Here are 10 Tips To Help You Troubleshoot 3D Resin Prints

3D printers became widely accessible for everyone in the past few years. These printers are no longer tools for businesses and professionals. Even great tools can be found 3D printers for under $500 SLA printers can be included. While it’s not difficult to obtain a 3D printer, making professional-looking prints is still challenging.  

Resin printers Similar to the AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K They are perfect for those who just want to learn 3D printing, or for artists wanting to produce detailed artwork. 3D SLA prints are just as susceptible to failures than FDM prints. So let’s take a look at some common 3D printing problems, and then fix them with basic troubleshooting.  

1. Make sure to use clean resin

It is possible to avoid many 3D printing problems and failures by using a clean, high-quality resin that has no residue. Before you start a project, make sure to check the resin.  

If you purchase large amounts of resin, it is possible to find small pieces of cured resin in the bottles. The printer may not function properly if there are solid residues. Your print could go wrong halfway through. If you open the bottles, alcohol and other liquids can cause irreversible damage to the resin. Keep the environment clean and orderly.

2. The Ambient Temperature can be viewed here

It’s easy to forget about the temperature of your garage, home or work place because it is familiar. It can have an impact on how resin sets. It is especially important if your environment is cold. Most resins need an ambient temperature between 22-25 degrees Celsius, and possibly even higher. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and warm your work area or transfer the printer to a warmer place in your home.

You should let the resin cool to room temperature before you start. It’s possible that the resin you have just received is colder than or higher than your workplace temperature. Allow it to sit for at least a couple of hours. It is important to maintain a steady temperature throughout the curing and printing process.

3. Make sure to clean the LCD screen

A dirty LCD screen is one of the leading causes for 3D printing failures. Print deformations can be caused by any residue or dirt on your screen. The UV light from your printer must pass through the screen. Otherwise, you will have gaps and other problems.

Cure resin is the most frequent residue that you will have to clean up because 3D printing can sometimes go wrong. Use a plastic scraper to remove it. A sharp razor blade can be used, however it is best to use the blade with care as you could damage your screen. The majority of residue should be removed easily. You can wipe the screen with microfiber cloth or isopropyl alcohol if it remains slightly dirty.   

4. Do not print too fast

Printing speeds that are too fast can cause 3D resin prints to become damaged. To harden 3D resin, a UV lamp is used. You must use the proper amount of UV light to get resin hardened. Your print will not be printed if it is too quick. This means that your printer won’t be able to print anything, and even if it did, you might end up with a fragile model that easily breaks.

You can adjust your print settings using the slicer program, particularly the speed. You can slow down your printing speed by increasing the increments. Make sure to first check the temperature of the resin.

5. Print Diagonally in 45 Degrees

3D Resin Printing has an unwritten rule: Your model should be printed at 45°. Why? An angle print results in less failures and better quality. This is especially true when large prints require support structures.

Vertical printing makes the model’s weight press harder onto the supports, as the weight distribution is poor. Everything flows vertically. Printing diagonally spreads the weight more evenly, which means that you have fewer support issues. You’ll be able to remove the model printed from the plate much easier.

6. The Print Bed should not be overloaded 

It can take time to print so it is likely that you have decided to load the plate as full as possible. You can cut down on time and save money by printing all models at once. Print failures and waste of resin could result in you printing everything wrong.

All of your models can be damaged if you make an error as a beginner. Your 3D printer may not be able to operate with an overload build plate, depending on what model you are printing. To increase the chances of printing a 3D model, print only one at a given time or two at most. Also, keep your prints at 45 degrees to maximize quality and improve your success rate.

7. You can replace the FEP film by checking its description

FEP Film is a foil that creates the optimal pathway for UV light to cure resin. This is an essential part of the printing process. You should check your film if you notice that prints suddenly become unreadable. This is often forgotten, particularly by novices.

FEP films will begin to warp and become damaged after some printing. If you notice signs of wear, replace your FEP film. Even small scratches will not affect the print’s quality. Smudges can be ignored or wiped with isopropyl alcohol and paper towels.

8. Recalibrate the Build Plate

Your build plate may be slightly inclined, if the print is not perfect on the first or second layer of the printed image, it could also fail halfway. This is part of your printer’s maintenance program. You will have to flatten it again and do this every other time. You need to calibrate your 3D printers, regardless of whether they are resin or FDM.

It may need to be calibrated more frequently depending on how good your printer is. However, every 3D printer needs to be calibrated from time to time. For more information on calibrating your 3D resin printer, see the instruction manual.

9. How to Deal with Delamination

The appearance of filament prints is not the only one that could be deformed. The layers of resin used to make models may not bond well, and the pieces can shift independently looking like they are pulling apart. Delamination, a layer separation that occurs between layers of resin is known. This will cause your print to look sloppy and unprofessional. There are 2 options.

Generate More Support Structures

If a resin printer is not supported properly, many things could go wrong. Make sure that you have sufficient supports for the areas of your model at an extreme angle. To increase both the strength of your support and print quality, you should orient your model at 45°.  

Look for Obstructions

When something blocks or interferes with the UV laser beam’s path, layer separation is also possible. The first thing you should do is ensure the resin does not contain any material that could block or interfere with the UV laser’s path. To remove solidified resin, you may use a filter. You can then inspect both the FEP and LCD screens for markings or imperfections. Remove all contaminants from the film and replace damaged films.  

10. Ragging: How to Deal      

Another 3D printing deformation issue is ragging. This makes your model look ugly and full of blobs. Thin flap-like shelves, which look like oozing glue, extend horizontally from the print. Sometimes, these thin structures can partially cure and then break apart inside the resin vat. This will obstruct the UV laser and cause irreparable damage to the print. This is how you can fix it.

Check the Resin

Does the resin have a expiration date? Do you use too-cheap resins from unreliable sources? The resin’s lifetime can vary depending on its origin. It may last up to two years. Expired resin is not reliable. It will react differently depending on the ambient temperature, UV laser and other variables. Proper storage may also lead to the degradation of resin.  

In both cases, printing deformation such as ragging can be a sign of poor resin. Be sure to examine it.

Look for Obstructions

Similar to delamination and ragging, an obstruction in the laser could be the reason. Make sure to clean the resin tank of any debris. Use a scraper to clean the entire print bed. If resin remains in the tank, remove it from the tank. Filter it to filter any remaining resin. Inspect the FEP film, and make sure to clean any optical surfaces.

Reduce the Number of Supports

Over-supporting your prints can lead to damage. High support density can cause ragging. Make sure to adjust the slicer software settings so that you don’t have too many supports. Reorient your model to make your support more efficient. A 45 degree angle, as mentioned previously, will decrease the amount of support you require.

Is there a problem with your 3D resin printer? Were any of these troubleshooting suggestions helpful? Let us know if you have any questions. We will do our best help to solve it.