Anycubic Photon Air Filter - VOC containment with a 3M 6001 cartridge

TL;DR: Print the first two files in the listing and one of the four backplate designs. Install them. Buy a 3M 6001 filter. Install it. Optionally print the last .stl and swap the stock build area fan out for a 5015 blower. Optionally download and print the gcode file so your Photon will only run the build area fan during an active print.

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Motivation:

The original Anycubic Photon has a build area fan that exhausts air through a very ineffective, nearly non-existent "carbon filter". This causes noxious fumes from UV resins to be vented into the room. This thing is intended to decrease the VOC content of the vented air by passing it through a standard 3M 6001 organic vapor respirator cartridge. Aside from the cartridge, this modification consists of three easy-to-install parts (four if you also want to change from the stock fan to a 5050 radial blower-style fan):

1. The first part and main "innovation" compared to other solutions I've run across is the air duct that fits around the exit side of the stock "carbon filter", capturing the air leaving the build area, excluding it from the underside of the printer.

2. The second part is a bayonet adapter that attaches to a standard 3m 6001 organic vapor respirator cartridge. That assembly can then be attached to the protruding end of the air duct (part 1 above). Those filters are ubiquitous and inexpensive. I found them for about $6 each online. They are commonly sold in 2-packs since the respirator they are designed for requires two filters.

3. The final part is a custom back plate that has a cutout for the exhaust duct. There are four versions of the back plate: One with plain hexagonal vent holes, one with "Photonster" logo vent holes, and for those who run the modified UI which enables network capability, there are two more versions that add a cutout for a keystone-style Ethernet jack (can also be used to just pass a plain Ethernet cable through to the motherboard).

4. Optional: Some have suggested that a stronger fan pushing more air through the filter would provide better performance. I'm testing this and have added a shroud that adapts a 5015 radial blower fan to the stock location inside the build area. Blower fans are capable of working under much higher static pressure than conventional ones, which is what is needed to force more air through the filter. See photos. Update: The fan mounting "ears" have been beefed up considerably based on feedback.

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Assembly:

Remove the stock backplate, press-fit the air duct onto the "carbon filter" mounted to the underside of the build area, install the new backplate, install the bayonet adapter onto the 3M 6001 VOC filter (note that it only goes on one way - one of the keys is smaller than the other two), and press fit the filter assembly onto the air duct. Now your build area fan is venting nearly all the air through the VOC filter. See photos for assembly hints.

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Notes:

• I find I only need the filter when printing. Simply turning the fan off with M8030 T gcode works well enough the rest of the time. I've uploaded FanControl.gcode to set the default behavior on your Photon so that it only runs the build area fan when there is an active print. It will be off otherwise.

• I've successfully printed this on the Photon and also on FDM. I'd suggest doing at least the backplate on FDM if you have the option. It's much easier to print flat, but it's too large to do that on the Photon.

• As mentioned, the backplate was the trickiest part to print on the Photon. I've included the Photonsters branded, Ethernet version (what I printed) with supports, and also as a .photon file (just be sure to adjust your exposure for the resin you are using). Be warned that in resin it tends to warp if you aren't careful to cure it/heat it evenly during post-processing.

• I designed the tolerances for my FDM printers, and when I printed the files on the Photon, I needed to stick a bit of masking tape inside the joints to get a tight press fit, and also to seal around the filter/bayonet joint.

• The duct and bayonet adapter parts can be printed in the orientation provided in the STLs, on both FDM and on the photon. The bayonet adapter may require a brim on FDM.

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Disclaimer:

I make no claim that this eliminates harmful fumes. However, it's an easy mod and is a big improvement in terms of reducing unpleasant smells. Some have instead removed or disabled the fan inside the build area in attempt to stop the spread of fumes. I did the no-fan mod on one of my printers and there are still significant fumes emanating from the printer during longer prints. I'm told for that one to work you have to actually remove the fan and seal the hole with a cover. I didn't do the cover. This solution works well for me. YMMV.