The Aether is a smart air filter for 3D printers, designed to improve the air quality in rooms where 3D printers operate.
There are several options when it comes to air filters for 3D printers on the market. Some are DIY, some are proper products by large companies. They usually operate in the following way: you push a button, that turns on a fan, and it circulates the air trough a HEPA, and an activated charcoal/carbon filter. Some systems go a bit further, and provide some adjustment options, like runtime settings. These devices usually achieve their intended goal, and do improve the air quality significantly. However, we saw some space for improvements
So what sets the Aether 3D printer air purifier apart?
We constructed the Aether with a simple goal in mind: create an air purifier especially designed for 3D printers, that can be operated the same way as a room air purifier. To achieve this, we did some research on how to accurately identify VOCs, and microplastics in the air. Then, we started our search to find existing sensors, that can be used to do the detection. After this we designed a few iterations, until we arrived at the current solution. The system is capable of detecting VOCs, PM2.5 microplastics, and react to it properly. It runs automatically, and reliably, no need for any setup steps. It has been tested with various printers, and so far all results are very positive.
How does the Aether work?
First, one has to power it. There are two options for this, one is by using an USB type C adapter, the other by connecting it to a 5V power source with a JST XH2.54 4pin connector. The USB can be used for firmware updates, and the JST connector for connecting the Aether to a 3D printer.
Then, the power source must be selected by a push button, and operating mode selected by another one (NightMode/Normal mode). This starts the start-up sequence, where the air purifier does the initial measurements.
After this, using the filter is very simple: Place it inside of a 3D printer enclosure. Or mount it on the side panel with two M3 screws for exhaust mode operation. It will automatically start up, and shut down depending on the measured microplastics, and VOCs. If it is in normal mode, it uses the onboard RGB LEDs for air quality feedback, by turning them red, or green. This way, one always knows if it is safe to open the 3D printers enclosure.
The Aether 3D printer air filter also counts the runtime elapsed since the last filter replacement. When the filter is saturated (as both HEPA, and activated carbon filters do saturate, and lose the ability to filter any more material) it displays a warning, by flashing blue LEDs. The filters can be replaced easily, as their cover is held in place by magnets. Just remove the cover, the old filter, press the filter reset button, and place in the new filter.
Basically, the Aether is a fire and forget smart device, designed for usage with 3D printers in mind. Once it is set up, it only needs maintenance every now and then, and keeps the harmful VOCs, and microplastics inside the 3D printers build chamber in check.