Refilling resin tank without 'refill option'
Hi all,
My print requires a refill. The last time, I paused the print job and use the 'refill option'. However, the resulting print shows a clear breaking line at the layer at which the refill took place. I assume it is because there is not a perfect adhesion between the pre- and post-refill printed layers, since the build plate temporarily moves up for the refill and then repositions itself against the FEP film. I'm printing very delicate structures so the breaking line has a significant effect on print quality.
The solution I want to try, is refilling resin without pausing the print job. The remaining question is: will the printer be able to detect this refill and keep on printing? Or will it pause at a certain moment, thinking that a refill is needed? Does the printer continuously monitor the resin level, or does it calculate an expected resin level based on the starting resin and the data from the print file?
Thanks in advance for your help!
RE: Refilling resin tank without 'refill option'
For anyone interested, I found a workaround. I edited the Config file in the .sl1 file (change the .sl1 extension to .zip to access the Config file), and changed the required material to a low value. This way, the printer will not pause and impose a refill. Make sure to refill during printing in time however, otherwise the printer will continue with an empty resin tank!
RE: Refilling resin tank without 'refill option'
Unless the print was exposed to significant UV or left to sit for a long period while it was out of the tank it shouldn't be an issue with it raising the print. More likely it was an issue with the resin not mixing properly.
I have added resin without stopping the printer by very slowly pouring onto the top of the platform if it still near the resin or even slower directly into the vat. I have not run into any issues in those cases.
I have noticed, however, that the level sensor is pretty dumb. As it is done based on the resistance between the tank and the platform I don't see how it can possibly figure out if or how much resin you added if the platform is no longer touching the liquid resin. This appears to fit my observation that it is just guessing you filled to 100% and hoping for the best. This observation is based on adding resin while it is still printing, but it still stopping thinking more resin is needed.
The resin sensor has saved a couple of prints for me, but in general I won't bet my print on it like I will with my MK3S's filament sensor.
Same problem
I had the same problem with a bust I have printed:
Needed two refills and shows two clear lines around the marks when I have stopped to refill it.
I had the idea to disable the resin sensor and the door sensor. That way the machine shouldnt know how much resin is in the tank at all and wont stop if the cover is open.
Just a theory of course. I havent printed anything with that much resin by now ^^
refill demands
I've had the printer demand that I remove resin from the tank, even though by the line marks, the resin is at the correct level.
For example, I have filled the tank to 100%, because I want to duplicate the print immediately, but the machine won't let the print start unless I remove LOTS of resin.