All You Need to Know About 3D Printer Fires
3D Printer Fire: Image Source: hackaday.com
If you are an active user of 3D printing and continuously working in the 3D printing forum, you must come across the 3D printer fire. It does not mean that all printers catch fire. Suppose there are 10,000,000 3D printers out there; then there is only a 0.0001 percent chance that your printer will catch fire.
There is no exact number of such incidences, but it still happens. That is why every 3D printer user must follow some instructions the 3D printer manufacturer explicitly provides. There is no such fire mitigation strategy that is 100% successful, but there are varying levels of protection that you should follow while operating a 3D printer.
Can a 3D Printer Catch Fire?
Yes, most 3D printers can catch fire. Hence manufacturer recommended that you should not leave your 3D printer unattended. Such types of fires are started in your machine, then will spread to your room, and finally may spread across the rest of the home.
It is necessary that you have to operate your 3D printer safely to avoid any potential damage. When you notice a fire in your printer, you should immediately turn off the switch. If you pay attention to your 3D printer, use it properly and maintain it regularly, you can avoid the possible chances of a fire. You should always prepare for fire risks when handling such electrical appliances. Some models are sold at meager prices and are at high risk of such incidences.
There are many reasons for 3D printer fire; some common causes of the 3D printer are electrical overheating, a loose thermistor, extruder jam, thermal runaway, and flammable casing. Let’s go into detail.
Reasons for 3D Printer Fire
1. Electrical Overheating
Electrical fires are a common cause of 3D printer fires. It happens when wires inside the printer get so hot that they will melt the insulation. These wires can spread the heat to other parts of the 3D printer, melting the frame, structural components, and filament and eventually starting a fire in the machine.
Such electrical issues occur because of poorly made 3D printers. Such printers are manufactured using badly insulated wires, loose solder, and improper-sized wires, increasing the chances of a fire in a 3D printer.
Therefore, choosing a printer from a reputed brand that is appropriately constructed is the best way to avoid fires.
2. Loose Thermistor
While working, the 3D printer heats the plastic filament to turn it into a liquid. Then extruder is used to squeeze the filament out, which gives the layer of printed material. Many printers use the heated print bed to prevent warping and control the cooling down of the filament.
In all this, your printer is continuously heating to print the object. Your 3D printer has a thermistor temperature reading mechanism for controlling the temperature and saving it from burning the filament.
Thermistors have a sensor for reading the temperature and communicating with your printer to adjust how much heat it should produce. They are attached to the printer by using screws and wires, and this connection is notorious for coming loose. When these connections are loose, the 3D printer cannot measure the heat accurately, resulting in overheating or a fire if you don’t turn off your printer manually.
3. The Thermal Runaway Malfunctions
If the temperature gets too high, the plastic can catch fire, and the fire can quickly spread to the rest of the printer. This can be a major problem, as many 3D printers are made from flammable materials. 3D printer requires a thermal runaway that will automatically shut down the printer if it gets too hot. This safety feature protects the 3D printer from catching fire if the thermistor malfunctions and comes loose.
If the thermal runaway is poorly made or unable to detect your thermistor heat level, then you need a sure-shot strategy for fire and flames.
4. Extruder Jams
Extruder Jams: Image Source: pintstein.wordpress.com
While printing, the extruder moves and distributes a small layer of melted filament onto the print bed. The extruder uses heat to make your model, but it could also create fire hazards if it does not get enough time to cool down between layers.
However, sometimes print fails, blocks the extruder movement, and gets trapped in one spot. When this happens, the extruder heats the model so much that it will melt down and catch fire.
5. Flammable Casing
High-quality thermal printers are expensive, but it is worth it as printers made from cheap and flammable materials often catch fires during printing. Materials such as foam, plastic, acrylic, and wood are necessary for holding parts together, but all these are flammable materials, thus increasing the risk of fire in your 3D printer.
Preparatory Things for Protecting a 3D Printer From Fire:
1. Use a 3D Printer From a Reputed Brand
The cost of the 3D printer decides the quality of materials used in the manufacturing of the printer. Cheap 3D printers are made from inexpensive materials and shoddy quality wiring, which are likely to catch fire. So, before buying a printer, you should check for all the reviews and ratings. Also, check the materials your printer is made from.
2. Use a Smoke Detector to Prevent a Fire
Smoke detectors cannot prevent your printer from burning but can help contain the fire. For this, you should install a smoke detector above the printer having good battery backup to get the best results.
3. Flammable Materials Should Not Be Placed Near Your Printer
Flammable materials in the home, such as wood, foam, plastic, paper, and sawdust, should be placed away from your printer. If your printer catches fire, it ensures fire can get out on its own. This helps to protect your home from burning. To prevent the spread of fire, keep your printer on a metal shelf; nothing should be placed on top of it.
4. You Should Prefer a Fire-Retardant Filament
Fire retardant filaments are helpful, especially when your print fails and when extruder blocks during the printing process. Such filaments will not catch fire when coming in contact with flames.
5. Properly Maintain Your Printer
Common causes of fire in the 3D printer are faulty and loose thermistors. You should keep your thermistor in good condition, use screws for tightening, and always check for loose wiring.
Regularly check the solder in your printer to ensure thermal runaways and secure electrical wiring from burning.
3D Printing Software - “SelfCAD”
There are a lot of 3D modeling software available and choosing the best one is a challenge, but we recommend using SelfCAD. SelfCAD is a reliable and simple-to-use 3D modeling software that both experts and beginners utilize. It includes an in-built slicer for preparing designs for 3D printing without having to look for a 3D slicer to do the task. SelfCAD's slicer supports the majority of commercially accessible FDM 3D printers.
SelfCAD is the only 3D modeling software that combines technical, creative, and 3D printing tools into a single, easy-to-use product. There are interesting tools available like 3D rendering, freehand drawing, and sketching. There are also very powerful sculpting brushes helpful in creating organic models with ease.
SelfCAD is perfect for beginners to 3D design due to its user-friendly interface. Professionals can also use the advanced features of the application to create complex designs.
Conclusion
In this article, we saw how commonly the 3D printer catches fire. We discussed the causes of 3D print fires and what precautions we should take to prevent the 3D print fires. Most fires are caused by electrical problems such as overheating the wires and melting the filaments. If you maintain your 3D printer, you can prevent these issues.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
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