After the print is cleaned and has air dried for 30 minutes, it needs to fully cure to achieve the desired physical properties as stated in the material description. Post-curing prints is recommended to get each respective material to the physical properties stated in their technical data sheets.

Post-curing printed parts will increase the strength and rigidity of the part. This can cause resins to become stronger in some aspects, but it might also become brittle for smaller pieces and cross-sections.

1. Tear off the protective film on one side of the UV reflector and place this side upward on the platform

2. Align the curing table with the hole in the base of the Wash+Cure

3. Place the washed and dried objects on the curing table

4. Bend the UV light board to the desired angle (between 0°-65°) to cure the top of the objects.
   The height of the objects should be less than 240 mm

5. Install the UV-blocking cover

6. Set the machine to Cure mode by pressing the Mode button. The small red light will illuminate to confirm the Mode selection. *The Wash+Cure will default to Wash mode if it has been unplugged or there was a loss of power

7. Turn the Time knob to set the curing time

8. Press the Time knob to start curing

9. Once the timer hits 0:00, your part is fully cured and ready to be removed from the Wash+Cure.

Post-Curing Best Practices

• Cure parts while they are still attached to the printed support structures and build plate. This will limit distortion that can be caused during curing

• Avoid positioning parts in ways that lead to uneven exposure from different sides. This can lead to higher shrinkage on one side of the part, which will warp the part in one direction

• Some large printed objects, or those with a side that faces away from the UV lights, might not receive an even amount of UV light exposure. Consider pausing the curing process midway through the curing cycle, rotate the part to expose the other side(s), and then resume the curing cycle

  • Keep the reflective interior of the cover clean! Any clouding on the reflective interior surface can inhibit the curing process. Wipe down the reflective interior with clean Isopropyl Alcohol regularly to prevent clouding and contamination.

Recommended Cure Times

The general recommendation for cure time is around 30 - 90 minutes for the approved materials, but times may vary depending on:

• The size of printed parts

• The material used for printing

• Attributes such as negative features and thickness of printed parts

• Whether or not supports are still attached to printed parts

For thin-walled parts, decrease cure time (<4mm) to prevent warping. Conversely, increase the cure time until the desired result is achieved for very thick or large printed parts.

While cure times will ultimately vary depending on the thickness of the printed part, we have some general guidelines in our article on recommended Wash+Cure times.

Updated August 19, 2024 22:37