Aug.30, 2013
Jemmel Belkacem, consultant in polymer materials, also main inventor of a patented resin formulation for the stereolitography in 2010, is developing an affordable high-resolution photo-polymer with good mechanical properties for 3D printers.
"Since I started working in this field, I noticed suppliers sell us photo-polymer resins with medium quality and delivers only poor properties, furthermore they are quite expensive!" writes Belkacem.
What exactly are the problems? According to Belkacem, the main problems existing in current resins are: low polymerization speed, bad accuracy, significant shrinkage, low shelf-life, high viscosity, as well as limited color range.
Belkacem decided to developed high resolution photo-polymer resins for 3D printers by himself.
What I will be doing and why ?
1.Resin type : For the time being, i am going to only produce acrylate resins. I personally enjoy printing with acrylate resins for his polymerization characteristics (curing-speed), mechanical properties (tough and flexible) and the post-processing ease (iso-propanol cleaning and short UV post-curing).
2.Polymerization speed : For this, it is important that the spectral emission profiles of the UV-Visible light curing unit match with the absorption characteristics of the photoinitiator.We will adapt the photoinitiator to the wavelength emitted by UV light source of all 3D-printers on the market using Laser & DLP systems.
3.Accuracy : To have a good printing accuracy we will work to control the resolution in X, Y and Z axis. Futhermore, on the cure depth during the resin polymerization.
4.Shrinkage : Our resins will have an optimal deep penetration with the lowest energy to avoid the stress polymerization and reduce the shrinkage of the parts.
5.Viscosity : From my experience in the 3D printing field, it seems that a good viscosity is less than 700 cPs to avoid losses and problems processing.Therefore, i plan to start with a low viscosity resins around 400 cPs.
6.Colors : We will be offering a palette of colors. This includes clear, white, gray, blue, red, orange and green resins.
7.Shelf-life : Our resins will have a long shelf-life and could be guarantee between 6 months and 1 year at normal conditions storage.
"At this date, I succeeded creating the first photo-polymer resins formulation and the target is to make a 3D-Resins for everyone." notes Belkacem.
For this project Belkacem hopes to raise €20,000 funds on indiegogo to help cover some of the cost for equipments, raw materials, laboratory space and subcontracting. In return, backers will get a high-resolution resin at a lower cost, for example 1kg of high-quality resin costs 95€. Belkacem expects he could deliver the first 3D-resins samples in November 2013.
Source: indiegogo
Posted in 3D Printing Materials
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Here is another choice of 3D Printing Resin http://www.venuscreator.com/
BDan wrote at 10/2/2013 4:06:53 AM:
My main issue is shrinkage and bio-compatibility. I'd pay extra for a clear transparent, non-toxic resin with good mechanical properties. Please save us from warping materials that fall off the Build Table! Please!!! ¦:¬)
jemmel wrote at 9/4/2013 2:26:05 PM:
I'm still waiting to see the TDS of resins which you refer (Ec/Dp, tensile & flexural strenght, , elongation @ break, Tg, HDT, Izod, ....) which would characterize the polymer material properties.
Jay wrote at 9/3/2013 11:46:44 AM:
It´s seems Jemmel Belkacem is not very informed on the real market! All the things he is talking about are solved, for example as Tusz says you can find resins with all these caracteristics at www.spotamaterials.com for less than 95€
Tim.Yoshi wrote at 9/2/2013 11:32:57 PM:
Also MakerJuice are selling already nice resin for $45!
Tim.Yoshi wrote at 9/2/2013 11:32:38 PM:
Also MakerJuice are selling already nice resin for $45!
jemmel wrote at 9/1/2013 5:20:43 PM:
This campaign will permit to access to a professional product at an affordable price. The resins polymerize perfectly at the wavelenghts between 385 and 405 nm for layers tickness of 25 to 100 µm (wavelength range used by most 3D printers).
CornGolem wrote at 8/31/2013 4:40:35 PM:
A good initiative.
tusz wrote at 8/30/2013 8:18:46 PM:
Well not sure how it compares, but spot-a materials sells 1 kg for abaut 70€. And the resin also cures to visible light, big plus. The man behind it is also a helpful guy.
Shane Graber wrote at 8/30/2013 7:11:56 PM:
1L for 95€ = $125. That's not exactly inexpensive.
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