In resin printing, your vat film matters more than you think. These films are often made from FED or nFEPD material, and while they are essential, they are pretty fragile too. The resin vat film acts as a transparent barrier between the liquid resin and the UV light source. Hence, this thin sheet takes a lot of stress during the 3D printing process.
As each layer is cured and felt, the film stretches and releases, enduring minor tension. However, if you don’t maintain or handle the film properly, it is going to be damaged prematurely, even before you have a couple of prints done with it.
Moreover, this mistake can cost you multiple films and ruined prints. This article delves deep into the 7 mistakes that damage your resin vat film prematurely and how you can avoid them.
1. Over-Tightening the Vat Film
One big rookie mistake is tightening the film too much when replacing it. Most people feel like it’s logical to tighten the film in hopes of getting better results, but this causes other issues, like thinning of the vat film, ultimately making it brittle. Instead of lasting dozens of prints and printing with liters of resin, it will tear after just a handful of prints.
What’s more concerning is that in some cases, it can even warp the vat frame itself, making replacement films in the future harder to install. Therefore, you need to ensure that you do not overtighten the film or use your printer manufacturer’s torque or tension guidelines.
But if you want to eliminate the overtightening issue once and for all, consider choosing a quick-release resin vat system like the Chitu System’s Hoopat Vat, which eliminates overtightening and incorrect orientation.
Just install the resin vat film, and the resin vat will automatically adjust your film in a matter of minutes. Not only are you saving your resin vat’s frame, but you’re also maximizing your film’s lifespan.
2. Using Bare Hands To Handle Vat Film
While we often handle most 3D printing stuff with our hands, fingerprints can also cause a lot of damage to your film. We have oils and sweat from our hands, which can degrade the FED and nFED surfaces over time.
Moreover, oils, once smeared onto the film, can create uneven surfaces, attracting dust, reducing overall clarity, and in some cases, causing some adhesion issues. Careless handling of the film can also produce micro-warping, decreasing the print accuracy.
So, the fix here is always to wear nitrile gloves while handling these films and hold them by the edges instead of being rough with them.
3. Leaving Resin in the Vat Too Long
It can be tempting to leave leftover resin in the vat between different print sessions. However, this habit can cost you money and time because it can damage vat films. Over time, the resin settles and partially cures on the film surface due to constant UV exposure.
At that point, even the desk lamp or sunlight can trigger micro-curing, which is the opposite of what you would want. You should always filter and store your resin in a sealed, UV-protected container after every print session. This simple routine can double your film’s lifespan.
4. Printing with Worn Films for Too Long
Another overlooked mistake is to keep printing even when the film is already cloudy, scratched, or slightly torn. While we push our accessories to the limit, sometimes, this mindset of saving money can be costly instead.
A weakened film can fail entirely, potentially ruining the machine completely. So, repair can cost far beyond just replacing the film, as it can damage your resin vat frame too. The best way to avoid this issue is to replace the film when it is showing signs of replacement.
Here are some of those signs:
- A cloudy appearance on film that doesn’t clear even after cleaning.
- Visible scratches or dents.
- Reduced print success rates.
- Film sagging or loosening.
So, when these visible signs are manifesting, the smartest thing to do is to replace the film.
5. Excessive Print Settings
During resin printing, there are many forces being applied. When a cured layer detaches from the film, the force is quite a lot, depending on your settings. Moreover, if your lift speed is too fast or the exposure settings are incorrect, the force can be multiplied, wearing out the film.
Therefore, after repetitive strain, your film can even start to tear apart, and the print failures will dramatically increase. Hence, upgrading to low-friction films like nFED would be a perfect solution here.
You should also optimize your printer’s lift and exposure settings.
6. Using Harsh or Extreme Cleaning Methods
Resin spills and cured residue are bound to happen while you are 3D printing. However, the way you clean matters even more and can make a huge difference between long-lasting film and one that can ruin in a few prints.
Firstly, you should never scrub the film with abrasive materials, scouring pads, or even scraping material like metal spatulas. These things will leave micro-scratches, and then the scratches will scatter UV light, destroying the upcoming print.
Always use a dedicated plastic resin scraper or isopropyl alcohol with microfiber clothing to avoid scratches and clean the resin film.
7. Ignoring Proper Film Orientation During Installation
Believe it or not, when you install your film in a different orientation, it can get ruined even before it starts. You see, most films have a surface designed for lower release force. So, when you install it backwards, the sticking increases, placing more stress on the film during every peel cycle.
Therefore, you should check the manufacturer’s markings carefully because they should tell you which side should face the resin.
Final Verdict
Your vat film is the most vital part of your 3D printing with resin. It endures thousands of peel cycles, providing the best possible results while also getting resin spills, stress, and a lot of other things on it.
However, small mistakes can ruin it, which is why you should always be careful when using a vat film correctly. If you want more 3D printing accessories, then Chitu Systems is your go-to shop.
