Resin Printing Well I finally did it....

I bought an AnyCubic Photon Mono back in April of 2021. Since then there has probably been 3-4 newer versions released that are better for the same price that I paid for the Mono . After making a workstation for it and the wash & cure over a year ago I finally got in gear yesterday and tried it out.

First couple prints failed as they didn't stick to the build plate. Oops, forgot to set the Z after using the paper to find it. Then tried another print and another failure. I realize I was using a file that hadn't be saved using the Mono as the printer. OK getting a little frustrated at this point but my problems not the printers.

Went back to the AnyCubic test file that came with it that has a cube up in the air at an angle....



.... finally success. I stopped the print as I didn't need to see the whole thing. I used the Elegoo Wash & Cure and that was easy and fast as I was done with both in about 7-8 minutes. I know I'm going to like it as I put off resin for a long time dreading the washing and curing part of the process.

Printer is now working on the AmeraLabs Town print and I'll try and get the settings good for the Siraya Tech Build Sonic Grey that was recommended. Already used probably $10 of it at this point. This looks to be more expensive than $20 large spools of filament but that will be OK if I get some items printed with more detail that I'd like to have.

Also I really can't pick up on much smell with that resin and my wife that has a highly efficient nose wasn't bothered by it either. Maybe because the printer is in the shop that is 27' x 40' with 10 foot ceilings. I'm happy about that and think I'll like the printer even though dealing with the resin isn't all that fun. I'm sure sooner or later I'll make a mess with it. Just a matter of time.

Cons....touch screen doesn't always see my finger presses and it doesn't read the files on the thumb drive always. Turn it off and on usually fixes both but some times it requires more than one off/on.

For most of the projects I design and print I still see the 2 Ender 3 Pros I have as my 'go-to' printers. For most items I print, including buildings and other items with detail the detail meets my requirements. The prints have the strength I need at times and it looks like the filament prints are maybe quite a bit cheaper than if I printed the same item with the resin printer.

Sumner

 

I started with an Elegoo printer, Elegoo resin, and Elegoo recommended settings from the Elegoo spreadsheet, eliminated a lot of variables, and had no failures until a recent one that involved my modeling. Well, I did have some wavy parts where I was figuring out supports, okay, I'll count those too...

Resin is a bit of a PITA, but it just pukes out detail with abandon!

 

I wondered about the skin deal. We have a couple of the O2 readers you put on your finger and most of the time they don't work on my fingers but do on my wife's. I had her come out to the shop though and it did the same with her. Good thought on the stylus pen. I'll look into getting one. I also turn the power off when putting the thumb drives in and out and use the 'eject' on the computer before pulling them. Most of the time you get away doing neither.

New models are going to happen all the time. When I had the computer store near the end of a computers life cycle (usually months) I sold some of my store demos for less than I bought them. Still better than getting nothing for them a year later. Best bet is to buy a computer, printer, etc. and quit looking at the prices as they decline before the next model comes out and enjoy it and look when it isn't doing the job for you anymore.

Sumner

 

I printed the AmeraLab Town only once and I just can't find anything in the settings that I think I need to change. I used Chitubox with the Mono as the printer and had et perform the slice and didn't change a thing.





I'm happy with the above and don't see a need to change any of the settings Chitubox came up with unless you guys see something. I'm also really happy with the resin. I gave the print to Dottie and she squeezed it and I said 'don't do that' but nothing broke off the print so I guess I'm glad she did that test for me .

I think I'll get another bottle of the resin now since I'm big on keeping seconds on hand. I might never use the other three resins I bought if I don't see a need for something else.

If you are putting off one of these because of the cleaning/curing like I did note that the Elegoo Clean & Cure station is easy and fast to use. I'm so glad I got it. AnyCubic has a similar one and I bought the Elegoo mainly because it was $20-$30 less at the time (not sure about now).

Sumner

 

Happy to see you finally getting this printer up and running! It's only messy if you let it get messy (or the vat leaks unexpectedly )

 

So far no messes and I'm really happy with the Siraya Tech Build Sonic Grey. ...



I decided to try a servo mount that needs to have some strength to it. I'm impressed as it seems to be every bit as strong as the filament one on the left and has about the same flexibility as the filament mount. Printing two it takes both printers about the same amount of time but now that I know it works I can print 5-6 of the resin ones in the same time as 2 of the filament ones.

I was also concerned about the mess that can be associated with resin printing. I had spent $130 on a 'wash & cure' station and those concerns are now pretty much put aside also. I take the print off the build plate and put it in the 'denatured alcohol' that I'm using with the 'wash & cure' for about 2-3 minutes. Put it back in the station in the 'cure' mode for 2-3 minutes and the part is washed and cured. No messing with different wash solutions and paint brushes and so forth. Also the Siraya Tech 'Build' has hardly any smell even to Dottie that can't handle even latex paint smells well.

