Resin Printing & Temperature
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2022 10:47 am
This is a theoretical problem so far. I haven't printed anything yet with my new resin printer, but that's partly because of a note that arrived inside it, to the effect that the optimal operating temperature was 20-40 deg C. My shed was at 14C when the printer arrived and with the change in the weather has got even colder, and I've seen various solutions which seem to be focused on the temperature of the resin itself, to ensure it's not too viscous to print well, including - warm the resin bottle in a bowl of warm water before starting the print (the UV light/reaction should then keep the temperature up - but the resin would have to go back in the bottle to be reheated before starting the next print); put a cover over the printer (such as a plant tent or even the cardboard box it came in); put a heater in/under the printer (heating mats, ceramic heaters etc); some combination of the above or just heat the room the printer is in up to 20C using a conventional heater (but: ouch, energy prices).
I want to make sure I have the optimal temperature before I start doing test prints so if they fail I know it's not cold that is the cause. And I could just heat the space as a one-off to do that. But I'm curious whether anyone else has had issues printing at below 20 deg C and what arrangements if any you have for keeping your printer or resin vat warm?
I want to make sure I have the optimal temperature before I start doing test prints so if they fail I know it's not cold that is the cause. And I could just heat the space as a one-off to do that. But I'm curious whether anyone else has had issues printing at below 20 deg C and what arrangements if any you have for keeping your printer or resin vat warm?