What should I look for when buying a resin printer?

The layer height and belt tension are the most important factors when it comes to smooth printing. Resin printers are limited by the precision of their laser. Look for a printer that's easy to adjust with a higher number of microns listed in the specs.

Are FDM or resin prints stronger?

FDM prints are generally stronger than 3D resin prints. Specifically, the tensile strength of FDM prints ranges from 38-64MPa, while those of resins are generally lower at 23-55Mpa. Also, FDM prints have higher flexural strengths at 2.1-7.6GPa, while resins only average at 60.6MPa.

Do resin printers fail?

Why Do Resin 3D Prints Fail Halfway? There are many reasons that can cause the resin 3D prints to fail halfway. It can be caused because of the wrong exposure time, unbalanced build platform, not enough support, bad adhesion, wrong part orientation, and many more.

Is it okay to leave resin in the VAT?

You can leave resin in your 3D printer's tank or vat between prints and things should be just fine. It's a good idea to use the plastic scraper that comes with your resin 3D printer to move the resin around and detach any hardened resin before printing another model.

What happens if you run out of resin mid print?

If you run out of liquid resin in the middle of a print, your parts won't print completely. The printer will continue to “print” the desired parts until it “completes” the print job, although it won't be printing anything because it will just be printing air.

Getting Into Resin 3D Printing - The Ultimate SLA Beginners Guide

How many Minis can you print with 1kg of resin?

You can 3D print around 120 to 140 tabletop figurines or minis with 1 liter of resin, each model having a height of around 1 inch. If you 3D print cubes with a 1cm x 1cm dimension, then you can print 500 cubes of that size.

Where should I keep my resin printer?

You can use a resin 3D printer inside an apartment or bedroom, but you want to use low-odor resins that have low VOCs and are known to be safe. Many people recommend not to use a resin 3D printer in living spaces, but rather in places that aren't occupied. You can build a ventilation system to reduce fumes.

How long do resin prints last?

They say the durable resin has the longest lifespan of around 6-8 months.

What do you do with resin after a print?

If you find yourself with leftover 3D resin after a print, you should save and reuse as much of it by storing it in a cool place away from sunlight. However, any resin you intend to throw away must be dried and cured before disposal to ensure it remains non-toxic. Keep this in mind when working with 3D resin.

Do resin prints melt?

Resin prints can't melt since they are not thermoplastics. When they get heated to very high temperatures like 180°C, they will scorch and deteriorate. After resin prints have cured they cannot go back to their original liquid state. Resin prints start to soften or lose elasticity at temperatures between 40-70°C.

Why are my resin prints warping?

Your resin 3D printed model will warp if a new layer is not optimally cured before being dipped into the tank again. Also, new layers will not fuse appropriately if the already printed resin has cured excessively and is thus too hard to form a bond with polymerizing resin. As a result, your model or parts will warp.

Why do my resin prints split?

This separation occurs for two reasons: The part has a significant change in surface area between subsequent layers. Layers with large surface areas resist print forces better than layers with small surface areas, so a larger layer may separate from a smaller layer during the print.

Can resin printers print STL files?

You can use almost any common 3D file type (STL, OBJ, etc) just make sure the final sliced file type is appropriate for your 3D printer. Once your object is sliced, load it onto the resin printer (often via USB or microSD card). The object can then be selected for printing.

Are resin 3D prints fragile?

Well, it's true that most standard resins are relatively brittle compared to other 3D printing materials and aren't recommended for stressed parts or outdoor use, although there are tough and durable resins on the market specifically formulated for stronger applications, and they can be really strong.

What is the toughest resin?

Liqcreate Strong-X. Liqcreate's Strong-X is perhaps the toughest resin on this list. Boasting a 91 MPa tensile strength and 135 Mpa flexural strength, it can easily be applied for heavy-duty uses. Strong-X also provides a high-temperature resistance, enough even for injection molding applications.

Do you need to filter resin after every print?

You don't have to filter all that often. It's a good idea to filter after any sort of failure or unsuccessful print. If the resin has been sitting for a few days it is always a good idea to mix it for several minutes (with the tank off the printer in case you slosh it yourself).

Can you Overcure a resin print?

Yes, it is possible to overcure a resin 3D print just as easy as it is to undercure it. Here are the factors that can influence your resin 3D print's curing time: Size: Larger resin models require a longer curing time than small ones.

Are resin prints waterproof?

For some applications like prototypes, custom dental devices, and master models for jewelry, resin printing saves the budget. Prints are waterproof.

Is it OK to be in the same room as a resin printer?

Limit exposure

As you live with your printer in the same room, bottle up the resin right after use and only open it during use to prevent buildup over time and exposure. To further reduce the exposure, leave the room while printing if possible and ventilate the room after bottling the resin again.

Can I put my resin printer in the garage?

Yes, you can 3D print in a cold garage if you take the right precautions such as using a heated enclosure and using build surfaces which don't fluctuate in temperature too much. A strong power supply also helps with 3D printing in a cold room or garage.

How badly do resin printers smell?

One of the downsides many people experience with resin 3D-printing, is the bad odor of some of the resins and cleaning agents. In order to avoid this smell in their working area, many people get creative and build their own fume hood, just like the picture below.

Does 3D resin expire?

3D printing resin can go bad, deteriorating output quality. In most cases, 3D printing resins expire within 12 months. However, sunlight, heat, and chemical contaminants may make them unusable within days or weeks. Read on for more insights into the shelf life of 3D printing resin.

Can you reuse resin in 3D printer?

Resin can be reused, but be careful when putting it back into the original bottle if you want to avoid cross-contamination. Sadly, it can't be melted and reused again like you with a filament extruder!

Do resin printers have layer lines?

A big reason for this is that SLA does not produce layer lines the way FDM does. FDM prints are notorious for visible layer lines, and those lines are at their worst when spread across curved surfaces. SLA still creates objects one layer at a time, but the process doesn't leave obvious lines.