Experiments With Printing Ceramics in SLA are Going Slowly.

Before a single other sentence is written, it must be stated that not only does Formlabs call their ceramic resin "experimental"; but, they go out of their way to warn users that ceramic printin, using the Form 2 SLA printer, is a bit of a challenge.

My goal is to duplicate the design sent to Kwambio, that was successfully printed, using

 the Form2.

So far, the score is Form 2 THREE and Tom Meeks ZERO.

That does not mean that I have not seen enough of the cured material to know it is well worth continuing the quest.  It simply means that I must learn from the failures, do a bit of critical thinkug about those failures and come back at it from a revised direction.

Obviously, the most impressive aspect of printing with an SLA or DLP is the incredible detail.   And, the printed fragmens also so an incredible strength even before they are fired.  In fact, the reslts of my 3 attempts to print have reslted in incredibly great looking supports. It's just that the parts they were intended to support ended up in the bottom of the resin vat in a lump.

But, the surving supports have a wonderful character to them leading me to be even more tenatious at finding a way to succeed.

But, here are some other observations:

• SLA takes an incredibly long time compared to powder/binder.
• DLP should be faster
• It's difficult to assess, early, how well a print might turn out until it has printed at least a few inches.
• When things go wrong it is a very messy business to fix them.
• 99% Alcohol is your friend.  You'll be tempted to drink it; but, don't.  It will kill you.

The ceramic part is a LOT heavier than a plastic part.  So, coming up with a winning support strategy is a must.  I'm not there yet.  But, things are not peeling off the build plate.  They are separating from the supports at thin points.

I have made what I hope to be a correction on that score and the fourth attempt is in progress.  Only 10 more hours to go!

Update:  It's now Form2 FIVE and Tom Meeks ZERO.

But, I am still convinced that it is 90% user error.  The last two failures were something new.  The Framework for the supports came of the print plate.  I suspect that there might be a tiny remnant of cured resin still in the bottom of the tank keeping the print plate from completely reaching the focus point OR the mix is now two thick.  I will try smaller parts and, perhaps, strain the resin and remix it to get a better consistency.

Formlabs is very upfront about printing in ceramics:

"As a Form X experimental product, Ceramic Resin has a lower print success rate than standard Formlabs materials, and therefore benefits from a higher level of skill and attention than other Formlabs products. Ceramic Resin has special requirements for part design and print planning"

So, I will not fault them.  With that kind of up front statement, I have not problem with the fact that it is up to the user to develop the skills and attention to be successful.  I just wish I were a quicker learner. :)