Build Your Own SLA/SLS

It's looking good. Just one thing I see from the picture is the size of your platform looks like it is almost the size of the vat. Don't forget it will displace a lot of resin when it is lowered to the bottom of the vat and might cause an overflow.

Also, with the passive tilt, go easy on the speed of the z axis movements, especially for the first layer or two. When the platform is touching the vat bottom the vacuum force can be significant. It is better to lift slowly and let resin flow in to the gap than to try to jerk it quickly and maybe break something. After you do a few tests you will get a feel for how fast and how far you can lift to get a separation.

Thanks! Actually the passive tilt came from your design. Simple and efficient, the way I like things.
The picture is a bit deceptive, there's a 1/2" space between the build platform and the vat walls, I am also planning on adding just a bit of resin at a time.
I will probably be running my first tests within two weeks or so.

Hello again guys. I finally had a chance to finish the tray for my printer. It has a passive tilt based on 258cj7 design. The body is made of transparent acrylic with a base made of fused quartz covered with FEP.
Now I only need to modify the projector. It will be probably finished next week. I'll keep you posted.

Looking really good. I also went with the passive tilt and it worked really nice for small pieces approx 50mm square anything larger just didn't peel correctly or at all. Maybe if I upped the lift past 6mm it would have worked but it was super easy to just add a tilt motor instead. Just thought I should post experience with the passive VAT.

Clinton

Thanks!! I am being really cautious about the passive tilt since the consensus shows that it is good for small prints only. I have a 7 degree max. tilt on it which amounts to about an inch on the side opposite to the hinge. Hopefully the combination of passive tilt and FEP will allow me to successfully produce large prints.

Preliminary projector tests. I am using a Dell 3400MP with color wheel removed.

I've decided to use a mirror to reflect the projected image. This way I can experiment with different projectors. I already have a whole bunch of first surface mirrors which I got from an old projection TV and cut down to about 8" x 8". Almost there!!

MakerJuice's SubSF resin is here with a little premium (how did they know Jolly Rancher candies are my favorite?)

Hi!
Congrats for your printer!!! I like it!!
Can you extend the explanations on fused quartz plate? Source? Price? Thickens?
Thanks in advance.
Reagards