The Form Wash complies with a variety of safety and quality standards. This article is designed to answer any questions related to using flammable solvents with the Form Wash and to address any concerns with the machine’s risk of explosion.

The Form Wash abides by regulatory standards, but it is critical to properly assess the surrounding work area for safety risks. Use components and equipment listed by nationally recognized testing labs to ensure safety from fire or explosion hazards. For equipment recommendations, see the Formlabs-approved distributors for supplies (SLA) article.

The flash point of a solvent is the lowest possible temperature at which it forms enough vapor such that it can ignite if exposed to an ignition source. Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) has a low flash point of 53 °F (12 °C), so take special care to ensure that ignition of vapors does not occur.

Formlabs recommends using flammable solvents such as IPA to clean your SLA prints of excess resin. Assess your operating area to ensure that there are no nearby sources which can ignite the IPA fumes. Ignition sources include, but are not limited to, open flames, hot surfaces, and electrical sparks. If working in an enclosed area, ensure that the area is well-ventilated. Take care when filling the wash bucket with solvent, when both lids are open, and when printed parts are drying. These are the times when vapor concentrations are highest.

Always abide by your company's safety protocols and local regulations to ensure that flammable solvents are handled safely.

Working with flammable solvents like IPA poses a safety risk to personnel and property. Understand the risks and mitigate them with appropriate safety guidelines.

If your company does not have guidelines for safely handling flammable solvents like isopropyl alcohol (IPA), Formlabs recommends using a non-flammable solvent such as Formlabs Resin Washing Solution or tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether (TPM) to wash SLA prints with the Form Wash.

If using a flammable solvent such as IPA, take proper precautions to reduce the risk of fire or explosion.

The Form Wash is designed to mitigate the hazards associated with flammable solvents. These design choices are not a substitute, but rather a supplement to your business’s internal safety protocols regarding the safe handling of volatile and flammable solvents. The Form Wash features used to mitigate the hazard of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) flammability include the following:

• Double lids to ensure vapors are contained by at least one physical barrier
• No use of ultrasonic agitation
• Motion provided by stepper motors to eliminate sparks associated with DC motors

The safety limits for isopropyl alcohol (IPA) concentration in air as it pertains to health and flammability are provided in the table below. VOC levels may vary greatly during operation of the Form Wash. Perform an on-site assessment to ensure that regulatory limits are not exceeded.

Footnote 1: US CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Footnote 2: US National Center for Biotechnology Information

Below, for reference, is a diagram of nominal IPA concentrations measured around the Form Wash L while a wet part is drying in the basket. Formlabs recommends ventilating your work area so that measured IPA concentrations do not exceed these guidelines.