VAT FAQ

 

Can I buy another Vat?

Not yet (2/26/2013).

 

Does someone have a CAD file to make a new Vat?

Anyone?

 

My PDMS is damaged, what should I do?

In most cases you'll have to replace it. Basically, you don't want any defects in the build area (above the waterfall). And you don't want any resin seeping under the PDMS- it'll mess up the projector focus among other things.

 

How do I replace the PDMS?

See Replacing the PDMS.

 

Cleaning the Vat tricks and tips

 

Supplies: warm water, mild soap, a terry towel or, better, a micro fiber cloth.

 

Often I only wipe it clean without any solvents after leaving it upside down for quite a while to let all resin drip off. One has to carefully wipe the PDMS from highlands over the water fall to the lowlands, and _not_ apply force because the PDMS comes off easily. Most annoying is to remove all the floating semi-cured particles if these exist, sticking to the PDMS everywhere. Tools: lot of patience, a toothpick and micro fiber magic.

 

I tilt it so that as much of the resin can pour out of the vat as possible, it can take like 5 minutes but for the most part all of the resin will be gone off the bottom of the vat. After that I wash with soap and water, I might use my finger on the walls to make sure that the resin is coming off. Then I rinse it with some isopropyl alcohol and then again with water and soap. We no longer suggest using alcohol as some have reported the alcohol may cause the acrylic to crack or chip.  I use paper towels on the outside and the inside of the walls and then dab the PDMS with a microfiber cloth. Seems to work pretty well.

 

When cleaning, don't wipe the coating with paper towels. Here's the way I clean it:

• pour as much resin out of the vat, use something to filter out any cured chunks, we have a cooking tool that has a mesh which works pretty well. Most of the resin should just come off, you might have to hold tilted for like 5 minutes to get it all to go down though. Getting as much resin out as possible really helps in getting it clean.
• rinse with water and a bit of soap, make sure not to spray water into the edges so that it doesn't try to get under the coating.
• swish some isopropyl alcohol in there, it can help to disolve resin much better than water.
• rinse with water and soap again. If there's spots of resin still on the bottom, I've actually used my finger to carefully wipe those off while rinsing.
• to dry, use paper towels on the outside, then just the walls of the inside. Use a microfiber cloth to dab the coating and get any water that might remain.
• I also rinse with water and dab it again with the microfiber cloth before printing, since dust can settle on it if you've not used it in a day or so.