SLA Printer

Prusa SL1 and Prusa CW1 Instruction Manual

Prusa SL1 and CW1 Setup

Welcome to the guide for using the Prusa SL1 3D Printer and the Prusa CW1 Washing/Curing Station in our makerspace. Please read this document carefully and adhere to all safety guidelines to ensure the proper use of these tools.

Table of Contents

• Before starting: read the official documentation
• Safety First: Wear Nitrile Gloves
• Step 1: Preparing Your 3D Model
• Step 2: Printing with the Prusa SL1
• Step 3: Post-Processing with the CW1
• Error Conditions and Common Issues
• Step 4: Cleanup and Shutdown
• Final Notes

Before starting: read the official documentation

Prusa maintains excellent, easy to read documentation on the SL1 and CW1. This guide comes in addition to that.

Safety First!

Always wear nitrile gloves throughout the entire process. This is crucial for your safety, as you will be handling resins that can be harmful if they come in contact with your skin. Gloves should be worn:

• When handling resin bottles
• When interacting with the print, both during and after the print process
• When using the CW1 Washing and Curing Station
• When cleaning the printer and work area

Figure 1.1: Proper use of nitrile gloves

Refer to Figure 1.1 for a visual guide on proper glove usage.

The space also maintains other safety equipment, including, but not limited to, a silicon mat to place your prints on, a spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol, and napkins to help clean up any spills.

Please set up this equipment whenever you are handling the resin printer and washing/curing station. Use the isopropyl alcohol spray bottle and napkins to clean up any surfaces that get resin on them.

Figure 1.2: Location where the safety equipment is located

Figure 1.3: Isopropyl spray bottle

Figure 1.4: An example setup of the equipment

Refer to Figure 1.2, Figure 1.3 and Figure 1.4 for a visual guide on the equipment's appearance.

If the space runs out of any safety equipment - ask a member! They will help you find some more of the aforementioned equipment or order more.

Step 1: Preparing Your 3D Model

Use the Custom Prusa Slicer Settings

We have developed custom settings for the Prusa Slicer to optimize print quality and reduce errors. Please use the provided custom slicer settings for the SL1, which can be found in the settings folder on the USB drive provided with the printer. Our makerspace continually updates the printer slicer settings as we receive new resins. You can find the most up-to-date settings for all our available resins here: Makerspace Resin Settings These settings have been fine-tuned for the resins that we have in storage:

- Optimized layer heights
- Exposure times
- Support settings specific to our materials

If you are experimenting with a new Resin, its best to research the optimal print settings for that resin. To help, please check out this Open Source Resin Setting Repository

Figure 2: Importing custom slicer settings

Make sure to refer to Figure 2 for a step-by-step guide on importing and applying the custom slicer settings.

Step 2: Printing with the Prusa SL1

After slicing your model and exporting the file, follow these steps to initiate the print on the Prusa SL1:

1. Turn on the Prusa SL1 by pressing the power button on the back of the unit.
2. Insert your USB drive with the sliced file into the port.
3. Navigate to the file and press Start Print.
4. Check the resin level in the vat and ensure that it is adequate for your print.
5. Throughout the printing process, periodically check the print progress on the display.

Figure 3: Prusa SL1 setup and controls

Refer to Figure 3 for a detailed view of the Prusa SL1 setup and controls.

Preparation

1. Shake the resin bottle well before use
2. Pour resin into the vat, filling it to the recommended level (see Figure 4)
3. Ensure the build platform is clean and properly attached

Figure 4.1: Filling the resin vat to the recommended level

Figure 4.2: Filling the resin vat to the recommended level

Step 3: Post-Processing with the CW1

Once your print is finished, it's time for post-processing using the Prusa CW1 Washing/Curing Station.

Washing

1. Remove the print from the build plate while wearing your gloves.
2. Place the print into the CW1 for washing, ensuring the print is fully submerged in the isopropyl alcohol (IPA). (refer to Figure 5.0 for how this looks)
3. Start the washing process by selecting the appropriate washing time (typically 3-8 minutes, depending on size) and hit `Start Washing`.
4. Once washing is complete, remove the print carefully and inspect it. Do not worry about drying - the CW1 also dries the model.

Figure 5.0: Washing process in the CW1

Figure 5.1: Washing process in the CW1

Figure 5.2: Washing process in the CW1

Figure 5.3: Washing process in the CW1

Curing the Print

1. Place the washed print in the curing chamber of the CW1.
2. Select the appropriate curing time based on the resin you used (refer to Figure 6 for setting curing time). (Usually 5-10 minutes)
3. Once cured, the print is ready for use.

Figure 6: Curing times setting

Error Conditions and Common Issues

Suction Cupping of the FEP

Important: To avoid damaging the FEP film, do not let your print finish with suction cupping. Suction cupping happens when bad slicing creates solid bases that press against the FEP sheet, which could lead to tearing or warping the FEP film.

Figure 7.1: Example of suction cupping - What NOT to do

Figure 7.2: Better - No suction cupping

Refer to Figure 7 for a visual example of suction cupping and how to avoid it in your print designs.

To avoid suction cupping:

• Ensure you're using the provided custom slicer settings
• Orient your model to minimize large, flat surfaces parallel to the build plate
• Use appropriate support structures

Print Failure or Layer Misalignment

Layer misalignment can occur due to:

• Resin running low
• Print detaching from the build plate during the process
• Excessive heat buildup in the chamber
• Not enough supports on the print surface

If you encounter any of these issues, stop the print immediately, review your setup, and clean the FET as well as the print head. Refer to Figure 8 for tips.

Figure 8.0: Layer Misalignment occurring due to not enough support material

Figure 8.1: Use a PLASTIC hand scraper to clean the FET

Figure 8.2: Removing cured pieces of plastic from the FET

Figure 8.3: Cleaning the Print Head using a METAL hand scraper

Resin Spills

If you spill resin, clean it up immediately using paper towels and the IPA Spray Bottle.

Step 4: Cleanup and Shutdown

1. Clean the build plate and vat using IPA and a soft cloth.
2. Ensure the resin vat is clean and the FEP is free from debris or print remnants.
3. Store the printer with the cover on to prevent dust from entering the resin vat.
4. Turn off the printer and CW1 when finished.

Figure 10: Cleanup state should look like how everything was when you started

Refer to Figure 10 for a visual guide on the proper cleanup procedure.

Final Notes

• Always handle resins and prints with care and responsibility.
• Review the additional sections with images (Figures 1-10) for visual references.
• If you encounter any issues not mentioned here, reach out to one of the NYC Resistor members for assistance.

Happy Printing!