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I think limiting to FDM printers is a mistake these days, as resin printers have exploded in visual fidelity and the MSLA (using pixels on a monochrome LCD to m
by wincy 4y ago
I think limiting to FDM printers is a mistake these days, as resin printers have exploded in visual fidelity and the MSLA (using pixels on a monochrome LCD to mask light to print the whole layer simultaneously by curing a UV sensitive resin) printers make hands down better looking prints. If you need functional parts as well there are advances in engineering resins designed for that (although they’re still very pricy compared to PLA).
For art pieces I often print using a mixture of the two then join them together, such as a bust with the head, I’ll make the head in resin and the body in FDM.
The printers are dead simple to use too compared to all the hassle of FDM printing. Very few moving parts means very few opportunities for the myriad mistakes that seem inherent in FDM printing.
- bluescrn 4y agoResin printers aren’t ‘dead simple’, as you’re dealing with fairly nasty chemicals in liquid form, and have to deal with cleaning/curing steps that aren’t needed with FDM. The results can be nice, but they may not be the best choice for many users.
- zokier 4y agoWhile sla has some advantages over fdm, I definitely would not call it less hassle. Handling liquid resin is more hassle than spools of filament, and sla prints need cleaning and curing steps while fdm prints can be usable straight out of printer. Finally multi-material fdm allows you to use soluable supports, making post-processing again easier.
- bmitc 4y agoDon't resin printers use quite toxic materials, though?
- imtringued 4y agoThe problem isn't toxicity, the problem is that they cure under your skin if you get them on you. Your immune system starts recognizing it as a foreign body and suddenly you develop an allergy against the resin which can result in quite severe symptoms.
- hooverd 4y agoYes. I think the dangers of resin printing are undersold. The SDSes you got are bare bones. They off gas a lot of VOCs, and you have a lifetime epoxy sensitivity which only gets worse. You see it in people who work with regular epoxies. That said, they're not acutely dangerous unless you accidentally cure some on your skin.