Light Link™ FAQ & Print Files
This guide will help you troubleshoot any issues encountered when printing with Light Link™ SLA Resin Made With Kynar® PVDF.
Use the following files to troubleshoot your respective printer. Files denoted by the printer name contain a pre-sliced validation matrix and a number of ASTM D638 Type V tensile bars. Other files contain pre-sliced Rook STL files provided with Elegoo Series Printers. These files are setup for optimized printing with Light Link™.
Pre-Sliced Print Files:
Elegoo Saturn
Elegoo Saturn Rook
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Rook
FlashForge Hunter
Tip #1: Use a Soft Silicone Spatula
Light Link™ is packed with a lot of magical goodies. Due to this, one needs to gently massage the vat FEP after allowing the resin to sit for several hours or days. Simply use the tip of a soft silicone spatula to massage the FEP until the resin in completely homogeneous. This generally takes less than 30 seconds. It is recommended to carry out this procedure between each print. Following Tip #1 helps to maintain the superior print quality offered by Light Link™ resin.
Tip #2: Ensure your 3D Printer is Well Maintained
Always ensure the light source of your printer is unobstructed by particles or resin and that the build plate is well cleaned. Isopropyl alcohol can be used to gently clean sensitive areas of your printer and build plate. Ensure the FEP in the resin vat is free of dents, holes, or any defects. Having a single dent in the FEP can lead to a failed print.
Tip #3: Always Ensure Light Link™ is Well Mixed before Printing
Always shake the bottle of Light Link™ thoroughly before printing. Shake the bottle vigorously for 60 seconds or more. Doing this ensures there are no problems when printing.
FAQ
Q: Printed object doesn’t adhere to the build plate.
A: Raise the base exposure time. The base layer exposure time for Light Link™ is 35.0 - 45.0 seconds on most printers. If the printed object is not adhering to the build plate, then raise the base layer exposure time. This will give better adhesion to the build plate. If you have tried all exposure times and are not getting adhesion, then something is wrong.
Check your printer’s Z leveling and ensure the Z axis is zeroed. Ensure the build plate is clean and has no obstructions, such as cured resin, particles, and metal burrs. If all else fails, remove your build plate and gently sand it with medium grit sand paper. Sand the build platform in multiple directions to create a rough surface finish. Wash the build plate with soapy water and isopropyl alcohol and let it dry. Sanding the build plate creates microscopic valleys in the metal surface for the resin to adhere to. This should solve any adhesion issues on any printer. Ensure that sanding the build plate does not violate the manufacturer’s warranty and is not advised against by the manufacturer. In most cases, gently sanding the build plate is common practice and will not harm the printer.
Q: My print failed and there are particles in the resin vat. How can I remove the resin to clean the vat and start printing again?
A: Light Link™ can be filtered through any metal mesh filter made for resin printing. Resin printing filter kits usually contain a telescoping silicone filter funnel and stainless steel mesh filter. This is the best method to remove particles from the resin vat.
Always use a black or brown HDPE bottle to prevent natural UV exposure.
Ensure that the filter is secured and will not tip over or spill resin.
Place the filter into a new bottle and pour the contents of the vat through the filter.
Pour at a rate that does not cause the filter to overflow.
To encourage filtration, gently rub the metal mesh screen of the filter with your silicone spatula while gravity filtering the resin. Agitation of the metal screen helps to move particles out of the way; this helps resin flow through the small channels in the filter. Polymerized particles of your failed print(s) may continually settle in the filter and require frequent agitation while filtering. If you effectively agitate the metal mesh screen, you can filter all of the resin in a few minutes.
Q: I’m new to Resin 3D Printing and I only purchased a resin printer because I heard about how amazing Light Link™ is. Where do I start?
A:
Exposure Time
Inspect that your printer is functioning normally. Vigorously shake the bottle of Light Link™ for 60 - 120 seconds. Pour a small amount of resin into the vat - enough to cover the entire FEP - then top it off with a little more resin. No need to pour the entire bottle into the resin vat. Make sure your Z axis and build plate are already calibrated and zeroed. You are ready to print.
