Reddit reviews AFO Fire Ball, ABC Fire Extinguisher, Fire Suppression Device, Fire Safety Product With Sign

I imagine something similar to these: https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

I run mine unattended, but I have a fire ball and an automatic fire extinguisher to snuff the flames in the event something goes wrong. The fireball is nice because you can put it just about anywhere, including inside an enclosure if you plan for it.

Fire Ball - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JVXFQ6E/

Automatic Extinguisher - http://www.urbangardensupply.net/safety-equipment/flame-defender-extinguisher-2-kg/

Well yes, but actually no.

In all seriousness, the vast majority of machines shouldn't present problems if you don't start opening up cases and poking around and making ill-advised modifications.

Major brand name machines are generally pretty reliable if run in-spec. There are occasional issues (See the recent controversy with the Ender 3's bum connectors) but for the most part the risk is minimal.

That said, it's a mechanical device that works with high temperatures and generally flammable material, it's inevitable that there are going to be problems.

I have my printer set up with a metal beam over the bench and I stuck one of these above the printer. I highly recommend them.

A lot of people like these but they're not a great idea because of how they function. They explode and throw their fire suppressant all over the area but the explosion is basically just a small firecracker and can throw burning debris around a room.

The overhead ones that I posted will just pop open and dump their contents down so they're perfect for positioning over a printer.

There's a compressed dry powder version now. It uses a small explosive charge.

Or a fire extinguishing sphere! I have one in my grow closet.

AFO Fire Ball, ABC Fire Extinguisher, Fire Suppression Device, Fire Safety Product With Sign https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_F2ngAbATZP3TF

https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

If you're clever you could rig up an Arduino or Raspberry Pi as a smoke detector.

https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/Aritro/smoke-detection-using-mq-2-gas-sensor-79c54a

Use a relay to control the power supply to the printer, if any smoke is detected the Arduino would immediately cut the power to the printer. At that point, the most critical thing is making sure there's minimal flammable material around the printer.

Alternatively, mount a fire ball above the printer in the enclosure. https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

I was thinking about this today. But I had an idea. What if you made a holder for one of these at the top of the enclosure? https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

That's great!

But, the rest of us aren't so confident about the Anet A8 seeing how there are multiple examples of them catching fire.

#1 2017

#2 2017

#3 2017

#4 2018

That's me taking 5 minutes. Actually I spent more time writing this than researching this. An exhaustive search would probably yield more and these are just the ones people are telling us about.

Maybe they can be made safe, but that needs to happen in the factory, not after the fact by the consumer who probably isn't an electrical engineer. You're not an electrical engineer are you?

Disclaimer: I'm not an expert. Take my advice at your own risk.

I don't know what's causing these fires. But, I've heard mention of mainboards and PSU's. You should probably take the task of heating off the mainboard and put it onto external mosfets for the hotend and the hotbed. You might also want to replace the factory power supply (PSU) with something more robust. As long as the A8 is 12 volts I'd probably suggest an ATX power supply conversion if you're handy with a soldering iron and feel confident you can do it. ATX power supplies come with a number of built-in safety features. Here's a wiki on choosing a PSU.

You might also want to add some basic fire suppression to your print area. This maybe would stop a fire, but it's not going to stop an electrical short creating heat and therefore acting as an ignition source. It might give you more time to react in the case that a fire does start.

Edit: I couldn't find the rating on the rangehood fire extinguisher so, this ball extinguisher that is ABC rated might be a better option if you can figure out how to suspend it above your printer which shouldn't be too hard as it comes with a metal stand.

I would definitely add a fire extinguisher nearby where you print.

Then add a fire alarm above your printer and in the adjacent room.

This is not just advice for you, but it's advice for anyone. I've done all three of the above suggestions. I've add the stove rangehood fire extinguisher. I've wall mounted a fire extinguisher in the adjacent room. I've also add two fire alarms, one above my printer and another in the adjacent room.

Be safe my friend and heed the warnings these multiple fires are broadcasting.

Your comment prompted me to price-check fire extinguishers on amazon and I found this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=s9_acsd_zwish_hd_bw_buE73_c_x_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_r=7MYRX1RQZM393T3P17AP&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=a76c4107-ed53-5b69-8565-947784193630&pf_rd_i=13400621

I got super excited until I found out the first part of the title was the opposite of what it sounds like.

