BIQU has released another oddball 3D print accessory: the Panda Sense Pro.
The Panda Sense is an air quality monitor, supposedly designed for 3D printers.
The problem being solved here is that 3D printers, both FFF and resin, produce emissions when in use. These are potentially toxic, as there are both nanoparticles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released. The amounts and specific chemicals depend on the materials being 3D printed, and the device used.
The possibility of toxic substances attracts attention, and in the minds of some 3D printer operators, this is a growing concern. Most properly set-up workspaces include either ventilation or air filtration to remove or capture the emissions.
Some 3D printers are equipped with on-board filtration systems that potentially remove emissions before they even leave the machine. There are so many enclosed FFF systems now including filtration that it’s almost a standard feature for that type of machine.
However, there’s always a question lurking: does the ventilation/filtration actually work?
To answer the question, you’d have to measure the air around the 3D printer, but most people do not have the correct measurement equipment to do so.
That’s where the Panda Sense Pro is supposed to step in. It provides real-time monitoring of:
- PM2.5 (2.5-micron particles)
- PM10 (10-micron particles)
- CO2
- Formaldehyde
- Total VOCs
- Temperature
- Humidity
And all of this is added up into an abstract “Air Quality Index” value.
The Panda Sense also integrates with Home Assistant, the popular open-source tool to manage devices around the home. BIQU said there is WiFi connectivity, which allows users with their app to look at 24-hour and 30-day trends — but unfortunately, the app is not quite yet available.
At this point, you might be thinking that this could be a good idea. A US$90 device to make sure you’re safe when 3D printing.
But I have some doubts here. I’ve used multiple inexpensive air quality monitors over the past two years and noticed something immediately: the Panda Sense Pro is functionally identical to countless similar air quality monitors on the market. Those devices are not designed for 3D printers, and I suspect the Panda Sense Pro isn’t either. It’s just one of many similar devices.
But does it work anyway?
I don’t have a Panda Sense Pro to test, but I do have several air quality monitors that provide identical measurements. I’ve tried setting them up beside several 3D printers, both with filtration and not, and in each and every case, the air quality monitors detect nothing.
My conclusion was that those air quality monitors are simply not sensitive enough to properly detect 3D printer emissions.
And given the similarity of the Panda Sense Pro to those other devices, I expect the same results.
Via BIQU
