Do you find yourself going noseblind to the smell of filament?

I believe my office is fairly well ventilated but my wife came in the other day while I was experimenting with a new nylon sample I had received. She said it smells terrible but I couldn’t smell it at all. Now mind you, I can’t ignore the smell of ABS, but Nylon?

It made me wonder; is this an occupational hazard of being around FDM?

Thoughts anyone?

My rental is about as drought proof as a happy meal box…
An I mainly use PLA.
But during winter times I keep doors closed and the air exchange with the outside world limited.

Certain filaments, like Nylon and ABS can produce harmful fumes.
I noticed this the hard way after printing a rather larger model in Nylon over night with the door closed caused my fish in the tank to die.
There was a bad smell when I entered the room …
I now use a simple PVC pipe filled with activated carbon that is connected with some air duct hose to the exhaust fan of my P1S.
Well, connected when printing stinky filaments and also having an additional computer fan on the other end for those times when the fan in printer is kept off.
NOT ideal for warping filaments if the airflow is to high but beats having to buy an air purifier that is actually capable of taking our those chemicals.
Only works with activated carbon anyway, which would then be a costly consumable for a dedicated purifier.

If you ARE concerned about the health issues coming from stinky filaments consider getting a grow tent :wink:
Even the tiny 60cm cubes might do but one size larger already offers additional space to store filament and such.
For these tents you can not only get internal carbon filter systems but also can easily print adapters for their hose connections to use a small computer fan to use an inlet and outlet hose going to the outside of the house.
Even at just minor flow rates the constant exchange of air will prevent fumes from stinking up your office or home.
And since you can quickly remove all sides and the top access to the machine is easy as well.
Prefer the tents with zippers over those with just velcro to close the openings…
If you pay a bit more you can even get grow tents with rather thick walls that provide some good noise insulation.
Of course you just build a nice corner ‘room’ in your office to house the printer and have it looking more stylish…

If you entered a room where nylon is printing, you probably would smell it. People eventually ignore the smells around them if they are constant.

I think the carbon filter in the printer works well. I really have to open the door to smell even ABS.

I can smell the ABS with the door closed. So the fumes are still there whether or not you smell it.