Disaster at Battledown #3

Managing Nova3D Washable Mecha Resin

This stuff has a mind of its own.

Lattice and handrails warped.
The whole part also twisted.

This is what it does to models designed with mostly thin plate sections and how to manage it.

1. Within minutes off the build plate it will steadily warp significantly. It does not matter if supports and rafts are removed or not.

2. Whilst wet from the wash cure it slowly in day/sun/light on a windowsill for a day, occasionally rotating for all surfaces to cure. Within a few hours it will regain its designed form.

After a few hours curing 
it regains its desired shape.

3. After cure there may still be minor warping evident in places. Heat the warp using a hair dryer for 5 to 10 seconds. Bend to the required form and hold in place until set.

Can't say I would use this resin again for models with mostly thin plate sections. I'd prefer a washable resin that has some pliability but with less warping. 

Nova3D Washable Mecha Resin used here is best for maximum pliability, from reviews I have seen.

To Part 1.

Disaster at Battledown #2

 More experiences using Nova3D Washable Mecha Resin.

I do like the fact that resin particles washed off settle at the bottom of the water tank rather than remaining suspended in the water.

I do not like the excessive warping that occurs in thin plate sections, which is what this bridge is mostly composed of. But, the situation seems to be recoverable.

Within minutes of being out of the print chamber and with supports still in place warping occurs that is quite worrying to see. (It's like those tinsel fish that curl up from the heat of  your palm). The material is also floppy like rubber. Even after curing in a UV light chamber for a few minutes the steady march of warping continues. I since read that warping is due to uneven shrinkage during the curing process.

What I had to do was carefully tie down components where areas have warped and then cure on a shelf in sunlight. Once fully cured the parts become hard with some flexibility that resists breakage.

These larger pieces were less problematical. Where warping was present I found heating with a hair dryer then moving and holding the warped part to the correct position until cooled eliminated the fault.

Before I started I wondered if the new imbedded handrails would print correctly. Well, they did! The two bent pieces at the end will reform when joined up to the next bridge part handrails.

The jury is out on the suitability of this resin. The next part to print could exhibit insurmountable warping due to its style requirements.

To Part 3.

To Part 1.

A Card Kit for June

Swanage Signal Box (pre heritage)

View the Card Kit here.