I am having a hard time explaining to people that the cleanliness of the build platforms after being “dunked” in the iso wash stations is a contamination issue. We currently use the “flexible” build plate, and I have found that a layer of resin/ISO slurry remains between the two surfaces after cleaning them in the wash station. Am I correct for being concerned with using these “contaminated” build plates in our resin tanks?
1 Like
Yes, especially if you are swapping between specialty resins (i.e glass filled, elastomers).
You are able to pop the plate off entirely. Why not clean it fully between uses? In general I would not consider the build plate clean after rinsing in the wash station. I always clean it with fresh 99% IPA and texwipes rags between uses.
1 Like
I agree with you. I am trying to convince others of the issue, but I have to argue my point. It falls under “we have always done it that way”. Not on my part, but from others.
1 Like
My favorite response to “we have always done it this way” is usually “That doesn’t stop us from doing better” or “so what?”. YMMV. Best of luck!
Hello there,
Réka from Formlabs Support here. We recommend a quick wipe with paper towels and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to remove any large bits of cured resin or dust before your next print, even if the BP had been previously submerged in the Wash.
When performing consecutive prints using the same resin, you can clean the outside surfaces of the Form 4 Flex Build Platform without separating the print surface from the build platform body.
If you are changing resins, disassemble the Flex Build Platform to clean between the print surface and the build platform body.
Feel free to share our recommendations with anybody who you’re using the printer with.
@reka
Are you saying that it is expectable for isopropyl to go back into the resin tank?
Thanks,
Kory Kendall
Additive Manufacturing Designer/Technician
dormakaba USA Inc.
6161 E. 75th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46250
C: 765-716-5636
Kory.Kendall @dormakaba.com
Hi Kory,
Please always make sure that the BP is fully dried and the IPA evaporated before using it again, to avoid contamination. If you’re washing prints on the BP in the Wash, the IPA can be trapped between the print surface and the body, so in this case please do remove the flexible sheet and clean underneath and dry.
I thought about the same question previously, as an user of the Resin Wash Solution (RWS), which doesn’t evaporate as quickly as IPA does.
I used to wash the parts without removing them from the build plate - just like in all the demo videos. With my wash fill level, this meant RWS was in contact with the build plate up to a certain depth. Initially, every time I’d do the full platform clean that you’d do when switching resins, but I realized there is an alternative - popping the parts off the plate and placing them in the tray for wash to prevent contamination of the build plate. Therefore, I can just wipe off the surface and be good to go.
This is actually why I don’t like using the flex plates, unless you are printing production quantities of the same material over and over. It’s a bit of a pain to clean. If they can find a way to eliminate cleaning on the next revision that would be huge!
1 Like