You may already know what is UV resin. It is a common material that can be used in the 3D printing method. However, have you ever wonder is UV resin safe for skin and even your health or not?
Although this material is widely used, the health risks linked with it are not much discussed.
UV resin can be quite dangerous, yet few people are aware of its dangers.
Using this material for 3D printing can cause some further risks.
This article will tell you why it is so poisonous.
Additionally, how to keep yourself safe when using the filament.
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Is UV Resin Safe For Skin?
No, liquid resin is poisonous and can be absorbed through the skin.
It is dangerous to one’s health.
Not only does this have a bad impact on your health, but it also has an impact on the printing industry as a whole.
Many people do not notice that when resin comes into touch with their skin because it does not cause any significant responses at that time.
You may not see anything or feel any pain or burning.
However, if you come in contact with resin or its gas for a long time, your body will eventually become extremely sensitive to it.
This develops gradually like getting an allergy
. Resin causes the skin to react strongly over time.
The presence of just a few fumes in the air is enough to cause severe headaches.
In industry, a lot of manufacturers choose this substance.
It is because of many unique applications that can be applied to modern life.
Occupational safety has long been taken into account because interaction with this glue is bad for people’s health.
Curing process under the UV light (Source: All3dp)
How Toxic Is UV Resin?
UV resin 3D printers can be very harmful. On the other hand, using other 3D printing methods can be less dangerous.
To know the dangers of this kind of printing, you must first understand how the technology works.
The material’s chemical properties are what cause its toxicity.
When you put UV light directly onto the glue during the printing process, it will become hard. However, once becoming harden and firm, it is no longer harmful.
You must not touch the glue while it is liquid or soft, because it can enter your skin very quickly in this form.
With hardened, solid products, you do not have to worry.
Common Affect Signs
Not everyone faces the same warning signs. However, direct contact with soft resin or its fumes can cause the following symptoms:
- Watering and puffy eyes
- Feel burning eyes
- Skin redness
- Pimples and cracks on the skin
- Feel pain or burn the skin
- Respiratory issues
- Headaches
- Eczema on hands, arms, legs, face, or neck
- …
If you have one (or more) of these signs, you should see the doctor right away.
It is possible that the symptoms will not show up until you have touched it multiple times over a longer period of time.
So, if you think UV resin safe for skin because you have made it through the first several prints without being damaged, do not be careless.
Anyone who frequently works with synthetic resin normally wears many layers of protective clothes and disposable gloves on top of each other.
This is due to the fact that after a layer has been wetted with synthetic glue, it must be discarded.
To keep you and those around you safe from the liquid glue, the stained protective gear should be thrown away right away – in a garbage bag that can be sealed tightly afterward so it does not come into contact with anything else in the house.
UV Resin Safety Precautions
As we know, it is wrong that UV resin safe for skin.
Thus, you should follow these guidelines to protect yourself during work.
First, go over all of the safety guidelines that the 3D printer manufacturer suggested.
This may appear boring.
However, reading the instructions before using the item will give you some benefits: you will remember them and will always use the device carefully.
Secondly, printing should be done in a protected environment. When printing, allow neither pets nor small children to come in.
Thirdly, prepare protective equipment before starting:
- Protective gloves for hands (better to wear several layers on top of each other)
- Safety glasses to protect the eyes
- Clothing that covers your skin on arms, legs, and others as completely as possible
- Ideally a disposable or a protective coat
Remember that it is important to always wear protective gear and personal protection equipment.
This applies not just to the printing process, but also when setting up the printer, as well as any produced components and cleaning after work!
Lastly, only place the printer in rooms with good ventilation.
Even better is an air-conditioned room that can filter toxic air.
This is great if you have a workshop with an exhaust system over the work table.
Activated carbon filter systems are frequently recommended because they can effectively collect fumes from 3D printers.
Watch more safety tips at (60) 3D Printing with Resin | Safety Tips – YouTube
How To Cure UV Resin?
At first, you may need to take a lot of factors into account in order to estimate its curing time.
The thickness and size of the items you print will decide how much time the material will take to cure.
Each layer of a small piece, such as jewelry, takes 2 to 3 minutes to cure. On the other hand, larger pieces and layers will need from 4 to 6 minutes.
