Re: FEP vat for the LittleRP?
Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 7:47 pm
Secret info follows.
I wouldn't worry about the FEP ripping .005" FEP is a very tough material a sharp knife will pierce it a hardened piece of resin probably not. Since FEP stretches up to 300% before failing the main reason for needing to change a vats FEP is "dimples" created by parts that break off during a build. For smaller vats a glass support is not needed tension is enough to prevent sagging but for larger vats (1080x1920 @ 100 microns or larger) the amount of tension needed to prevent the FEP sagging can be very high so stiffening the vat sufficiently can be an issue. Some use a metal frame to deal with the stiffness issue (see http://www.muve3d.net/press/product/flexvat/). I have designs for both a FEP support method that uses glass to prevent FEP "sag" for larger vats and a vat stiffening method that uses less expensive to fabricate materials than aluminum/steel for larger flex vats. Once I finish rolling out the LittleRP designs I will post the larger vats.
Stay tuned
PS:
I have always liked to make the stuff that makes the "stuff" or the stuff that does the "thing" and I have been doing it for a long time (a long time) it's what I like to do.
HTL
I wouldn't worry about the FEP ripping .005" FEP is a very tough material a sharp knife will pierce it a hardened piece of resin probably not. Since FEP stretches up to 300% before failing the main reason for needing to change a vats FEP is "dimples" created by parts that break off during a build. For smaller vats a glass support is not needed tension is enough to prevent sagging but for larger vats (1080x1920 @ 100 microns or larger) the amount of tension needed to prevent the FEP sagging can be very high so stiffening the vat sufficiently can be an issue. Some use a metal frame to deal with the stiffness issue (see http://www.muve3d.net/press/product/flexvat/). I have designs for both a FEP support method that uses glass to prevent FEP "sag" for larger vats and a vat stiffening method that uses less expensive to fabricate materials than aluminum/steel for larger flex vats. Once I finish rolling out the LittleRP designs I will post the larger vats.
Stay tuned
PS:
I have always liked to make the stuff that makes the "stuff" or the stuff that does the "thing" and I have been doing it for a long time (a long time) it's what I like to do.
HTL
