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After a resin print completes, what is the expected process to finish the print? Is some cleaning expected? I also some manufacturers sell UV chambers to cure the print surface, is this required?

I purchased a low-cost printer from China that is quite high-quality hardware, but sadly short on documentation. Insight on the proper post-print process is appreciated.

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2 Answers 2

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Yes

You need to do a two-step post-processing:

Washing

This is basically as easy as taking the print and dropping it into a vat of Isopropyl alcohol and vigorously shaking it to get all the liquid resin off. Careful, the resulting contaminated IPA is to be treated as toxic waste.

The reason why you wash the print is to make sure no resin stays on it and cures, distorting the print or altering the measurements.

Post-Print-curing

The next step is just having the item sit in UV light to cure thoroughly, which means either having it sit outside in sunlight or under a UV lamp. Under sunlight, it might take a few hours, under a UV lamp, it depends on how thick the object is and you might need to turn and rotate the printed part. Note that some resins, especially transparent ones, can change their coloration when exposed to sunlight, both during or after curing.

Curing is done to ensure all the resin is fully cured and get the full stiffness out of the print - sometimes prints are still somewhat malleable before giving them time to cure.

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    $\begingroup$ Some resins will discolor if cured via sunlight. This is not a factor if the intent is to paint the model. $\endgroup$
    – fred_dot_u
    Aug 18, 2020 at 15:55
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    $\begingroup$ @fred_dot_u True and added - even a fully cured item can discolor under sunlight, it's the light breaking down some parts in the resin. $\endgroup$
    – Trish
    Aug 18, 2020 at 16:01
  • $\begingroup$ I did recently notice a translucent's print transparency changed after UV chamber curing. $\endgroup$
    – 0xF2
    Aug 25, 2020 at 1:18
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You don't really need a UV curing chamber but wash it with 99 % isopropyl alcohol and put it in bright sun, this should do the trick!!

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    $\begingroup$ "Bright sun" is the biggest UV source, and not always availeable. $\endgroup$
    – Trish
    Aug 18, 2020 at 17:54
  • $\begingroup$ hmm just try in midday? $\endgroup$
    – Dcybroz
    Aug 20, 2020 at 6:33
  • $\begingroup$ have you heard about the odd concept of clouds and work? $\endgroup$
    – Trish
    Aug 20, 2020 at 8:55
  • $\begingroup$ what are ClOudS And wOrK? $\endgroup$
    – Dcybroz
    Aug 21, 2020 at 4:15

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