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Student Material 001: Resin Print Setup Quick Reference

Material ID: U2M3-MAT-001 Purpose: Quick reference for resin print preparation, slicer settings, and monitoring checkpoints Format: Checklists, tables, and decision guides Updated: 2026-03-19

Pre-Print Checklist

Step Check Status
1 FEP film: no scratches, holes, or stuck debris [ ]
2 Resin level: 40-60% of vat capacity [ ]
3 Resin stirred gently (silicone spatula, not metal) [ ]
4 Build platform: clean, dry, leveled [ ]
5 LCD screen: no dead pixels, no residue [ ]
6 Room temperature: 20-30°C (68-86°F) [ ]
7 Ventilation: active and verified [ ]
8 PPE: gloves, glasses, lab coat donned [ ]
9 Eyewash station: accessible and functional [ ]
10 Print file: loaded, settings verified [ ]

Orientation Decision Guide

Part Geometry Recommended Orientation Why
Flat thin plate Tilt 30-45° Minimizes large cross-section peel force
Tall cylinder Slight tilt 10-15° Breaks suction on circular cross-sections
Figurine/miniature Tilt back 25-35°, feet toward plate Protects face detail, supports on back
Mechanical housing Tilt 20-30°, opening up Allows drainage, reduces islands
Ring/jewelry Tilt 45°, opening to side Minimizes support marks on visible surfaces
Dental model Flat (0°) on the base Arch accuracy is critical, base is non-visible

Support Settings Quick Reference

Part Type Support Density Tip Diameter Contact Depth
Detailed miniature Medium 0.25-0.35mm 0.2mm
General model Medium 0.40-0.50mm 0.3mm
Functional part Heavy 0.60-0.80mm 0.4mm
Large flat surface Heavy + raft 0.80-1.00mm 0.5mm

Hollowing Reference

Part Thickness Hollow? Wall Thickness Drain Holes
< 3mm No N/A N/A
3-6mm Optional 1.5-2.0mm 2 holes, 2-3mm
6-15mm Yes 2.0-2.5mm 2 holes, 3-4mm
> 15mm Yes 2.5-3.0mm 2-3 holes, 4-5mm

Drain hole placement: One at the lowest print point (gravity drainage), one at the highest point (vent for air displacement)

Exposure Settings Quick Reference by Resin Color

Color Normal Exposure Adjustment Bottom Exposure Adjustment
Clear/Transparent -20% from grey baseline -10%
White -10% -5%
Grey Baseline (use manufacturer spec) Baseline
Green/Blue +5-10% +5%
Red/Orange +10-20% +10%
Black +30-50% +20-30%

Monitoring Checkpoints

Time Checkpoint Action if Problem
Layers 1-3 (0-2 min) Listen for gentle peel sound Loud pops → reduce exposure or re-orient
Layers 5-10 (3-5 min) Pause and inspect platform for adhesion Empty platform → cancel, troubleshoot
Every 10-15 min Listen, check resin level, look for debris Floating debris → cancel, retrieve debris
Print complete Allow 2-3 min drip time Don't rush — let resin drain back to vat

Common Failure Diagnosis

What You See What Happened Fix
Empty platform, cured film on FEP Adhesion failure Increase bottom exposure +5-10s; sand platform; clean with IPA
Part on platform but missing sections Support failure Add more supports; increase tip size
Horizontal cracks in part Layer delamination Increase exposure +0.3s; slow lift speed
Features bloated/rounded Over-exposure Decrease exposure -0.3s; run calibration test
Rough patches on surface FEP contamination Clean FEP; filter resin through paint strainer
Part warped/bent Uneven peel forces Re-orient to balance cross-sections; add supports

Resin Volume Estimation

Model Volume Supports (~20%) Total Resin Cost (~$35/L)
5 mL 1 mL ~6 mL ~$0.21
15 mL 3 mL ~18 mL ~$0.63
50 mL 10 mL ~60 mL ~$2.10
100 mL 20 mL ~120 mL ~$4.20

Note: Actual resin usage includes wastage (dripping, washing, vat residue) — add ~10-20% to estimates

Layers Est. Time (at 8s/layer) Notes
200 (10mm at 0.05mm) ~27 min Small miniature
400 (20mm at 0.05mm) ~53 min Medium model
800 (40mm at 0.05mm) ~107 min Large model
1600 (80mm at 0.05mm) ~213 min Full build height

Per-layer time = lift up + lift down + light-off delay + exposure ≈ 6-10 seconds typical

Last Updated: 2026-03-19