode, and filter replacement indicator.
It also has a child lock.

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Also Read: Best Air Purifier for VOCs

Honorable Mentions

4. ELEGOO Mini Air Purifier

The ELEGOO mini air purifiers come from a 3D printer manufacturer of the same name. These purifiers come in a pack of two and are small compared to other air purifiers on this list.

These small and affordable air purifiers are meant to be placed inside the chamber of 3d printers. It consists of a small brick of activated carbon filter, effectively removing odors, VOCs, and fumes at the source.

The filter lasts 3 to 6 months, depending on your 3d printing. Its filters are hard to get your hands on. Some DIY solutions are popular among the masses. A carbon filter usually used for fish tanks can be used in this air purifier, or stacking some carbon filter sheets inside will get the job done.

These air purifiers have a 2000 mAh battery which lasts up to 24 hours, and are simple in design. They are designed to be put inside the 3d printer chamber and adsorb VOCs. The ultrafine particles somewhat settle down due to the enclosed chamber.

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How toxic is 3D printing?

Most commercially sold 3D printers use molten polymer deposition MPD or fused deposition modeling FDM. An extruder melts the resin up to 320 C and builds layers upon layers to create structures. While the resin is melting, toxins, chemicals, and harmful VOCs are created.

Many 3D printer enthusiasts deny such harmful effects of 3D printing. But if you look at 3D printing, you are melting plastic and plastic fumes are hazardous to health.

Some argue that toxins and VOCs don’t reach you, and you’re safe. If you can smell it, you’re inhaling it. If you inhale the VOCs and ultrafine particles, they can get stuck inside your lungs and enter your bloodstream.

The problem with plastics is that they don’t decompose naturally. That particle might stay in your system for over 1000 years. It’s no hidden fact that plastics are carcinogenic.

Types of 3D printer Pollutants

3d Printers produce two types of pollutants

Ultrafine particles UFPs for short, 0.1 to 0.01 microns in size.
Volatile organic compounds. Fumes, odors, and gasses all are VOCs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is a HEPA filter good for 3D printing?

There is large speculation in the online community that HEPA filters are useless when filtering ultrafine particles released during 3D printing. True HEPA filters ensure 99.97% removal of particles under 0.3 microns. This doesn’t mean that below 0.3 microns, nothing gets filtered. NASA researchers found that 0.3-micron-sized particles are the hardest to filter.

Brownian motion affects particles below 0.3 microns, meaning that they travel in a zig-zag pattern while flowing through the air. Hence the particles get stuck in the HEPA filter. So ultra fine particles 0.01 to 0.1 are better filtered by true HEPA filters. 0.3 micron-sized particles are just at the sweet spot of being small and having a relatively straight path, so they pass along deep into the filter.

HEPA filters fail to filter gasses or fumes, so VOCs tend to pass right through these filters.

How do you remove resin fumes?

To Filter VOCs, odors and fumes, and other gaseous chemicals, Air purifiers use activated carbon. The highly porous activated carbon adsorbs the fumes by trapping them in the pores.

Activated carbon filters tend to be used up quickly if there are many VOCs in the air.

Is PECO technology most effective for 3d printing?

Photoelectrochemical oxidation air purifiers are claimed to be the best at dealing with 3D printer pollutants. It utilizes a filter lined with a catalyst activated by a photoelectric effect. The catalyst then produces highly reactive ions, destroying the ultrafine particles trapped inside the filter and destroying the VOCs passed through the filter.

This is an extension of an earlier technology called PCO, which utilizes photochemical oxidation. PECO technology claims that more reactive ions are produced that bond with the VOCs converting them to nontoxic compounds.

The company’s co-founders’ research backs this technology, and 2-3 companies use this method. However, this PECO technology is not as rigorously tested or standardized as HEPA technology. Also, the PECO technology air purifiers are quite expensive.

What air purifier type works best for resin printing?

The air purifier that works best for resin printing has a true HEPA filter purifying UFPs and an activated Carbon filter that eliminates fumes, odors, and VOCs.

Do air purifiers help with VOCs?

Air purifiers with carbon filters remove VOCs effectively.

Which Air Filters Work for 3D Printers?

An air purifier with a True HEPA filter and a carbon filter works best for 3D printers. Removing ultrafine particles and VOCs produced during 3D printing.

What is activated carbon?

Activated carbon is highly porous carbon produced at high temperatures.

Conclusion

Levoit Core 400s is the most energy-efficient and quiet air purifier. Its smart app features and controls will be a great addition to your workspace. Its True HEPA and activated carbon filters deal with 3D printer emissions efficiently.