Instructions for Use IFU for water soluble sacrificial 3D printed resins

Follow our Instructions for Use "IFU" for printing our 3D resins.

For cleaning and post processing our water (and alcohol) soluble sacrificial resins follow the following protocol.

Basics about water soluble sacrificial 3D printed resins

  • During printing reduce as much as possible the quantity of resin in the resin tank or vat to reduce the contact surface of the print during printing with the liquid resin since the liquid resin can plasticise and increase the stickiness of water soluble prints
  • Water and alcohols cannot be used for washing and cleaning water soluble sacrificial 3D printed resins because they dissolve water soluble prints
  • Clean and postcure your water soluble 3D prints with Cleaning Fluid WS1 Bio. It is ultra safe without any hazards or risks
  • Some water soluble sacrificial resins instead of fully dissolving may swell. This depends on few kinetic variables, such as light power and total energy dosage, which are beyond 3Dresyns control*

Cleaning and post processing protocol

  • The following washing and cleaning method is nearly automated, cost effective, fast, and easy. It is recommended for cleaning water soluble prints

Equipment:

  • A low cost wash & cure machine of 100 Euro can be used, such as this wash & cure machine or a similar one

Printing

Light box post curing of prints in immersion/dipping:

  • Remove prints from the build platform with a spatula
  • Dip prints inside a washing basket in a washing container filled with Cleaning Fluid WS1 Bio
  • Remove any uncured resin from the surface of the prints by dipping them up and down inside Cleaning Fluid WS1 Bio. Optionally a magnet stirrer (wash mode) can be used
    • If needed use a brush inside Cleaning Fluid WS1 Bio to remove any residual sticky resin from the prints
  • After cleaning the prints post cure them in a light box dipped in a clear container filled up with fresh Cleaning Fluid WS1 Bio**.
  • Recommended light box post curing times:
    • 5-10 minutes is normally enough for getting a dry surface
    • 10-20 minutes will increase the rigidity of prints (recommended)
    • 20-60 minutes will increase the rigidity of prints but brittleness will increase due to excessive light post curing
  • Remove Cleaning Fluid WS1 Bio from the surface of the prints by spraying acetone on them, or use compressed air, or a clean cloth
  • Cut the supports. If supports are too hard and brittle, leaving marks on the prints, cut them before light post curing
  • Later, when needed, dip the water soluble sacrificial prints in water (or in alcohol) for dissolving them

    *Note: full dissolution cannot be warranted since printer and light box power, wavelength, exposure time, etc., may affect the solubility of sacrificial resins

    **Note: use fresh unused Cleaning Fluid WS1 Bio to avoid contamination of prints with uncured resin from previous washings

    How to reuse dirty Cleaning Fluid? Expose the Cleaning Fluid in the washing container to sunlight, or with or without stirring to light in the light box or curing machine. After several minutes the uncured resin will cure as small particles. Then, use a paint filter to separate and remove the cured resin from the recycled cleaning fluid, which can be used again and again for washing prints.