Skip to main content

Optimizing Resin Printing in Colder Temperatures

As 3D printing enthusiasts continue to explore the boundaries of resin printing, adapting to environmental conditions becomes crucial for achieving optimal results. In this article, we will delve into the specifics of resin printing using a unique mixture: a 60/40 blend of Phrozen's  Aqua 8K Gray and Onyx Impact Plus. Our focus will be on adjusting the printing settings for optimal performance in rooms with temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.


▲ Luther's Print Using the "Cold Setting". /Luther Caudle

Understanding the Resin Mixture:

    The combination of Phrozen's Aqua 8K Gray and Onyx Impact Plus creates a resin blend that offers a balance of properties, including excellent detail resolution and enhanced impact resistance. However, like any resin, its behaviour can be influenced by environmental factors, particularly temperature.

Challenges in Colder Temperatures:

    Lower room temperatures pose challenges for resin printing. Cold temperatures can impact the flow characteristics and curing reaction rate of the resin, potentially leading to incomplete cures, poor layer adhesion, and compromised print quality.


▲ Luther's Print Using the "Cold Setting". /Luther Caudle


Setting Adjustments for Printing in Lower Room Temperature:

    To optimize printing with the 60/40 Phrozen's Aqua 8K Gray and Onyx Impact Plus mixture in colder temperatures, with some suggestions from on of the KOC in the Phrozen  Facebook group - Luther, building on his valuable insights and previous experience, here are some key adjustments for optimal printing in lower room temperature:


  1. Increased Exposure Time:
    • Colder temperatures can cause the resin to become more viscous, affecting its flow. Increasing the exposure time provides the resin with more time to settle and ensures proper curing. Experiment with gradually extending exposure times until satisfactory results are achieved.

  2. Elevated Resin Temperature:
    • Warmer resin temperatures can assist in preventing layer separation and improving adhesion. Apply a heat belt to the vat or any other kind of products to heat up the vat to keep resin warm and fluid

  3. Print Speed Adjustments:
    • Slowing down the print speed can provide more time for each layer to cure properly. Giving it a long resting time after the retraction of build plate can also help reduce the failure caused by the bubbles and other issue due to the thickness the resin can turn into in colder temperatures; and slower plate movement can also prevents the model being tear apart due to the higher friction that thicker resin gives to the plate.

▲ Luther's Print Using the "Cold Setting". /Luther Caudle


Conclusion:

    As you venture into the realm of 3D printing with the 60/40 blend of Phrozen's Aqua 8K Gray and Onyx Impact Plus resin in colder surroundings, skilfully tweaking your printing parameters becomes pivotal for achieving optimal results. Grasping the nuances of how temperature influences resin behaviour and implementing judicious adjustments in your settings empowers you to unleash the complete potential of your resin mixture, even amid challenging conditions. Wishing you a satisfying printing experience!


▲ Luther's "Cold Setting" for 60/40 mix of Aqua 8K Gray and Onyx Impact Plus. /Luther Caudle

Link to the original post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Phrozen3DPENG/posts/2571068163058335/

Thanks for Luther for providing his resin setting and experience.

      Comments

      Popular posts from this blog

      How to Create Your Own Resin Profile

      Getting your resin settings right is crucial to achieving a successful print. This is particularly important for those who are aiming for the utmost detail and precision. However, it's often the case that companies only provide resin profiles for their own products—or sometimes they don't provide them at all.      For newcomers to the scene, it can be quite frustrating to spend the majority of their time fine-tuning settings. Moreover, what works perfectly on one printer might not produce the same results on another. This discrepancy arises from the variations inherent to different devices, which shows the necessity to tailor resin settings accordingly.      With that in mind, let's delve into the experience shared by Derek Jackson from J3DTech, also a Phrozen community member. He gives us some insight into the process of refining resin settings. Here's my take on the information: To dial in a resin, there are two main factors

      [Mega 8K] Setting Supports on Perforated Build Plate

      Sonic Mega 8K has the largest printing volume of Phrozen's Sonic 3D printer line-up by the time of writing this article. Except the size, perforated build plate that comes with Sonic Mega 8K is also an obvious different from other models in the Sonic line-up.     The reason Sonic Mega 8K comes with a perforated build plate is that, lager the scale the model is, or fuller the build plate, higher the suction force it has to deal with, also longer the time you have to wait for the resin to travel back to its place after retraction. The perforated build plate of Sonic Mega 8K can effectively helps reducing the suction force especially when printing the raft, and also letting resin traveling back to its position after retraction more quickly, preventing model from peeling off from the plate and layer lines happening.     Some people may find it inconvenient working with perforated build plate, as in the slicing software, there is no indicator

      The Principle Behind Fast Resin 3D Printing

      TL;DR:  There are several things you should look into when try to shorten your printing time. Before you start to adjust the speed of the setting, find a stable setting as your starting point. Understand your equipment and the material you are using. Choose a resin that requires lower exposing time with low viscosity, and install a releasing film that is not sticky to the cured resin.  Fast printing is a result of the combination of right setting for right tools, experimenting with the setting to optimize it is necessary. Expect to spend time on this process.      Printing fast has becoming a trending topic in Phrozen community recently. After Phrozen released a video promoting their ACF film, with the printer applied with the ACF film ended up prints 6x faster then the other one shown in the demonstration video, people are hyped about this idea.