Make a new default profile in your slicing software. In most cases, all that you need to change are the exposure time settings and layer height.
Set the layer height to 0.05mm.
When using a 0.050mm layer height, change the base/attach/bottom layer exposure time to anywhere between 35.0 - 45.0 seconds. A higher base exposure time will increase adhesion to the build plate. Too high of a base exposure time will make it difficult to remove the printed object. Choose an exposure time between 35.0 - 45.0 seconds which corresponds to the strength of the light source in your 3D printer.
Change the normal layer exposure time to between 7.5 - 9.5 seconds.
General Rule of Thumb:
Newer types of light sources (IE: 8K Mono MSLA LCD) require a lower exposure time, as they are stronger: base layer exposure time between 35.0 - 40.0 seconds, normal layer exposure between 7.5 - 8.5 seconds.
Older types of light sources (IE: DLP Projector) will require a higher exposure time: choose an exposure time between 40.0 - 45.0 seconds, normal layer exposure between 8.5 - 9.5 seconds
Begin printing.
Certain slicing software may utilize a gradient of descending exposure times as the print continues. When using software like this, raise the normal layer exposure time by + 0.5 seconds. This ensures that the final layers are completely polymerized. Slight over-exposure does not cause any problems to the integrity or aesthetic of the printed part.
Resolution & Layer Height
Light Link™ can be printed at any layer height, allowing for extremely high resolution printing. Changing the layer height will change the suggested exposure times. There are formulas to calculate the proper exposure times for various layer heights. This will vary from printer to printer.
A quick Google search will give you all the information you need.
General Rule of Thumb:
A lower layer height (smaller number, IE: 0.010mm) will require less UV exposure time per layer. Higher layer heights will require more UV exposure time.
Retract & Lift Speed
If the object fails to print properly, then there are a few options to change. The first suggested change to settings in the slicing software is to lower the retract and lift speeds of the build plate. Slowing down the retract and lift speeds allows displaced resin to flow evenly back into all areas of the vat; this will help ready the next layer for printing. Slowing down the retract and lift speeds also prevent the printed object from being sucked off the build plate if it ascends too rapidly. This is a common issue with all commercial resins. Modifying the retract and lift settings is the easiest way to troubleshoot these issues.
If you are still having problems, then consider using the “time off delay” and “rest after lift” functions in your slicing software. These functions are not available on all resin printers, so we will not discuss them in detail. Properly utilizing these functions can further the success of your prints and extend the life of your UV light source. There are many great YouTube videos on exactly how to utilize these functions.
If you have made an attempt at troubleshooting all of these potential issues, please contact us via our contact page or the form at the bottom of this page.
Q: Does Light Link™ Offer the Same Chemical Resistance as PVDF?
A: The short answer is that Light Link™ offers superior chemical resistance in comparison to all acrylate based polymers, but falls short of the chemical resistance offered by traditionally manufactured PVDF components.
Light Link™ offers similar properties to those of PVDF and demonstrates superior chemical resistance when compared to most commercial SLA 3D printing resins. Components printed with Light Link™ can withstand harsher chemical conditions for longer than all acrylate based photopolymer resins.
Q: Which Washing, Curing, and Post-Processing Procedures Should I use with Light Link™ Printed Components?
A: We use “ELEGOO Mercury Plus 2 in 1 Washing and Curing Station 2.0” For post processing of components printed with Light Link™. ELEGOO offers fine washing and curing stations for a reasonable price. Anything that you currently use for SLA resin printing should work.
If you want to keep your washing and curing method simple, you may use a Tupperware container with a sealable lid (preferably with a gasket to prevent leakage) and isopropyl alcohol.
Soak the print in isopropyl alcohol with frequently agitation for 5-10 minutes.
Let the print air-dry for 10 minutes.
Cure the print with UV light or natural sunlight.
No fancy equipment is required to post-process Light Link™. Use whatever you currently have or whatever you can afford.
We rely on the feedback of patrons to improve our products and to provide the most updated information to obtain successful 3D prints. Please email any questions or feedback to tkosak@tetragrowth.solutions. We greatly appreciate your feedback!