Rapid Prototyping Laboratory Environmental Plan

http://techweb.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/AT141EnvironmentalPlan.htm
141 Applied Technology Building Ball State University, Muncie, IN J. Flowers, 8/11/2016

The following guidelines were developed in an attempt to diminish negative environmental impacts.

1. Access and Authorization

A. Use of the equipment is limited to those authorized by lab supervisors or by those instructors trained to
use the equipment.

2. Electrical Power Consumption

A. Computers that control equipment (laser cutter, 3d laser scanner, NC lathe, NC mills, Z-Corp rapid
prototyper, fused deposition modeler, stereolithographic apparatus) should POWER DOWN when NOT in
use. When leaving a computer, if there is not another person about to use the computer and if the
computer is not sending data to a machine, then completely power down the computer and monitor.

B. Computers not controlling equipment should be SET to automatically POWER DOWN after 10
minutes.

C. Equipment, including the exhaust fan for the laser cutter, the mills, lathe, laser cutter, FDM, and laser
scanner should POWER DOWN when NOT in use.

D. Room lights should be turned on when the room is officially open and staffed, and should be turned off
when it is not.

E. In general, we do not use the Emergency Power Off button except when it is necessary for safety
reasons. Pressing this button would abort all builds underway in the lab and cause all unsaved data to be
lost on computers.

3. Material Use and Disposition

A. Consumption of laboratory materials is subject to the lab budget administrator.

B. Minimize waste. Maximize usefulness of materials and leftovers. Re-use materials when possible.

C. Materials that are to be sent to municipal recycling should be placed in the recycling container just
outside the lab door. Specialized materials that could be recycled in our own lab should be placed into
containers and clearly labeled. Please remember that plastics intended to be recycled into 3D printer
filament must not contain contaminants that would clog the tiny 3D printer nozzles.

D. Use of material for in-class our out-of-class projects is subject to approval by either the instructor or by
the lab supervisor, and the user should fill out the Equipment Use sheet located next to RP equipment,
indicating the cost (to BSU) for the materials consumed.

E. The Z-Corp Z-510 requires regular part builds to maintain the system. These should be minimal.

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F. The vacuum within the Z-510 post processing unit is to be used only for clean Z-510 powder of the
same type currently in the Z-510. Like the overflow bin in the Z-510, it is to be emptied back into the build
chamber through a strainer. Contaminated powder should be discarded as solid waste.

G. No hazardous materials are to be poured or flushed down a drain. This includes the hydrosetting
powder used by the Z-510 rapid prototyper. Standard BSU procedures should be followed for hazardous
materials disposition.

H. Material containers should be properly marked, with dates of receipt noted where age is an issue.
Contaminated materials must not be combined with uncontaminated materials, but should be discarded
appropriately.

I. Please choose the most appropriate technology for the task, taking into account the wise use of
materials. For example if you intend build an object on a uPrint that is a straight extrusion, ask yourself if
it might be better to build the object on a MakerBot instead, possibly without the use of support materials
and solvent. It might be even better to fabricate the product without using a 3D printer at all. Choose
manufacturing methods with an eye toward minimizing material and energy waste.

4. Safety & Indoor Air Quality

A. Safety glasses are required in the lab. Depending on the operation involved, latex gloves, cotton
gloves, or dust masks might also be needed. Those unsure should check with the lab supervisor.

B. To safeguard the indoor air quality, the exhaust system of the laser cutter must be operating during
cutting. It is recommended that the cut part remain in the machine for at least one minute after cutting to
allow gasses to escape before removing it and turning off the exhaust.

C. Powder used for the Z-510 rapid prototyper is expensive, harmful to equipment, and harmful to
humans. It should be handled carefully so as to avoid excessive release to the indoor environment. Dust
masks should be worn during particularly hazardous tasks, such as emptying the special vacuum into a
sifter for reuse. The vacuum adapter should be used when returning powder to the feed chamber.

D. Refer to Material Safety Data Sheets, on file in the lab, for more information on material safety.