Budget Friendly Tutorial!
3d printing is a great hobby. It’s a beautiful combination of both art and science. Which I think is why it is so popular with both engineers and artists alike. However just because the printing process is automated, time must still be spent post processing the part. Post processing is often the most tedious and time consuming 3d printing step for operators, but it doesn’t have to be!
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What is Post Processing?
Post processing is the cleanup step in 3d printing. For resin printing, it usually involves removing supports and cleaning off excess resin. Each operator and YouTuber have their own method for post processing and will tell you they know the best method. The truth is each method has its benefits and works better for some people than others. The trick is figuring out which method works for you.
In this guide, I will show you how to determine what the best method for you is and we will discuss how to post process your 3d prints on a budget
Start with a budget:
How much can you spend on cleaning your prints? Most people will find that being cheaper works almost as well as spending money, but it takes a lot longer. In this guide we will discuss the best way to post process resin prints on a budget.
No matter the budget, most resin Post Processing includes these 5 main steps
a) Part Removal
b) Washing
c) Support Removal
d) Drying
e) Curing
NOTE: I highly recommend using water washable resin for this whole process. It smells better and doesn’t use IPA which is flammable, expensive, and smelly. My go to resin is Ministry of Resin Durable Water Washable. It’s pricey but produces VERY high quality and durable prints and is less brittle than Elegoo’s Water Washable resin.
For a cheaper alternative, Elegoo's Water Washable is still a very good choice. Though more brittle than Ministry of Resin, the cost make it worth it for some. Before switching to Ministry of Resin, we at Thunder Bay Design used Elegoo's Water Washable for all our prints.
Recommended!
Budget Friendly Post Processing
Tools Needed: Total Cost ~ 46.85 at the time of publishing
1) Metal Spatula with a sharp edge
4) Clippers
5) A bucket (2 if you have them)
6) An old toothbrush or wide paint brush (Soft bristles)
7) UV Pen Light
8) Silicone hobby mat (Optional)
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
Always Wear safety glasses and nitrile gloves when working with uncured resin.
DO NOT WASH OFF RESIN IN A SINK. Uncured resin is dangerous and must be cured before disposal. Set the dirty water buckets in the sun or under a UV Lamp, then filter out the cured resin bits and throw them in a trash bin.
Step 1) Drain Resin off the Build Plate
Drain remaining resin off the build plate. I recommend removing the plate and turning it sideways 90 degrees for about 2 minutes to let the resin drain.
Step 2) Remove the Part
Using the metal spatula with the beveled side up, apply pressure to the bottom of the print and lightly lift upward. Be careful not to apply too much force to the build plate as this may knock it out of alignment.
Step 3) Wash the Part
It can be difficult to remove resin from in between the supports. The best method is to use an old toothbrush or paintbrush and IPA or water if you are using water washable resin.
I recommend using two buckets. One for the first wash as the water becomes very dirty and another bucket for a final clean rinse.
DO NOT WASH OFF RESIN IN A SINK
Step 4) Dry the Prints
Lay the parts out in a well-ventilated area. Note that if you hollowed out the print, excess resin/water may drip out during this time and may require a second washing. Allowing the parts to dry while the supports are still on makes the part stronger and less likely to break during the removal process.
Step 5) Remove the Supports
Use clippers to break the bottom layers of the print. This allows for easier support removal.
Then lightly pull away the supports being VERY careful to avoid pulling off extra thin members of the print such as swords, spears, hair or other fine details. If it still has a hard time pulling away use the clippers to snip away the supports from the body of the print or use very fine tip tweezers as shown.
Step 6) Cure the Prints
For those looking to save some money, leaving parts in full sun for a few hours (2-6) should work fine. Keep in mind the rate at which parts cure will change according to the season. As a general rule in summer when the UV index is higher, your prints will cure quicker. If you want to speed up the process and can afford to spend an extra 7 dollars, A UV Flashlight will do the trick as long as it has an operating wavelength between 375 and 405nm. This is the wavelength that most consumer resin cures at. If you are using specialty resin, check the manufacturers specifications. Cure times very but shining it on each part of the print for 3 minutes should do the trick.
Final Steps:
That’s it! You now know how to post process resin 3d prints on a budget. Though this process works well, it is more time consuming. For those looking to speed up the process and become more efficient, the more professional/avid hobbyist route may be a better fit.
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