We will try to show the main steps, learning process, and curve of this technology, mentioning the required or suggested tools, protective kit, and pretty much all the basic toolsets that are required to get into the world of resin 3D printers. We are not trying to focus on the professional use cases nor we are giving expert advice to engineers. This article is for all the hobbyists that are interested in resin printers!
We will try to show the main steps, learning process, and curve of this technology, mentioning the required or suggested tools, protective kit, and pretty much all the basic toolsets that are required to get into the world of resin 3D printers. We are not trying to focus on the professional use cases nor we are giving expert advice to engineers. This article is for all the hobbyists that are interested in resin printers!
The Main Steps and Pitfalls
As usual, do your research and homework on the topic. The beauty of having access to the internet is that you can go through an enormous amount of tutorials, reviews, and guides. By putting enough time into reading about resin printers and the associated technology you cannot go wrong! Then choose from the myriad of resin 3D printers, and take into account some crucial things too, such as your budget, print quality, build volume, and ease of use. Some popular resin printers for beginners include the Elegoo Mars and Anycubic Photon. Another must-have purchase will be the resin filament itself – what a surprise – and due to the availability of different ones on the market check what is compatible with your machine and what would be the use case, you know, what kind of print you would like to end up with and what would it be used for.
Messy But Honest Work
One of the main differences between using an SLA and an FFF printer is that the SLA (or so-called resin printers) use UV light to solidify the resin. It means that it’s a tad bit more messy than using an FFF one, so always keep it in mind. Prepare your workspace, cover the desk, and put out some newspapers or other materials for making sure that the resin is not messing up your personal space. Furthermore, invest in protective gloves and wear protective eyewear! Resin 3D printers are super fun, but require a high level of attention while operating and to be honest… some practice. The next crucial step would be, to actually create something in a suitable software. That would be your project. After the 3D model is done prepare it for printing using slicing software. The slicing software will generate the necessary instructions for your printer to print the model in layers. Practice makes perfect as mentioned before! The first few prints might not be up to your expectations, so you have to finetune the machine, alter the blueprint or try different filaments. Once the print is complete, remove it from the build plate and clean it using isopropyl alcohol to remove any excess resin. Another additional step (or at least difference compared to FFF printers) is that you may need to do additional post-processing steps such as sanding, priming, or painting. We are talking about intricate work here, so pay attention. And as usual, join online communities and forums to connect with other resin printing enthusiasts and learn from their experiences. There are countless materials available online to learn more and become an expert in resin printers.