1. Octoprint and a webcam and I check on things regularly during the day
   
2. 18” ceramic floor tiles from Lowes (fireproof) that my printers sit on
   
3. Fire retardant enclosure (mine is made from some fire resistant drywall I had from another project.
   
   I’ve also considered sticking a “fireball” in the enclosure but haven’t done so yet.
   AFO Fire Ball, ABC Fire Extinguisher, Fire Suppression Device, Fire Safety Product With Sign https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_bcEWCbS7QVAF7
   
   Oh and of course a regular inspection of the connectors both outside and inside the “control box”

Very good post ! and you broke some very common sense rules. Smoke detector next to the printer is a must with a fire extinguisher close by! I print overnight and remotely with octoprint , have a wifi cam on my printer and a wifi power outlet so i can shutdown remotely . In the process now of rebuilding my cr10s control box to go into a PC case with a safer PC ATX power supply and better mosfets , better wiring . You really do have to check every single part of a new printer and make sure every screw is tight and inspect all parts about every month , its a must ! this is how you find bad wires, heat damage and faulty loose parts. The quality of these printers coming from china is always suspect , they don't have the same rules about safety and quality of electrical parts , especially these cheap power supplies.

these a good to have next to a printer .

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002U0KGDY/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B002U0KGDY&pd_rd_wg=gjVoO&pd_rd_r=H3NFRFDNXWWC786AGKFA&pd_rd_w=lT4EK

for unattended printing , i have been considering the fire extinguisher ball

https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=pd_sim_469_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01JVXFQ6E&pd_rd_r=HG0JX9DBWW38VCY9K200&pd_rd_w=9YkPE&pd_rd_wg=OpFhs&psc=1&refRID=HG0JX9DBWW38VCY9K200

This is what I had come up with a few months ago, which will do what you're suggesting, but without the extra electronics. The comments there have the model of smoke alarm I used - it specifically has to have 120V integrated relays.

There's a couple options for fire suppression, this being another

Interesting! Wonder how well they perform in an enclosed area like an RV or room. A fire extinguisher directs the chemical directly at where the user aims it. This is beneficial that the user won't inhale whatever chemicals are being deployed. The AFO fire ball does a 360 so it hits everything, which has its benefits, but I'm guessing you end up inhaling a lot of this product.

Amazon link to the AFO: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_LNN9ybY2MW84W

Obviously the lack of fire is the best option in these scenarios, in my non fire professional opinion.

These remind me of the fire ropes too, can't find the link right now though.

Edit found the link to BlazeCut, doesn't appear on Amazon any more for some reason tho: https://jogrusa.com/products/blazecut-fire-suppression-system

Interesting. This might be useful to mount above the 3d printer with one of these in case a fire ever broke out.

fire suppression ball

Lights, fans, cooling, heating all contribute to your amperage pulled and this is the number the breaker uses to determine overload. Running a 5x5 space with 2 QB + COB+smaller lights on my veg space + intake and exhaust fans+ pumps etc and am pulling 800 to 1000 watts at any one time about 8-9 amps on a 15 amp breaker. I also have an AC and dehumidifier unit which pulls 8-10 amps by itself and there fore must go on another circuit. I could not run all that unless I split it up.

My point is don't underestimate TOTAL usage by just assuming lights are the only draw and yes buy a kill-a-watt meter it is very useful if you have any doubts. Also be sure the breaker you think it is is the one that it actually are using by plugging something into it and shutting the breaker off.

It is possible to do what you want on 10 but for me that would be cutting it close depending on peripherals. You can also tap into that 220v? dryer oulet but that is a longer topic.

Fire is a real concern for growers. I read an article on it last night but cant find it now but I am wanting to buy one of these now https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/

Fire Extinguisher Ball on Amazon.

Here is the one I got. It comes with a little stand that I just zip-tied on top of my printer. It's basically a ball wrapped in a fuse with a fire-cracker and extinguishing powder inside. Flames touch the fuse and the thing explodes (small, safe, youtubers have set them off in their hands) and sprays fire extinguishing powder everywhere.

Yeah, I'll probably look into a cutoff as well.

>Something like the AFO Fireball

Holy fuck, this thing?!?

>when it comes into contact with fire and disperses non-toxic chemicals to extinguish the flames in an area with a radius ranging between 86 to 107 square feet.

This exploding in an enclosed structure of approximately 8 cubic feet would definitely put out any fire. It'd probably blow out the enclosure as well, but hey, no fire.

I might see if there's a smaller one. Definitely seems more useful than the stovetop one.

EDIT: Interesting thought though, if you mounted the AFO ball with a 3D printed plastic mount to the top of an enclosure, the heat would probably melt the plastic enough to drop the ball directly onto the fire before the fire got big enough to ignite it normally. Putting it out earlier.

