New Mars printer!

[Phil O]

Seeing that there is/was a problem with getting screws into the frame due to it tilting during the process, would it be possible to hold the frame in place with a couple of pairs of small Mole grips or similar? Whilst getting the screws started. Just an idea.

 

[Paul Boyd]

Life getting in the way has slowed progress on this, but what arrived this morning is a 5m strip of UV LEDs which are apparently used in discos (or are they called “clubs” these days?). Wavelength is quoted at 385-400nm so fine for curing.

The plan is to have some sort of bucket with these wound in a spiral inside. I’ll also use some to wrap around the outside of a clear plastic container, facing inwards, to cure any resin in the waste water before filtering for disposal.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,

New topic on the S4forum about using a Mars 4:

https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8895

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Paul Boyd]

Thanks Martin, interesting reading! He has a different Mars 4 to my Mars 4 - I wish Elegoo would give them different numbers!

I hadn't realised that part of the cost of the printer is for a license for software I may not use, although I will try VoxelDance Tango as well as ChituBox once I get into it. The former has the all-important feature for plug track of being able to disable anti-aliasing!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Paul Boyd]

Slowly getting there! An 8” flower pot, some tin foil and most of a 5m roll of LEDs, and hopefully I have a UV curing bucket! The intention is to use this upside down over whatever I’m curing.

 

[Phil O]

Paul,

I'm planning on using an old biscuit tin and your uv, LEDs as a curing solution, it already being shiny on the inside.

 

[Phil G]

Slowly getting there! An 8” flower pot, some tin foil and most of a 5m roll of LEDs, and hopefully I have a UV curing bucket! The intention is to use this upside down over whatever I’m curing.View attachment 7326View attachment 7327

Hi Paul,
I like the idea, would be keen to understand if you get even curing? Also worth noting on the Elegoo UV curing station they have LED's under the turntable to facility curing the bottom at the same time. You will need to change the orientation of your work to ensure these hidden faces also get cured.
cheers
Phil,
ps even if it does not work I also like the idea of the Bushmills in the photo

 

[Martin Wynne]

You will need to change the orientation of your work to ensure these hidden faces also get cured.

Or stand the model on an upturned jam jar?

Martin.

 

[Steve_Cornford]

The Eleggo Mercury wash & cure seems to have two types of LED in its array.
I wonder why?
Steve

 

[Paul Boyd]

Hi Paul,
I like the idea, would be keen to understand if you get even curing? Also worth noting on the Elegoo UV curing station they have LED's under the turntable to facility curing the bottom at the same time. You will need to change the orientation of your work to ensure these hidden faces also get cured.
cheers
Phil,
ps even if it does not work I also like the idea of the Bushmills in the photo

Hi Phil,

I was curious about curing the underside and figured turning it over would sort that. It’ll be a couple of weeks or so before I can try it though as I have a big non-modelling project I need to finish - if I stop to do something else I’ll lose my momentum and not finish it.

The Bushmills is a good whiskey, but sadly since I had Covid last November I can no longer drink it! It irritates my throat quite badly but also now smells and tastes (to me) of surgical spirit. I’ll have to give it another go, I keep persevering!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Paul Boyd]

Or stand the model on an upturned jam jar?

Martin.

There’s an idea! I know there’ll be quite a bit of experimenting involved!

 

[Paul Boyd]

The Eleggo Mercury wash & cure seems to have two types of LED in its array.
I wonder why?
Steve

Possibly two different wavelengths to give a wider wavelength range. The LED strips I’m using have a wavelength right at the top of Elegoo and Anycubic resin curing range, at least for the resins I have. It should still cure, but may take a bit longer.

That’s purely conjecture though

 

[Martin Wynne]

Possibly two different wavelengths to give a wider wavelength range. The LED strips I’m using have a wavelength right at the top of Elegoo and Anycubic resin curing range, at least for the resins I have. It should still cure, but may take a bit longer.

That’s purely conjecture though

@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,

With the yellow filter cover on, one column of LEDs looks yellow-greenish, the other column looks blue-white.

I'm not taking the cover off to see what colour they really are! In fact they won't switch on without the cover.

I assumed they are more powerful than the "fun" LED strips -- there are only 8 LEDs in each column.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Paul Boyd]

Just had a random thought - I mentioned before that I have a UV box from when I used to make my own PCBs (until it became stupidly cheap to just buy them from China instead). There's my base to cure the underside, with my new bucket on top!

 

[BetweenTheTunnels]

@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,
Interesting reading through. I'd looked at the Mars 4 9K .. and had almost pressed the button on a Saturn 3 12K ... until I read the above. I had (stupidly?) assumed that 12K would have been better then 9K ... but the 9K looks to have 18 microns resolution, while the Saturn 3 12K is 19x24 microns.

Like you I am going to be printing 3mm chairs (but for standard gauge) so I am a) wondering how your getting on with your Mars and b) if any of the knowledgeable people on here could suggest which would be the better of the two for detailed modelling?