Humidity and room temperature can also affect this period.
You should note that while the sun does produce UV rays, they are not powerful enough to harden your resin.
As a result, you will need a specific UV resin-curing light bulb. Moreover, you cannot use just any UV light because it needs to be of the right setting in order to harden the glue.
Most UV resins require a wavelength range of 356 to 400 nanometers to get firmed.
You have to cast this sort of material in thin layers to make sure that the glue is sufficiently hardened.
Each layer should be no more than 3 mm thick, and you should let each one cure completely before moving on to the next.
While UV resin is ideal for smaller jobs and provides quick results, the end result is not as durable as epoxy one.
UV one is different from the epoxy resin in that it is not heat or scratch-resistant. Besides, it does not last as long as the epoxy material.
What To Do After Printing?
You now know that if the UV resin is safe for the skin or not.
Before you begin any further steps, you must first clear off your 3D printer.
There is still some material left in the tank after printing.
It can be reused if you gently pour it back into the bottle by a filter.
On the printing platform and the printing component itself, there is also liquid glue. Let it drip back into the tank.
Hang the printing plate diagonally above the tank to do this.
Important: Wear protection gears at all times, including when cleaning up.
Once the platform is clean, use paper tissues or toilet paper to wipe away any remaining.
Put the paper in the rubbish bag as soon as possible to ensure that no liquid resin from the paper lands on your work surface.
Using a spatula or blade, separate your print piece from the printing platform.
You have to place the printed parts in a container filled with isopropanol or water washable resin.
Spin the container until there is no resin film on the surface has as a result of the movement. This also cuts down on the number of paper towels you use.
It is a must to wipe off all extra glue from the corners for a good print result. In most cases, you will need a soft toothbrush or brush to help.
This item must also be carefully cleaned after use.
Suggested cleaning steps after finishing a resin 3D printing (Source: 3D Adept Media)
It’s a Bottom-Up, Not a Top-Down resin 3D printer
Using a bottom-up resin 3D printer, unfortunately, means a lot more can go wrong during the 3D printing process.
Users of top-down Gizmo 3D Printers have far less troubleshooting to do should anything go wrong with a print.
They also have a much more enjoyable and cost-effective 3D printing experience thanks to the many benefits of top-down resin 3D printing.
UV Resin: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What If I Use Too Much UV Light?
Under UV light, the glue hardens or cures.
And in this solid condition, it is no longer harmful.
However, using too much UV light, as well as prolonged or forceful exposure, will destroy the substance.
As a rule of thumb, six minutes of exposure is told enough time for even big print pieces to cure entirely.
2. What Can I Do If I Accidentally Come Into Contact With This Toxic Glue?
Remove any contacted clothing as soon as possible.
Wash your skin thoroughly with water and a light soap.
Rinse the affected skin areas with warm water for about 15 minutes, if possible.
Important note: Never use too hot water. Because this is ineffective in washing off glue from the skin.
Besides, heat makes the skin pores open.
This makes it easier for the toxicity to enter the body.
3. Is Resin Jewelry Last Long?
Yes, they do last a long time if the resin is mixed with a fine metal like sterling silver.
In terms of safety, it is important to mention that you should not expose resin jewelry to excessive heat.
So make sure you take the right care of it.
4. Are Eco-friendly Filaments Safer?
Eco-friendly product is not toxic and prints just as good as a normal one.
There is no difference in quality.
Moreover, the bad smell that you get from traditional ones will be lower.
The price of green products is higher, but the benefits may be worth it, especially if you have kids or pets around.
5. How Do I Properly Treat This Material After Work?
To properly dispose of 3D printer resin, make sure that any uncured glue is cured under UV light from a lamp or curing machine, or in direct sunshine.
Curing is also improved by air and ambient light.
After it has dried, it can be discarded like regular plastic.
Conclusion
UV resin is an ideal option for 3D printing because it is convenient as well as easy to find.
Moreover, it is also relatively safe to work with if you follow the safety guidelines carefully.
When dealing with the glue, you should wear protection glasses, a respirator, gloves, and some other cover that can protect your arms.
In addition, make sure that you know how to store it properly.
To sum up, UV resin safe for the skin as long as you avoid direct contact.
Further Reading:
