1 Topic by michael.t.albers

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Topic: Idea for an sla printer

Went to an auction and got a box full of PS2 slim parts.  Taking a look at the CD in it and noticed that the motor for the laser is a stepper motor.  Got to thinking I might make a teeny (not more than 45mm cubed) sla printer using these motors.  I already have some UV leds.  Anybody have some opinions on this such as:
   1.  should I forget the leds, use a UV laser instead?
   2.  should I post my build?  last one I did (delta printer), I didn't get lot of feedback.
   3.  I should be able to get better detail with an sla printer than I do with the solidoodle because of the process behind it, right?
Here's a pic of the stepper motor and the screw drive attached:

http://i.imgur.com/LUxnXY0.jpg

2 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Idea for an sla printer

The problem with SLA isn't the Z-axis (heck, you could use the Z on a Solidoodle), it's either the DLP projector or laser/galvos.

Not sure what you were planning on doing with UV LEDs. Backlighting a projector? They won't be nearly powerful enough.

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3 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Idea for an sla printer

yes, the Bluelight Printer used same laser as like a Bluray DVD burner and still had to use a special powder that worked with it which is the hugest issue with that type 3D printer. dealing with all the powder (fine dust) need a sealed dust free clean lab environment to blow off excess powder and reclaim it for next use (at least a $3,000 sand blaster cabinet and air tight clean room with micro filter HVAC system)  and also maintain printer same way so powder dont get everywhere including your lungs, eyes (same for laser light) and plastic dust can be laid thinner than 0.01mm layers. thats why those printers are over $30k and never will be for home office use/conditions. I researched this lots the past few years. one guy can close to making one and posted info on thingaverse b4 abandoning it for the above reasons he found.

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

4 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Idea for an sla printer

n2ri wrote:

yes, the Bluelight Printer used same laser as like a Bluray DVD burner and still had to use a special powder that worked with it which is the hugest issue with that type 3D printer. dealing with all the powder (fine dust) need a sealed dust free clean lab environment to blow off excess powder and reclaim it for next use (at least a $3,000 sand blaster cabinet and air tight clean room with micro filter HVAC system)  and also maintain printer same way so powder dont get everywhere including your lungs, eyes (same for laser light) and plastic dust can be laid thinner than 0.01mm layers. thats why those printers are over $30k and never will be for home office use/conditions. I researched this lots the past few years. one guy can close to making one and posted info on thingaverse b4 abandoning it for the above reasons he found.

You are talking about SLS, he is talking about SLA.

The former uses powder, the latter uses resin.

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5 Reply by michael.t.albers

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Re: Idea for an sla printer

elmoret wrote:

The problem with SLA isn't the Z-axis (heck, you could use the Z on a Solidoodle), it's either the DLP projector or laser/galvos.

Not sure what you were planning on doing with UV LEDs. Backlighting a projector? They won't be nearly powerful enough.

I am thinking you can use the motors and screws as the x and y axis and then use a nema17 to move the platform up and down for the z-axis. 

This link (http://www.3ders.org/articles/20141014- … rives.html) is where I got the idea for the UV led.  Looks like I could possibly use the optics and base from the IR laser piece of the PS2 system and replace the IR laser diode with a UV laser diode.  Then I remembered this article and thought a 10mm led would fit in the same area.  As I was tearing the base apart (I got like twelve of them so I figured I would tear one completely down) It uses three mirrors and two lenses to focus the beam.

6 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Idea for an sla printer

Real SLA printers don't have X and Y linear axes, for reasons a bit too long to get into here.

I'll say this, LEDs and X/Y axes will get you the quality of prints shown in that article. If that's what you're going for, I'm not sure what the advantage is over FDM (which looks WAY better than what's in that article).

Real SLA uses galvos or projectors for a reason. Real SLA does not use LEDs. A laser is not the same thing as an LED. Not even close.

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7 Reply by michael.t.albers

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Re: Idea for an sla printer

I know the two are different, Tim, thats why I asked if I should just purchase a UV laser.  And I understand that the DLP style printers (one kit is being sold by CNC without the projecter) are using the mirrors direct the beam as a digital picture.  But I also know that when the dentist uses dental resin he uses UV diode pen light (not a laser) to harden that resin.  Also optics have the ability to focus light to a pinpoint.  I am just wondering if you could get a similar to fdm result by moving the base with the both the laser and mirror.  Pretty much what some people are doing with the laser engraver, like the L-cheapo, being attached to the solidoodle, but I want to be able to do it with resin to produce 3D items. 

I may fail, and fail spectacularly, but at least I will have put some effort into it.

8 Reply by michael.t.albers

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Re: Idea for an sla printer

One thing that is very possible is that physical movement of the x and y axis could cure the resin unevenly per layer.  Which is why I am thinking a very small build space to restrict the time it would take to build each layer.