SLS powder is a combustible material that requires the proper storage and handling precautions to use safely. Always dispose of sintered and unsintered powder in accordance with your local government regulations.

Use appropriate personal protective equipment when handling loose or unsintered powder. Refer to the support article Safety with Fuse 1 generation printers for additional information.

Always consult the safety data sheet (SDS) as the primary source of information to understand safety and handling of Formlabs powders.

Pulverized plastic powder (e.g., nylon PA12) poses a combustion risk if not properly handled. Only use a compliant vacuum that is grounded and bonded, such as a Class II, Division 2 vacuum, when cleaning excess powder. Do not handle powder near an ignition source. Transport powder with care to avoid allowing plumes to form, especially in enclosed spaces.

Always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling powder with the Fuse 1 or Fuse Sift.

Long-sleeved shirts and long pants when handling the product are recommended. Routinely wash work clothing and protective equipment to remove contaminants.

Gloves

Plastic powder may draw moisture and oils out of bare skin. Wear non-reactive nitrile gloves when handling loose or unsintered powder to avoid contaminating the powder.

In the case of prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact, wear impermeable gloves. Before using, check glove leak tightness/impermeability. In the case of wanting to reuse the gloves, clean the gloves before taking off and air them well.

Breathing protection

The primary concern with respiratory protection is to avoid irritation, similar to other dusty environments. None is required with correct and proper use and under normal processing conditions. Avoid breathing dust. Avoid breathing processing fumes or vapors. Wear a properly fitted respirator approved by NIOSH if local exhaust does not keep the particulate concentration below ACGIH Threshold Limit Value or irritation occurs.

Safety glasses

Safety glasses or dust protection goggles are recommended to prevent particulate matter from entering eyes when handling product.

First aid

Powdered plastic, like any other fine powder, can easily become airborne and come into contact with your face. In case of powder inhalation, swallowing, or contact with eyes, follow these instructions:

• IF INHALED: Remove the person to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. If breathing becomes difficult, seek medical attention immediately.
• IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If spontaneous vomiting occurs, lay on your left side with your head down to prevent aspiration. If symptoms develop or persist, seek medical attention.
• IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists, seek medical attention immediately.

When stored as directed, Formlabs SLS powders do not have a defined shelf life or expiration date:

• Store unsintered powder in a closed container, such as a powder cartridge, in a cool, dry place.
• Avoid leaving loose powder in open containers or otherwise exposed.
• Zip tie, tape, or otherwise close any bags of powder that have been opened but not completely used. This helps prevent spills, contamination, and moisture ingress.
• Store new, unused powder in its original packaging until ready for use.
• Maintain low ambient humidity. When printing with Nylon 12, keep the relative humidity of the environment around the printer, the Fuse Sift and other post-processing tools, and anywhere unsintered powder is stored to 50% or less at all times. Higher humidity will lead to clumping, under-dosing, and print failures. If 50% RH cannot be achieved, remove the debris catcher at the bottom of the printer’s hopper (though this will remove protection against debris entering the print chamber). For SLS powders, humidity affects shelf life significantly. For optimal results, follow Formlabs guidelines for storing and handling powder.

Powder production batches can be identified by their lot number. Formlabs may ask you for the lot number when helping you troubleshoot an issue. The lot number can be found on the outer box or the powder jug (for materials packaged in jugs). The lot number format depends on the material; some examples are given below:

• Nylon 11 Powder: 06KF933458
• Nylon 11 CF Powder: 1MQI0065
• Nylon 12 Powder: 952631

Dispose of powder (whether fresh or used) and anything containing or coated in powder according to environmental regulations, using powdertight containers.

Unsintered powder

Unsintered used powder must be disposed of in accordance with your local ordinances and environmental regulations for plastic waste.

Sintered powder

Discard cleaned parts and sintered powder with household waste. Cleaned parts and sintered powder cannot be recycled.

Powder cartridges

If a powder cartridge is broken or otherwise unusable, empty it of any remaining powder before disposal. Dispose of the empty powder cartridge in accordance with local regulations. Empty powder cartridges cannot be recycled.

Build chambers

If a build chamber is broken or otherwise unusable, empty it of any remaining powder before disposal. Dispose of the empty build chamber in accordance with local regulations. Empty build chambers cannot be recycled.

Disposal of electronic components

The symbol on the product, the accessories, or packaging indicates that this device shall not be treated as nor disposed of with household waste. When you decide to dispose of this product, do so in accordance with local environmental laws and guidelines. Dispose of the device via a collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. By disposing of the device in the proper manner, you help avoid possible hazards for the environment and public health that could otherwise be caused by improper treatment of waste equipment. The recycling of materials contributes to the conservation of natural resources. Therefore do not dispose of your old electrical and electronic equipment with the unsorted municipal waste.