I am new to all this 3D stuff, but to be honest the idea of the plugtrack has just pushed me over the edge. I am fortunate in being able to CAD design, so intend to the use the printer for detailed smaller items as well, such as loco parts for scratch building locos etc. So I am conscious of getting the best, sharpest, cleanest detail out of the machine as possible. That should I think also follow through to the chairs for plug track.

I'd welcome any thoughts/opinions/user insight that you have.
Richie

 

[Paul Boyd]

@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,
Interesting reading through. I'd looked at the Mars 4 9K .. and had almost pressed the button on a Saturn 3 12K ... until I read the above. I had (stupidly?) assumed that 12K would have been better then 9K ... but the 9K looks to have 18 microns resolution, while the Saturn 3 12K is 19x24 microns.

Like you I am going to be printing 3mm chairs (but for standard gauge) so I am a) wondering how your getting on with your Mars and b) if any of the knowledgeable people on here could suggest which would be the better of the two for detailed modelling?

I am new to all this 3D stuff, but to be honest the idea of the plugtrack has just pushed me over the edge. I am fortunate in being able to CAD design, so intend to the use the printer for detailed smaller items as well, such as loco parts for scratch building locos etc. So I am conscious of getting the best, sharpest, cleanest detail out of the machine as possible. That should I think also follow through to the chairs for plug track.

I'd welcome any thoughts/opinions/user insight that you have.
Richie

Hi Richie,

I’m a bit embarrassed about the fact that I haven’t used it yet! I bought it just as I started another major project which I must keep going with otherwise it won’t get finished. (scanning 40 years worth of negatives now that I’ve discovered an excellent plug-in for Lightroom meaning I can scan them raw and then process them to my heart’s content without having to get it right first time from the scanner.)

Resin printing I feel is going to need a lot of learning before I even think about plug track so I need to be able to give that my full attention.

Then there’s learning Fusion 360 - I’m currently familiar with Creo Parametric which I use at work, and am also allowed to use at home for personal projects, but that relies on me working there for the rest of my life! If for whatever reason I leave, all my design files will be useless - hopefully that’ll never apply to Fusion 360!

So much to do, so little time

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Martin Wynne]

Then there’s learning Fusion 360

@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,

Did you try DSM? See this post today from Phil O:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/zoom-meetings.599/post-9193

cheers,

Martin.

 

[BetweenTheTunnels]

Hi Richie,

I’m a bit embarrassed about the fact that I haven’t used it yet! I bought it just as I started another major project which I must keep going with otherwise it won’t get finished. (scanning 40 years worth of negatives now that I’ve discovered an excellent plug-in for Lightroom meaning I can scan them raw and then process them to my heart’s content without having to get it right first time from the scanner.)

Resin printing I feel is going to need a lot of learning before I even think about plug track so I need to be able to give that my full attention.

Then there’s learning Fusion 360 - I’m currently familiar with Creo Parametric which I use at work, and am also allowed to use at home for personal projects, but that relies on me working there for the rest of my life! If for whatever reason I leave, all my design files will be useless - hopefully that’ll never apply to Fusion 360!

So much to do, so little time

Cheers,
Paul

Hi Paul,
Ah no problem. I have a similar feeling with the resin printing - the process of washing and curing concerns me a bit, but I think that's more because I dont understand it, or the machinery to do it! You have my thoughts and best wishes with the negs, I have over 170,000 negatives here ... yes I have started scanning but will it ever get finished!

I am reasonably competent with Fusion360, so if I can help feel free to shout! A friend of mine is a CAD designer by trade and having never used F360, he's a Creo man like you, he managed to teach me most of the basics (and a bit of an advance course!) within three evenings. So I doubt you'll have too many problems, but if you do shout, if I can help I am sure he will.

Thanks for the reply, and hope you enjoy the Mars printer when you get to use it!

Richie

 

[Paul Boyd]

@Paul Boyd

Hi Paul,

Did you try DSM? See this post today from Phil O:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/zoom-meetings.599/post-9193

cheers,

Martin.

Hi Martin,

DSM is direct modelling, Creo and Fusion 360 are parametric. Having got used to parametric modelling I really couldn't go back to direct!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Paul Boyd]

Hi Paul,
Ah no problem. I have a similar feeling with the resin printing - the process of washing and curing concerns me a bit, but I think that's more because I dont understand it, or the machinery to do it! You have my thoughts and best wishes with the negs, I have over 170,000 negatives here ... yes I have started scanning but will it ever get finished!

I am reasonably competent with Fusion360, so if I can help feel free to shout! A friend of mine is a CAD designer by trade and having never used F360, he's a Creo man like you, he managed to teach me most of the basics (and a bit of an advance course!) within three evenings. So I doubt you'll have too many problems, but if you do shout, if I can help I am sure he will.

Thanks for the reply, and hope you enjoy the Mars printer when you get to use it!

Richie

Hi Richie,

Yep - it'll be a case of knowing what I want to do in Creo, but then finding out how to do that in Fusion 360. Then finding out the limitations of the latter - given that the cost of Creo is in the thousands and Fusion 360 is free, they cannot possibly have the same feature levels!

Cheers,
Paul