We think it is important that you know how the Manufacturing process works so that you know what quality you can expect from our 3D prints and what work goes into a 'simple' 3D print.
A short summary with the important information;
- All models are produced with one of our Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K or Anycubic M3 Premium 8K mSLA-printers in combination with Resion M58 resin.
- Some 3D prints are made hollow, if this is the case this will be stated in the product description of the item or selected in the product options.
- All 3D prints are produced with a layer height of 40 um, which is 0.04 mm per layer.
- All 3D prints are carefully washed with Isopropyl Alcohol.
- All 3D prints have their supports removed.
- All 3D prints are fully cured by means of UV light.
Important to take into account;
- Print layers will always be visible in some areas of the 3D print.
- There will always be imperfections visible in some places of the 3D print, for example in the places where supports have been.
- You can clean up the model after receipt by slightly sanding print layers and imperfections or filling it with hobby putty such as greenstuff.
Models
We only produce models from artist of whom we have an official sales license. Read more about this on our Partners & artists page.
Printer & resin
We use multiple resin printers to produce the models we offer, like our Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K and Anycubic M3 Premium 8K mSLA-printers. These printers are not the biggest you can get but they have a high resolution screen which means we can print a really high quality object. Even the smallest details come out of the printer razor sharp.
We use Resione M58 as our resin, this is a premium resin. We have good experience with these resins.
Preparation
Before we can start printing, we have to make sure that the model will come out of the printer properly. A print will not work if you just place the model on the print bed and switch the printer on.
Overhanging and delicate parts of a model must be sufficiently supported with 'supports', we place these supports using Lychee Slicer, a software program for 3D printing.
The amount and thickness of the supports depends on a lot of factors such as;
- Quality of the model.
- Amount of overhanging and delicate parts of the model.
- Resin settings you use when printing.
- Room temperature.
- Etc.
In addition to supporting models, it is sometimes also necessary to make a model hollow. A hollow print means that the print contains an empty space that is reinforced with a grid during printing.
Solid printed models are heavier, sturdier and therefore also feel like a quality product. Hollow-printed models are lighter and cheaper because they don't use as much resin. Larger models are mainly printed hollow because they would otherwise become extremely expensive and therefore no longer attractive to customers.
After a model has been provided with supports, we can start printing the model.
Printing
Starting a print is simple and then you have to wait until the print is ready.
In the meantime, the progress of the print is checked several times. There are always things that can go wrong during the printing process due to the many factors that influence it.
In addition, it is important that the printer is maintained so that it can continue to produce consistently. Think about;
- Cleaning the resin reservoir.
- Replacing the nFEP in the resin reservoir.
- Lubricate the Y axis.
- Replacing the LED or LCD modules.
- Recalibrating the print bed.
Layer height
An important part of the quality of a print is the layer height. A print is, as it were, divided into slices, each slice has a height and the printer prints these slices one by one from bottom to top.
We print with a layer height of 40 um, which is 0.04 mm per layer.
We have tested many layer heights and in our opinion this height is the best in terms of balancing quality and efficiency.
If you would like to have a model printed with a smaller layer height, please contact with us on.
Washing & post-processing
There is always a small amount of liquid resin left on the model when it comes out of the printer. That is why it is important that the model is washed well.
Resin is a very sticky stuff and can only be removed by using an agent that has a high alcohol percentage. We use Isopropyl Alcohol (99.9%).
First, the model is rinsed by hand so that most of the residual resin is gone.
After hand washing we remove the supports from the model, we do this as carefully as possible to prevent damage. Unfortunately, imperfections are always visible, keep this in mind.
When the supports are removed, the model goes into an Anycubic washing machine, the Anycubic Wash & Cure 2.0. In this machine, the model is washed again for a few minutes.
When the model comes out of the washing machine, it is a matter of drying. It has been washed in strong alcohol and it evaporates quickly.
The last step of this process is cleaning the model, during which the model is inspected one more time. All forgotten supports are removed and any irregularities are eliminated where possible.
Curing
Then we have arrived at the last step of the process, the curing process. The model is not fully cured after it comes out of the printer, so this step is essential.
The model is again placed in the Anycubic Wash & Cure 2.0 machine after which we start the curing process. The model is cured for a few minutes by UV LEDs.
When the model comes out of the machine it is ready for shipment.