Ozone and PLA

Fishbulb2 · 01/07/2018, 05:03 PM

Hi everyone,

I'd like to 3D print a carbon holder to put on my skimmer lid to catch some of the excess ozone that escapes. I just don't have the means right now to cleanly cut a bunch of acrylic but I have a nice 3D printer on hand. Does anyone know if I can build this out of acrylic? The print would use a lot of PLA so I don't really want to test it just to see if it melts or reacts.

thanks,
FB

Fishbulb2 · 01/08/2018, 07:53 AM

Lots of views but no consensus? I'll print out a test piece and let people know how it goes. I should have time in the next couple of days. The goal will be to minimize the contact between the PLA and the ozone laden air.

Cheers,
FB

coseal · 01/08/2018, 07:24 PM

are you stuck to using only PLA? ABS should do ok and petg is probably ok to use as well... stay away from nylon based filaments when it comes to ozone..

Fishbulb2 · 01/08/2018, 07:29 PM

I don't have any ABS on hand and I more PLA than I know what to with, so I'll start there. But if it fails, I'll absolutely order a small amount of ABS to give it a shot. Thanks for the tip. I just need to take a night off to quickly design the part in sketchup and then give it a try. I'll post back when it's done.

FB

coseal · 01/08/2018, 07:47 PM

np! worst case scenario it gets brittle and cracks after awhile. then you can just print a new one...

Fishbulb2 · 01/14/2018, 09:01 AM

Alright, thought I'd post a quick update.

Here it is coming off the printer. Exciting!

[IMG]

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Test fitting it. Fits perfect.

[IMG]

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The little lip keeps it from sliding off.
[IMG]

[/IMG]

OK, now to put something on the bottom to hold the carbon. I had this stuff lying around. It's like carbon infused filter pad.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Cut to fit
[IMG]

[/IMG]

Bottom supports
[IMG]

[/IMG]

And fits perfectly. Now I need to run out and get some cheap activated carbon to put on top. Then let's hope the PLA doesn't dissolve with ozone.
[IMG]

[/IMG]

What an age we live in! I always tell my students how lucky they are.

FB

coseal · 01/16/2018, 11:52 AM

nice printer! you didnt want to add more support to the bottom? your adding carbon on top of the foam pad? if you added a tight grid to the base probably could use the carbon without the foam..

Fishbulb2 · 01/16/2018, 11:55 AM

Thanks, I love that printer. We print so much on it and it's been fun.

I wanted to minimize the contact between the ozone and the PLA, so I wanted most of the bottom to be the carbon foam pad. Not sure if that was the wrong approach. If the bottom supports ever crack, I could certainly make a new grid for the bottom without having to reprint all of the sides, etc. So far, I can't smell the ozone at all anymore. It's certainly works well for now.

Cheers!
FB

01/07/2018, 05:03 PM	#1
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Ozone and PLA Hi everyone, I'd like to 3D print a carbon holder to put on my skimmer lid to catch some of the excess ozone that escapes. I just don't have the means right now to cleanly cut a bunch of acrylic but I have a nice 3D printer on hand. Does anyone know if I can build this out of acrylic? The print would use a lot of PLA so I don't really want to test it just to see if it melts or reacts. thanks, FB __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/08/2018, 07:53 AM	#2
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Lots of views but no consensus? I'll print out a test piece and let people know how it goes. I should have time in the next couple of days. The goal will be to minimize the contact between the PLA and the ozone laden air. Cheers, FB __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/08/2018, 07:29 PM	#4
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	I don't have any ABS on hand and I more PLA than I know what to with, so I'll start there. But if it fails, I'll absolutely order a small amount of ABS to give it a shot. Thanks for the tip. I just need to take a night off to quickly design the part in sketchup and then give it a try. I'll post back when it's done. FB __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/14/2018, 09:01 AM	#6
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Alright, thought I'd post a quick update. Here it is coming off the printer. Exciting! [IMG][/IMG] Test fitting it. Fits perfect. [IMG][/IMG] The little lip keeps it from sliding off. [IMG][/IMG] OK, now to put something on the bottom to hold the carbon. I had this stuff lying around. It's like carbon infused filter pad. [IMG][/IMG] Cut to fit [IMG][/IMG] Bottom supports [IMG][/IMG] And fits perfectly. Now I need to run out and get some cheap activated carbon to put on top. Then let's hope the PLA doesn't dissolve with ozone. [IMG][/IMG] What an age we live in! I always tell my students how lucky they are. FB __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/16/2018, 11:55 AM	#8
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Thanks, I love that printer. We print so much on it and it's been fun. I wanted to minimize the contact between the ozone and the PLA, so I wanted most of the bottom to be the carbon foam pad. Not sure if that was the wrong approach. If the bottom supports ever crack, I could certainly make a new grid for the bottom without having to reprint all of the sides, etc. So far, I can't smell the ozone at all anymore. It's certainly works well for now. Cheers! FB __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/08/2018, 07:24 PM	#3
coseal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: rich,va Posts: 376	are you stuck to using only PLA? ABS should do ok and petg is probably ok to use as well... stay away from nylon based filaments when it comes to ozone..

01/08/2018, 07:47 PM	#5
coseal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: rich,va Posts: 376	np! worst case scenario it gets brittle and cracks after awhile. then you can just print a new one...

01/16/2018, 11:52 AM	#7
coseal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: rich,va Posts: 376	nice printer! you didnt want to add more support to the bottom? your adding carbon on top of the foam pad? if you added a tight grid to the base probably could use the carbon without the foam..