Introduction

Particle free resin is critical to print success as well as membrane life. New resin will be free of particles with the exception of xPEEK147 or xPRO1100 FR which may form crystals during storage and should be thermally conditioned before use. 

Randomly occurring delamination is a symptom of contaminated resin. Frequent membrane damage is also a symptom.

Particles may come from a number of sources including airborne dust or insects. The most common sources of particles are cured material that has separated from the build, or introduced by the build plate or contaminated tools or material handling equipment. 

Removing Material Cured to Membrane

Run the clean job if there is any material cured to the membrane. Use a silicone spatula to check after every build - it should slide smoothly over the membrane. Run the clean job after any build that did not build completely or properly. 

Filter Out Larger Particles

Nexa3D recommends filtering resin when extracting from the vat and when loading into the vat by passing through a ~190 micron mesh filter commonly available in paint store or on our website.

XiP or XiP Pro

If using XiP resin bottles, always ensure no cured resin has accumulated on the valve before loading and always filter when pouring into the bottle. Don't forget to wipe your funnel clean before and after use!

NXE

For NXE or XiP Pro printers here is a filter holder you can print and use when loading resin as shown in this video:

When extracting resin from the vat on NXE printers, the pump nozzle includes a filter. Don't pump into the vat with a dirty filter or you could re-introduce contaminates! We recommend only using the pump for draining resin from the vat. 

Clean Build Plates

Keep the build plate clean and free of debris. Scrape the working surface with a metal scraper to ensure no high points, cured resin or burrs are on the surface. Even a 50 micron layer of resin can prevent proper homing and cause build failures. Slotted build plates require special attention since particles can hide in slots and be introduced to the resin in the vat. This is most likely when the build plates are not washed between builds, or not inspected for contamination. New model build plates 12389-01-RevA exist for NX printers which make inspection and cleaning easier. 

Particle Size

Particles as small as 50 micron can cause damage to Everlast membranes if they get under the build plate when homing. Filtration with 190 micron filters will only remove the larger particles. Always keep a lid on resin and avoid sanding or other dust creation activates near the printer.

Updated September 30, 2024 15:48