I would like to know if the P1S enclosure will leak air when printing from areas other than the exhaust located behind the printer. If I set the chamber and auxiliary fan to 100% while printing, can I be confident that most of the fumes from the plastic heated by the nozzle will be directed through the exhaust at the back of the printer? Or is it necessary to purchase a separate enclosure to ensure that fumes from printing PAHT-CF are only exiting from one designated area?
The simple answer is no; fumes do not exit from just one area. The doors alone are not airtight. However, if you set the exhaust fan at the rear of the unit to 100%, it will create a low-pressure situation that will exhaust air out the back. If your concern is with noxious fumes such as ASA or ABS, rigging up a shroud and vent tube to an external exit should eliminate those fumes from escaping into the nearby environment. However, note that this may create a secondary issue: ABS, in particular, functions best at higher temperatures. If you exhaust the air out the back and bring in ambient temperature air through the various cracks in the case, such as the front door, you will likely cause a drop in temperature that will make printing such material problematic.
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So do you think that my best bet is to buy a separate enclosure and vent the fumes out of a window via a vent duct?
That depends on what your purpose for venting is. Before spending too much money, I would do a couple of test prints and see just how much the fumes affect the area. Something as simple as a window fan may be sufficient at least for the warm weather months. If you have high level of concern, consider purchasing a VOC meter to help take out the guesswork. They range in price from $20-$100 for basic models and then jump very quickly to professional grade models used by HVAC technicians and public safety officials. Those cost hundreds and I’m not sure they are justified. I have one I got at Walmart for $20.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=voc+meter&s=price-asc-rank
Based on your measurements from that meter, and most of all, your nose, you can decide if it’s worth it.
I have a P1P that I have not sealed up yet but I already know the approach I will take. It will likely be something like this.
A simple printable duct and a dryer exhaust hose than one can source anywhere.
https://www.printables.com/model/466983-bambu-lab-x1-carbon-air-duct-90-deg
https://www.printables.com/model/323638-bambu-lab-x1c-exhaust-duct-adapter
Then simply adapt it to a window mount kit that is also readily available. I already have one of these that was parts left over from a standalone A/C unit.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=window+air+conditioning+exhaust+duct
Hey i was curious since i have a good plan and more than everything needed to do a run of 4 inch hvac from my printer exhaust and i have a plitter to use it with my c02 laser and the 1st fan of each will run regardless which ones on so theres no backdraft of fumes and im gonna run that out the side of my window unit with a injection molded panel i made to make it sturdy and sealed, butbeith that my question is, should i be able to avoid the ambient air intake if I use foam or even trim on the front door so it’s more so sealed when it’s closed along with my 400 watt ptc fan i have in my p1s for a heated chamber. I don’t go over 65 Celsius and normally 60 is the most i prefer on my inkbird itc-308 temperature controller just to be safe but that controller and fan do an amazing job i just havent done abs yet and dont have my hvac up yet but should the ptc fan and extra sealing help me out with keeping my temps even if the fans gotta run more? I currently use the ptc fan with the temp controller and open cell foam with aluminum tape on it for sound absorption on my p1s cause it makes great insulation when my window unit is on that way my ptc fan is barely ever running to keep the temp steady. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and very helpful lol. I have so much aluminum and copper tape and its hard to not us it on the enclosure just for better temps lol. Thanks again man i know ive asked you a lot but i really do appreciate any help i can get.
If you’re already hitting your target temps, there’s no need to change anything.
If you’re asking whether sealing the front door will help: probably not. Your exhaust setup is creating negative pressure, so air will find its way in one way or another. Sealing the door just shifts where that makeup air comes from—likely through seams or gaps elsewhere. It could reduce airflow efficiency and make your fan work harder without improving thermal performance. Unless you’re seeing unstable temps or drafts at the door specifically, I don’t see a benefit.