Here is what I consider the main tips from a newer owner of a Photon but one who has been 3D printing for a few years now.
The FEP is very important in having success with this printer.
Kudos to Anycubic for including 2 EXTRA FEP sheets with each printer. This on top of the one that is installed.
Now, on to some tips.
As a newer user, I didn't really understand all the finer details of the Photon. I jumped in and wanted to print.
Of course things didn't work perfectly and I found myself cleaning the vat more than once. Taking it out only to have a drop of resin hit the LCD screen, cleaning it, then forgetting to clean UNDER the FEP so then bits of resin cure UNDER and on the LCD screen itself.
Once I got all those issues out of the way, I found out that there was a small leak in the FEP, so I was going to have to replace it.
Follow the video from Anycubic. Works perfectly. Remember that there are TWO protective sheets, remove them both and handle the edges as you will be cutting that off. Should be tight like a snare drum. This was a bit tedious but not hard at all. I am glad I did it, fixed up some of my random failed prints.
If you get some resin on the LCD, wipe it off, and if you unfortunately have resin on the screen and it gets cured to it, this worked for me. Use the plastic scraper and you can apply a decent amount of force to scrape it off. Approach it from a different angle if you need to get under it. Mine is perfect after this incident. I now have some optico glasses cleaner packages that I use and throw away to clean it if I need.
Follow the suggested times for resin taken from the spreadsheet that is easily searchable. Adjust if you need, remembering that just like FDM printing, it is all about the first layer.
On that note, a lot of people don't realize that "HOME" is a physically set point. So when you are doing the 0 level make sure to home the print bed first. THEN make your adjustments using a piece of paper. Lock down the grub screw when you have your hand pushing on both sides. I actually pull the paper back enough so that is barely shows the inside top edge of the LCD. I find that help to make sure that the bed is straight as well as you have something to align to. Check after you tighten the screw, then back out and 0 level and say "yes" to save it. Remember that "HOME" doesn't take it to the 0 level you set. I made this mistake and kept thinking it wasn't saving.
Now that I have a bit of time on the printer, I a
m so impressed with the quality for the price.
Look forward to seeing more and learning off this group.
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