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Keeping resin in the vat between prints?  

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TheSwedishLord
(@theswedishlord)
Active Member
Keeping resin in the vat between prints?

Is it safe to store the resin in the vat between prints or is it danger to crack LCD if I do that?

Posted : 07/04/2019 8:31 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
Re: Keeping resin in the vat between prints?

there is a possibility of the resin;
solidifying,
becoming contaminated,
having residual crystals in it, from a previous print, and damaging the FEP film...
and probably a load of other gotcha's

however, I have done follow on prints without draining the tank... and got away with it!...
I sweep the bottom of the tank with a flat edged spatula, feeling for bits stuck to the FEP... haven't found any yet, if the previous print didn't fail....

If the previous print did fail, I make sure I remove the failed print artefacts from the FEP film

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 08/04/2019 2:37 am
edward.l7
(@edward-l7)
Active Member
Re: Keeping resin in the vat between prints?


Is it safe to store the resin in the vat between prints or is it danger to crack LCD if I do that?

It depends. If you leave it in the tank for a day or two with the UV protective cover down, it's probably ok. I've heard of people leaving resin in the tank for as long as a couple weeks in other machines without ill effects, but I don't know how credible those accounts are. They probably also keep their machines in an environment away from windows and bright lights.

Personally, I'm of the mind that if you're not responsible enough to care for your toys properly, you don't deserve to have them, but I'm probably on the overzealous side of the tool care spectrum. But, honestly, it's probably best to just clean the vat and filter the resin daily and not take the chance. Better for the machine and for the prints.

Better yet, maybe run an experiment by pouring a small bit of resin in an expendable clear container and leave it in the machine for a week or two. Observe how well preserved it is over that period of time and report back on here to let us know how it turns out! Be sure to report the lighting conditions. 😀 . Otherwise, if anyone else has done such an experiment first hand, I'd be curious to see their results.

Posted : 08/04/2019 8:57 am
TheSwedishLord
(@theswedishlord)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Keeping resin in the vat between prints?

Just wondered this if I have multiple prints the same day etc. Not leaving there for weeks or days.

I have to check with the container in the unit and try to monitor the UV rays hitting the resins etc.

Posted : 08/04/2019 1:29 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
Re: Keeping resin in the vat between prints?

I keep my printer out of direct sunlight, and the orange hood does a good job of filtering uv rays.

i am doing a follow on print, now... printer finished during the night, I removed models and started a new print

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 08/04/2019 2:13 pm
richard.l
(@richard-l)
Member Moderator
Re: Keeping resin in the vat between prints?

Well, I've got a Wanhao D7 and I've left resin in it for over a month when I forgot to empty it before going on a business trip. So long as there is no UV light that can get to it there should be no problem. The bigger concern is it will separate, but you can just pour it back in the bottle and shake it up and it will be fine.

Posted : 08/04/2019 4:20 pm
edward.l7
(@edward-l7)
Active Member
Re: Keeping resin in the vat between prints?

That's all good information. So I guess a good followup question is whether or not the tilting bed is brisk enough to mix significantly separated resin?

Posted : 09/04/2019 1:18 am
zveznet
(@zveznet)
Member
RE: Keeping resin in the vat between prints?

The tank only tilts a few times during homing before a print and would not be enough to sufficiently mix the resin. The tank should be emptied, inspected, and any resin in it ran through a screen to ensure there are not any fine particles of cured resin - which could damage the FEP or display.

Yes, it is possible to 'cheat' by a quick check of the FEP with a spatula, leaving the resin in the tank, but it definitely is not recommended.

Posted : 25/04/2019 5:25 pm
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