Missing chunks in every print

This section is for specific instructions for daily operations of the Solus printer and for troubleshooting. User submitted tips, etc. should go in the "Tips and Tutorials" section.
Aaronwz
Posts:3
Joined:Wed Aug 02, 2017 10:22 pm
Missing chunks in every print

Postby Aaronwz » Sun May 10, 2020 9:03 am

Hi all,

I need to figure out what's wrong with my Solus. Every single print I do is faulty and damaged in one way or another. I have gone through new sheets of teflon film, brand new resin, I've rechecked all the settings from scratch, setting up the printer from the beginning, MULTIPLE times. I did it again just yesterday. Everything is cleaned and set, with new resin and new film. Yet I still get faults in every print. I really have no idea what can be causing this.

I tried reprinting the recommended sample print ring (by the person who sold the Solus to me); (it's the half-built ring in the last picture), and that didn't work, so I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not the resin, or the film. Or I'm doing something completely wrong, but I don't know what.

Image

Image

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In my process of elimination the last few things that have come to my attention is when the resin tray is screwed onto the printer, it must be raised slightly on the left, as it pools higher on the right side.

And the little centering bubble is ajar when on a flat table. I tilted the printer a little so the bubble is centered, but when it is, the resin pools even MORE onto the right side.

Please let me know what can be done about this. I'm starting to lose faith as a successful print has become a rare cause of celebration.

Cheers all
Kind regards
Aaron
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mongerdesigns
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Re: Missing chunks in every print

Postby mongerdesigns » Sun May 10, 2020 4:25 pm

Try a different resin, like the SolusWax pro.
Monger Designs a.k.a. Monger
http://www.mongerdesigns.com

Junction3d - Official US Distributor for the SOLUS 3D PRINTER
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Aaronwz
Posts:3
Joined:Wed Aug 02, 2017 10:22 pm

Re: Missing chunks in every print

Postby Aaronwz » Sun May 10, 2020 10:43 pm

Thanks for your message. This is a fairly new bottle of resin and when I first bought the printer the green resin printed fine. I don't want to shell out another $450 for resin when I have a half full bottle here.
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Jewelermdt
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Re: Missing chunks in every print

Postby Jewelermdt » Mon May 11, 2020 3:54 am

Have you calibrated the build platform? The printer can be a little uneven as your bubble shows and print fine. What size tip on your supports, maybe try going up 1 size.
Hows the inside look? Dusty, any resin leak inside, Cleaned the lens on projector? Make sure grid plane is in sharp focus.
Lots of little things to check.. How old is the printer-projector? Hours on the bulb?
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mongerdesigns
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Re: Missing chunks in every print

Postby mongerdesigns » Mon May 11, 2020 4:22 am

Judging from the type of resin tank this is a fairly old machine, so I suggest checking the projector bulb hours and possibly replacing the bulb. You can also try and gradually increase the exposure time to see if that helps.
Monger Designs a.k.a. Monger
http://www.mongerdesigns.com

Junction3d - Official US Distributor for the SOLUS 3D PRINTER
http://www.junction3d.com

Follow us on Instagram!
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rkundla
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Re: Missing chunks in every print

Postby rkundla » Mon May 11, 2020 1:29 pm

If you haven't upped the exposure like many have recommended, that is what I would do.

As the bulb ages in the projector, the light fall off is not necessarily uniform across the entire build area so you might start to see localized areas that fail more often than others. Depending on the bulb technology, the arc might start to fluctuate and it actually shifts over time. That slight decrease in light output in a specific area can make or break attachment points, etc. which can cause those weird defects where the part that doesn't print looks jagged like broken safety glass.

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