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Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






So a local guy is selling me his Anycubic Photon for $50 since he never really used it. I know newer models are better, but it seems like a low investment to start dabbling in resin printing.

Anyone have any tips for getting ready to do some resin printing with a Photon?
   
Made in au
[MOD]
Making Stuff






Under the couch

Buy a big box of silicon gloves. The different resins are mostly not actually super toxic, but are sticky and awful to wash off your hands.

And pick up a pack of spare FEP films. You will need them sooner or later, and it's frustrating to not have one when you break the one that's on there.

Take the time to learn how to properly level the print bed. It makes a huge difference to how well your prints come out, and whether or not they stick to the print bed or wind up stuck to the FEP k film in the bottom of the resin vat...

 
   
Made in us
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain






A Protoss colony world

It might seem like an expensive investment for convenience, but I highly recommend Anycubic's Wash & Cure 2.0 for your post-processing needs. Really comes in handy for easy thorough cleaning and curing is much better since you don't have to find a place to put the models in the sun, rotate them around yourself, make a special curing container with reflective material, etc.

It's an investment, but it really does save a lot of trouble.

My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/1/23, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~15000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Adeptus Custodes: ~1900 | Imperial Knights: ~2000 | Sisters of Battle: ~3500 | Leagues of Votann: ~1200 | Tyranids: ~2600 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2023: 40 | Total models painted in 2024: 7 | Current main painting project: Dark Angels
 Mr_Rose wrote:
Who doesn’t love crazy mutant squawk-puppies? Eh? Nobody, that’s who.
 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






Thanks!

I'll hold off on the wash and cure till I'm sure I'm going to start printing regularly. To start I'm thinking of using it for some terrain elements, so hopefully those won't be too difficult to get cleaned and cured
   
Made in us
Courageous Questing Knight





Texas

I am not sure on the versions, but if it is a 'mono' version, then is has a mono screen, so should be good. If it is not a mono screen it might be good to do a quick screen test to make sure no issues with the LCD screen. I do not know about the Anycubic screens, but on my Elegoo Mars they went out after some use and need to be replaced. While mine were not expensive and easy to replace, it is still something to check and know what the cost is to get another one and not try to print if the screen is going out. Lots of YouTube videos on how to replace.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/12/07 14:18:28


My Novella Collection is available on Amazon - Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi - https://www.amazon.com/Three-Roads-Dreamt-Michael-Leonard/dp/1505716993/

 
   
Made in gb
Leader of the Sept







for curing, get one of these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HongBoom-Turntable-Battery-operated-Available-photography/dp/B08YJK19WC/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=solar+turntable&qid=1638887070&sr=8-5

I notice that it even recommends a bundle of turntable and UV LED strips, so its pretty clear who amazon's current market for these items is

Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!

Terranwing - w3;d1;l1
51st Dunedinw2;d0;l0
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
   
Made in de
Longtime Dakkanaut






My original Photon is still working fine after years of use, with only FEP replacements. Even if the unit would have a defective screen, for $50, you cannot go wrong.

Newer models with monochrome LCDs are better, but all it means is you'll be printing faster.

Cutting the hours of print time down and having a bigger build-plate are the natural upgrades you'll want if you start with an entry, phone-screen sized machine.

But... everything around the printer, handling, preparation, curing, cleaning will be the same with a bigger and newer machine, so what you learn you can apply to a newer unit later.

There seem to be new and interesting models scheduled for next year, so it may be wise not to invest at the end of the product cycle.

   
Made in gb
Pious Warrior Priest




UK

For $50 unused absolutely go for it.

A lot of people buy them without fully realizing the requirements in terms of handling resin, or having suitable space in their house.

$50 lets you give it a try for a reasonable price, with no major loss if you decide if isn't your thing. You'll learn a lot along the way and it's sometimes best to make mistakes with a cheaper printer anyway.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2021/12/09 20:44:39


 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






I've been unsure if the smell of resin printing would be off putting for my family, so I've been hesitant to start, but for $50 it seems like it's worth it to try.

Even if the screen goes bad, I've found videos about how to replace it with a monochrome screen and even upgrade the LEDs.

Been trying to do as much research as I can in advance, so hopefully I'll be ready to make some stuff.
   
Made in us
Courageous Questing Knight





Texas

I find the worse smell is from the two rinse bins I have with IPA and the bit of resin that mixes together. When I open my printer and when it is running there is really no odor, but when I open the rinse bins, that's when the wife says, "Hey, what are you doing?" I use the two bin method where the first is a bit dirty and the second is kept clean - then when the second gets a bit dirty, it becomes the first rinse and the oldest one gets cleaned out and refilled with fresh IPA and becomes the second rinse bin. Maybe a Wash/Cure station will help with this; however, IMHO, it is not really that bad if you use a low-odor resin to begin with.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/12/10 14:42:56


My Novella Collection is available on Amazon - Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi - https://www.amazon.com/Three-Roads-Dreamt-Michael-Leonard/dp/1505716993/

 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






Are the low odor resins advertised as such, or is it just specific types that are low odor?
   
Made in us
Courageous Questing Knight





Texas

I buy on Amazon and read the reviews. i find Elegoo pretty good and the Siraya Tech and Shine Sing among the best while not being water washable types.

My Novella Collection is available on Amazon - Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi - https://www.amazon.com/Three-Roads-Dreamt-Michael-Leonard/dp/1505716993/

 
   
 
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