Yeah, the topic title might be a little click-bait-y, but here goes.
My 3D printer is set up on the other side of the room from me. This is a basement with a vinyl floor. Now and again when I walk to the printer and touch it I get a static electricity shock and the printer hiccups as if it was turned off and on again. Fortunately I've not fried anything in the printer yet. The printer is sitting on a wood-table and it plugged into a three-pronged outlet with a proper ground.
I am not terribly well-versed in A/C electrons, so what can I do to prevent cooking the board in the printer? well, besides touching something else that is grounded before I touch the computer.
Staple a copper grounding strap to your forehead?
Are you creating static, or is the printer? There has to be some way to ground the table/printer.
Add a humidifier?
What's the RH in the space? Static is generally only a problem if the air is very dry.
Edit: I just re-read the first post. Basement, huh? Not many dry basements around. Maybe change the flooring to something less static-y?
I'm thinking it's the flooring. I have another printer coming this week, I think that'll prompt me to move the printers to another part of the basement. That'll be different flooring, so maybe it'll be ok then.
for now, I guess I'll just touch something metal before I touch the printer.
Sounds like you're just discharging through the printer's chassis ground (third prong), I wouldnt worry about it outside of it being an annoyance. Different flooring should help.