I happened to see this while I was browsing around on Tindie the other day. You might be interested. https://www.tindie.com/products/niujl123/shut-down-3d-printer-by-smoke-detector/

I like the enthusiasm but honestly it's probably easier and safer to use existing solutions: put one of those extinguisher bombs on top of the printer (eg. https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E ) which should handle the fire and wake the neighborhood at the same time, and make sure your smoke alarms batteries are good.

A simple, cheap enclosure is not difficult to build. I wouldn't let the lack of an enclosure restrict your choice. Carvey and Nomad are good choices, but I'd argue that a Shapeoko3 might be a better value because of its more powerful spindle and motors, and larger work area. The primary drawback of the Shapeoko 3, in my opinion, is the fact that it uses V wheels instead of real linear bearings, which means swarf can collect on the rails and wheels, and cause some problems, and they need to be adjusted properly. If you are interested in a 5-axis machine, there's the PocketNC although it's a bit of a step up in price at about $5,000+, and the work area is smaller, but you can do more complex parts. You didn't say what your budget was, but at that price, you are starting to get into range of a "real" machine such as a Tormach 440, but I'm not sure if that meets your portability requirements. You say you want it to be somewhat portable, which means lightweight, but generally the heavier the machine is, the more performance you'll get out of it. Rigidity is the name of the game in machining. Also consider the fact that after you buy the machine, you will need to spend some money on some endmills, so leave room in the budget for that.

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Another thing that you need to understand is that CNC's are inherently more dangerous than 3D printers. It's not advisable to "set it and forget it" like you do with 3D printers that you let run overnight. People's shops/houses have burned down because of their unattended CNC. There are some simple fire suppression systems you can put in the enclosure, but nothing beats a human standing by, ready to hit the emergency stop button.

Also, a CNC does not quite have the same learning curve as a 3D printer to use it successfully, and it also costs more to operate. Most people can get onboard with the fact that they have to pay for 3D printer filament since it's a consumable. But it's a different dynamic when it comes to endmills. Endmills get dull or broken and need to be replaced. They need to be considered consumables too. And you need to have a decent variety of endmills on hand, with some backups. And you should have someone inspect the machine and tools on a regular basis. There is a Shapeoko3 in the employee makerspace here at my work, but every time I've been down there, I give it a little jiggle and it's apparent that the V wheels are not adjusted properly. New users wouldn't know to look for that.

https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

Well I think they'll make a mess if they go off but I do know some people keep these near their printers.

https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

EH I have such a nice setup / case, and I know fire chance is low but peace of mind would be nice.

I'd prefer a mini one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

Something rated to put out a small fire, because frankly that's all I'll have in my enclosure if I ever have one. There's nothing majorly flammable in there.

You mean like this?

AFO Fire Ball, ABC Fire Extinguisher, Fire Suppression Device, Fire Safety Product With Sign https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KOxrDbGYB5EQ9

They also used to make glass fire ones @100 years ago.

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/common-fire-safety-device-in-old-homes-a-health-hazard.shtml

hey OP, i found this thread by googing

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ender 3 catching on fire

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since i was too a bit worried, even though its brand new, I have 2 day prints going already

​

orered one of these for piece of mind

​

https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

Smoke alarm, webcam, and fire extinguisher nearby, but most importantly it's in an area where it could burn to the ground and not set the rest of the house on fire.

Ideally the smoke alarm should be tied to a smart outlet that the printer is plugged into, so it can automatically shut down.

You could also set one of these automatic extinguishers over your printer.
https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E
https://www.amazon.com/WilliamsRDM-675-3D-Stovetop-Firestop-Rangehood/dp/B00FL6VU3Y

Never tried em but I saw these also. https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/

Get one of these single-use flame extinguishing balls:

Amazon link

Yes its true if wood is around or any flammable material it would be wise to take precautions. However remember that you will never really exceed 275°C when printing and most fires with 3D printers happen due the heater cartridge falling out or when the wrong mosfets are installed on the electronics board. If however you really want to be safe install this fire ball extinguisher on top of your 3D printer:

https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E

The downside of this ball is that a false positive alarm will cost you your printer. A thermal camera or a smoke detector connected to the PSU will trigger when the fire already happened. This means you have to extinguish the fire yourself and If you are not close by this might be an issue.

You could just put one of these in each enclosure https://www.amazon.com/Extinguisher-Suppression-Device-Safety-Product/dp/B01JVXFQ6E/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1517520609&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=automatic+fire+extinguisher&psc=1