Resin Materials

This guide pertains to Form Labs resin that is currently used in SparQ for the Form 2 SLA resin printer.

Tank
The resin tank is the tray that the resin is held in while the printer is printing.

Material

They come general purpose and empty, but once a resin has been used in a tank, that tank is now exclusively for that resin type. The box of the tank should be labelled the first time it is used so that the resin type of that tank is known.

Wear

Over time the bottom surface of the tank will cloud and will have to be replaced. This happens roughly once every 1,000 - 3,000 layers of printing. When the tank window on the bottom starts to show moderate clouding, it is time to replace it as prints in that area will be weaker (image below).

LT Tanks

LT (Long term) tanks last longer, and are required for certain materials (like surgical guide). The exact duration depends on the materials being used. Check for scratches, indentations, gouges, or a rippled surface to determine if it should be replaced. Storage

Whenever a tank is not in use, place it's black plastic cover over the tank and store it somewhere where the bottom of the tank will not be receiving any light. Visible light can slowly cure resin through the bottom window of the tank so if it is going to be stored the bottom must be protected. In SparQ, we place the tanks back into their boxes to help this (and also for convenient labeling).

Artifacts

If there are any pieces of cured resin sitting in the resin tank it is important to remove these before starting another print. Always check for artifacts after every failed print. (Use gloves, and clean the tool that you used to fish it out).

Cleaning the Tank Window

If the clear acrylic tank window on the underside of the tank is smudged or contaminated, remove the resin from the resin tank and pour it into an opaque storage container. To clean the acrylic tank window, use a plastic cleaner like NOVUS No. 1 Plastic Clean and Shine and a microfiber cloth.

Replacing the Tank

Always wear gloves. Video guide


 * Remove the build platform
 * Release the tank wiper by lightly pulling it out of the seat
 * Remove the resin tank

Cartridge
This is the container that holds the resin before it is poured into the tank that the printer uses.


 * Always close the lid when not printing
 * Always open the lid when printing
 * Always ensure that the cartridge is the same resin type as what was last used in the tank being used

Removing the Cartridge

If the printer will be dormant for more than a few days, remove the cartridge for safe storage. The lid is the cap on the top of the cartridge. The bite valve is on the bottom of the cartridge that resin slowly pours from into the tank when the printer is running.


 * Close the cap on top of the cartridge
 * Lift the cartridge out of the printer
 * Place the orange cover over the bite valve.

If the cover is not on or the cap is not closed the resin may spoil quickly rendering it useless.

Clear Resin (SDS)
Lifetime: 24 months

IPA Wash: 10 min

Cure: 15 min at 60C

Layer Thickness: 25, 50, 100

Transparent. Can be polished to be very clear.

Draft Resin (SDS)
Lifetime: 24 months

IPA Wash: 10 min

Cure: 5 min at 60C

Layer Thickness: 300

Fast print speed, less precise. Create for iterative but bulky parts.

Usage

Flexible (SDS) (Deprecated)
''*While SparQ does have Flexible resin, it is being phased out by Form Labs and no new supply will be purchased. Flexible 80A will be used going forward.*''

Lifetime: 24 months

Layer Thickness: 50, 100

High impact resistance. Mildly flexible, depends on wall thickness.

Flexible 80A (SDS)
Lifetime: 24 months

IPA Wash: 5 min + 5 min

Cure: 10 min at 60C

Layer Thickness: 50, 100

Simulates 80A durometer rubber. High impact resistance.

* Requires LT Tank

Usage

Tough (SDS) (Deprecated)
''*While SparQ does have Tough resin, it is being phased out by Form Labs and no new supply will be purchased. Tough 2000 will be used going forward.*''

Tough 2000 (SDS)
Lifetime: 18 months

IPA Wash: 10 min + 10 min

Cure: 60 min at 70C

Layer Thickness: 50, 100

Simulates ABS plastic strength. High stress and strain prototypes.

* Requires LT Tank

Usage

Surgical Guide Resin (SDS)
Lifetime: 24 months

IPA Wash: 20 min (99% IPA required)

Cure: 30 min at 60C

Layer Thickness: 50, 100

Designed for surgical guides. Class 1 bio-compatible resin.

* Requires LT Tank

Usage