We aren’t certain what made him consider it, however [Proper Printing] determined to make an FDM printer lay down resin as an alternative of filament. Why? We nonetheless aren’t certain, however we admire the hassle nonetheless. In precept, extruding resin shouldn’t be a lot totally different than different liquid belongings you print like icing or concrete. Then you definitely’d have to UV-cure the viscous liquid rapidly. Actually, they wound up making up a paste-like resin utilizing a number of chemical substances and a filler.
Armed with the paste, it might seem to be the massive obstacles can be over. As a substitute of half cooling followers, the printer now has two laser heads centered on the print space. Printing in vase mode avoids some issues, however the first few makes an attempt weren’t very profitable.
With a little bit of perseverance, the setup did work — for some time. Extra high-quality tuning received acceptable outcomes. Nonetheless, he finally modified the filler materials and received a satisfactory Benchy to print. Nothing to be happy with, however recognizable. Actually, we have been stunned that the laser’s didn’t treatment the fabric nonetheless contained in the nozzle and trigger horrible clogs.
Why put this a lot effort into doing this? We don’t know. Must you strive it? In all probability not. In fact, with the ability to print a paste has its personal worth. Maybe delivering glue or solder paste, for instance. However you typically received’t have to make tall prints with that sort of materials. Then once more, we’ve by no means been against doing one thing “simply because.”
In any case, why make a musical instrument out of a Sport Boy? Why make a modem with tin cans? You would possibly as nicely extrude resin.