Suggestions for blind holes

General Discussion
1

Hi there.

I often have to print blind holes in surfaces, not usually very deep, but it can happen. I’ve found, even with the Form Wash, not all the resin cleans out, more resin gets caught in small holes, and very more resin clings to small threads.

With threads I’ll tap later anyway, but a push fit hole can be a problem when excess resin cures, drilling out afterwards can defeat the purpose. I blow the holes out after the wash process with a low pressure air line, but this resin is sticky stuff.

On occasion I can provide a ‘drain’ hole to allow a really good blow through but it’s not always possible.

Does anyone have any advise for printing and cleaning/draining blind holes?

Many thanks.

2

We use IPA in squeeze squirt bottles to clean holes, in extreme cases we use a cotton tip to remove the remaining resin. Blowing 4 bar air in the hole only goes so far, you have to dilute the uncured resin before.

If you have to do this very often, an airbrush loaded with IPA can be a useful tool.

3

Take the prints off the build plate and put in the wire basket, if you Have a Form Wash, and run them through again.

4

Do you mean print, wash, cure, wash? I don’t want to start absorbing ipa, some resins start absorbing quickly.

I do have an old airbrush I could designate, I’ll give that a go.

On a side note, does anyone have a good cheap source of ipa in the uk? Or is the ‘bay’ down to about the lowest possible?

Thanks again.