Build Your Own SLA/SLS

I was inspirited by a nice movie from Oliveira Jose about a DIY SLA 3D printing device.
This should be my next project!

I didn't want to just copy/paste, I designed the setup a little different:
Top-Down & Bottom-Up in one design & having a smaller footprint, using 2 mirrors:


After about 300 hours of building, this results into the next 'working' design:


Click the picture above for my building blog.

Right now I'm still in a testing phase.
It's still difficult to print something right...
I'm using PDMS, but that will perish also, especially after over-exposure (due to resin left on the vat).

Glad to see you joined the forum. You might want to try FEP adhesive backed tape as a vat coating. It works much better than PDMS and won't cloud up.

Tnxs Steve, I've tested 3 vat types till now. You can still see this in the picture above.

On the same vat:
* PolyStyreen w/o any coating
* PolyStyreen with Teflon-tape
* PolyStyreen with PDMS

Unfortunately I was not able to print on these 3 parts at the same time, because the PDMS layer was about 1.5mm higher then the others.
(I wanted to do proper testing, using same conditions on all 3 surfaces.)

Anyway, the main conclusion: all 3 vat-floors sections did work!
Although:
* PS w/o coating: was quite sticking, but it works.
(I also used glass once, without coating, but that is a bad idea!)
* PS w Teflon: is less transparent option (see middle part of vat in picture). I also accidentally partly demolished it by a knife, while getting of a wrong build.
* PS w PDMS: seems to be most easy stuff to print on. Although I later also demolished this one with a knife....

Now I changed to:
* Glass w PDMS: I guess this is a little better then PS. (PS could also scratch very easily..)

Why do you think, FEP adhesive backed tape is the best?

I also did have a look to your software, it really looks amazing!!
I'll try this as soon as possible. Many thanks for sharing!

Hi,

I use FEP film 0.05mm thickness and clamp it against the glass, no forming of bubbles under the glass

works really well for me. and i don't have any problems with damaging the VAT when overcurring..

hp_

I've ordered this stuff before and it worked pretty well. I did ruin it when part of a print detached and kept exposing the resin in one spot stuck to the film so I had to scrap the film. I may try it again. I did make a vat that is 3 pieces so you can clamp any type of film above the polycarbonate bottom.

This is what I ordered:


It's a bit expensive at the .005" size. I did not try the adhesive backed yet.

Is this the same stuff you're using or did you find it somewhere else?

Hi,

I bought a piece here:



but for europe i have now also found a german supplier haveing more reasonable price and shipping.


i've also found a supplier in china willing to send me some stuff but i have still test it..


cheers,
hp

Wow, it's a bit more expensive at Cshyde. $18.00 per foot of .002"

McMaster has the same .002" sheet at only $7.66 per foot.

Both are 24" wide.

I bought some stuff here:
FEP/Teflon Non-Stick Reservoir Coating
Sheet: 8.5″ x 6.75″ - $3.50
(I ordered 5 sheets and had to pay $24 in total, incl. shipping costs...)

Hi,
like we are all looking for the best vat materials to work with, I try to make a list here:


Please help making a longer list of: options & suppliers!
Send a mail or reply onto this forum.

Tnxs!

Hi Edge,

did you try out PMP yet?

http://www.mitsuichemicals.com/opulent_cha.htm


cheers,
Hp