Oct 27, 2015 | By Kira

Full Spectrum Laser (FSL), makers of the Pegasus and Pheonix lines of 3D printers, today announced the launch of a new water washable 3D printing resin that completely dissolves excess resin without the use of harmful VOCs, and is both safe enough for classroom use, and provides high-quality finishes for professional prototyping. The Water Washable Stereolothography (SLA) Resin is compatible with Full Spectrum Laser’s full range of SLA and DLP 3D printers, and requires no additional expertise to use.

SLA 3D printing technology uses laser or other light sources to selectively harden liquid polymer resin. Once the 3D printed object is complete, it is removed from the resin vat, and excess any excess uncured liquid is removed. Generally, the process for removing this excess resin is to soak the object in a solvent, such as isopropyl alcohol or acetone, however these chemicals can be harsh for some users, and are known to contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) –organic chemicals that include both human-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds, that can in some cases be dangerous to human health and the environment. While VOCs are all around us and aren’t proven to be acutely toxic, they can nevertheless have long-term health effects, and if you can avoid adding more of them to your daily life, why wouldn’t you?

In order to sidestep both the controversial effects of VOCs as well as the cost of chemical solvents altogether, FSL’s Water Washable Resin requires, as the name suggests, only water to finish. It is therefore more user friendly, safe, and lowers the total cost of 3D printing with resin. According to the company, the process is simple and straight forward: just rinse and soak the 3D printed object in water for a short period of time to dissolve excess material.

FLS Lead Materials Scientist Charlie He said that the idea to develop such a product came from consumers’ desire for safer, chemical-free processes: “Secondary School educators have come to us with a growing need for a resin which not only performs well, but which is also more appropriate for the classroom environment. With the customer in mind, our team is excited to now be offering our Water Washable Resin, which requires no harmful chemicals for removing excess material.” Indeed, with more and more schools and families purchasing 3D printers for educational purposes, effective safety measures are sure to be a growing concern. However, the FLS says that their new resin has purposes that extend beyond the classroom. Due to its attractive mechanical properties and smooth, durable finish, it can be used at the industrial level in professional prototyping and product development.

The Water Washable 3D printing resin is available for sale as of today via Full Specturm Laser’s website, at the cost of $150 per litre, a price that is on par with other 3D printing resins on the market, such as Formlabs’ Standard Resin line.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Materials

 

 

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James wrote at 11/25/2015 11:53:07 AM:

This mean you are pooring the rest of the resin into the sink, it this ok with the environment?

John wrote at 11/7/2015 4:13:28 AM:

The resin is made by buck town polymers.. They also make electrically conductive, thermally conductive, thermochromic...



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