I'll be using the printer more than I though and for now the print quality is fine for what I need. When it isn't I'll look for the 'newest-greatest' printer that will be out of date 6 months later and but it.

Sumner

 

I have an anycubic wash and cure, the one that fits the Mono x. However I switched to the Saturn 2 after my mono x screen died (200$ CAD for a screen replacement was nuts, switched to a brand where the screen replacements didn't cost stupid amounts). The build plate of the Saturn 2 doesn't actually fit, so I hold it at an angle for 2 minutes for the clean. Works fine that way.

Plus, the bearing on the wash and cure bucket gave out (it started making weird noises and then wouldn't spin much). So now I have two wash and cure buckets. I kept the broken one, and I use it with the really dirty alcohol for a first rinse, I just dunk the build plate in and out a few times, then I move it into the real wash and cure. That way it keeps the wash and cure cleaner much longer. I like that the broken bearing bucket is so large and has a perfectly good sealable lid. So if that bearing ever gives out, keep that bucket!

 

Update on the printer:

1. Like it and probably wish I would of started using it earlier.

2. Don't like it for some things.

I tried the servo brackets yesterday and today (above right) and was disappointed in the results. Won't be printing them with the resin printer. They turned out to be too brittle. The filament printed ones are a lot more forgiving for the pilot hole sizes for the screws used to mount the servo and limit switch. If you drill a pilot hole 'just right' in size so the screw threads in without splitting the resin but is also small enough that the treads grab they work. So far that has proved to be a small tolerance window for the bracket pilot holes.

I still pre-drill the hole on the small arm where the servo mounts on the bracket mount to prevent it from splitting when a screw is driven in but it is quick and easy to do and I don't have splits in the bracket like I can end up with the resin bracket.


(Switch-boxes and tops printed with filament printer)

Today I printed some of the switch boxes (no pictures) for the switches that control the turnout servos and they work but think I'll enlarge the part that the screws that hold the top screw into so they aren't as fragile.l No big deal. Not as easy to deal with the problem with the servo mounts though. Printing these will save time over using the filament printer. Time will also be saved printing the tops that show the route chosen and that hold the toggle and pushbutton switches.

Most the time if you force a screw into a filament print it will maybe split but the screw still holds. With the resin the resin will crack into pieces and the screw has nothing to hold onto.

Still haven't tried printing anything that is real detailed at this point but sure it will shine there. My print files for building, windows, siding, etc. are designed for what the filament printer can do so printing them won't be much difference in looks and detail. Later I will probably re-design a few things to take advantage of the detail the printer can print.

Sumner

 

sumner for screws that fit tight i use a touch of heat not much but just enought so the screw will burn its way down and make good threads..
PLA prints ( i should have said)...

 

I'd say you printer settings are spot on. I'd would recommend using your PLA printer for your servo mounts. I've found resin just to brittle to really handle screws or stress points. PLA is cheaper anyway and since no one will see the mounts under the table, why waste expensive resin on detail no one will see.

 

I had pretty much decide to go back to the Ender 3 Pro for the servo brackets. I was encouraged to try the resin printer after reading someone was making their servo brackets, not sure whose brackets, using Siraya Tech Build resin. I feel the brackets are plenty strong once mounted as there isn't much force on them then. Using my $3 servo controllers I can set them up easily to just move the points until they are closed and not overpowered or exerting much force on the servo mount.

The main reason for using the resin printer wasn't looks but I can print about 6 brackets in the time it takes to print 2 with the filament printer and I need lots of servo brackets, servo controller brackets and switch-boxes, probably over 70.

I had been thinking of a possible easy solution the last few day and your post got me off my butt to try it out. I had to go out and get a couple of the servo brackets I threw away the other day out of the trash (good think it hadn't been picked up yet).



The solution for the servo bracket (shown above) was to quit using the #4 screws that I use for most things and go down to #2's or the ones that come with a servo to mount the servo to the bracket. Went out and got the brackets out of the trash and drilled the pilot holes for the servo with a 5/64" bit and used the smaller screws and the servo is mounted and plenty secure.

Used a 7/64" bit for the pilot hole where the limit switch mounts and was able to use one of my #4 screws to mount the limit switch. The resin in that area is quite thick.



I had also been printing the switch-boxes and had a similar problem with the two holes where the top mounts. I made the mount just a bit larger in diameter and again using the 5/64" bit and #2 screws that is taken care of. Like the servo brackets I can print 6 of these at the same time in way less time than it would take to print them on the filament printer. They cost a bit more but still they are dirt cheap, I'm guessing proably under 30-50 cents each?

So thanks again for getting me to revisit the problem as I don't think it is one any longer. I think you were one of the two people that got me to try the Siraya Tech Build Sonic Grey....thanks,

Sumner