Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat For Specialty 3D Resin Printing Projects
Channel: TIM MONTANO
Date: 2021-11-30

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with this latest Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat project.

I believe I've managed to come up with the final version that will serve my specific needs.

In the past four weeks I've changed my Resin-Mixer design four times.  With each different design change I discovered that there was a better or simpler way to make them more efficient and user-friendly.

Versions one, two and four will be pictured at the end of the video.  Version four is the Final Version. 

Version three is the 3D printed Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat seen in this Fluid-Flow testing session.

As usual, my videos are unprofessional and kind of choppy but, I think they contain just enough visual information to give you a good idea of what I was attempting to achieve with this Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat project.

Please take the time to pause the video whenever you see some text coming on screen.   It's information that I either screwed up or failed to mention.

The final iteration of my Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat will be machined out of a piece of solid HDPE plastic.  

WHY machine them out of HDPE plastic?  In the event that my 3D printed vats cannot or will not hold up when subjected to prolonged contact with non-cured liquid 3D print resin, HDPE plastic is one of the very few types of plastic that I know of that, WILL hold up.

HOW do I Know This?  

Go into your resin stash and look on the underside of one of your bottles of resin.  You will see in bold embossed lettering, the letters "HDPE."

The plastic bottles used to store, sell and ship the 3D print resin we print with are made of HDPE plastic.  This is the reason why I will be machining my final two working prototype Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vats out of this specific type of plastic.   

If I find that my 3D printed Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vats DO NOT hold up, then I'll be machining them out of HDPE plastic if  I ever need more. 

For now, I only need a couple of them so,  I should be covered either way.

I hope to be upgrading to a slightly larger format resin printer during the holiday sales season.  By then I should have everything worked out to where I can either 3D print or machine myself a new Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat  as needed.

I'll be back with updates when I get farther along but, before I end this particular update I just want explain to any who may be new to the progress of this project, why I've designed this Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat.

It was designed as a tool to be used for increasing -even further-  the heat resistance of the "High Heat Resistant" resin I've been working with in order to 3D print my single cavity bullet molds.

These bullet molds are used for casting bullets out of molten lead. (625 to 640 degrees Fahrenheit) 

I've already succeeded in 3D printing and casting with a slightly altered factory formulation of the Siraya Tech Ultra White resin.  It's just that the bullet molds I've 3D printed will only hold up to the heat of the molten lead for about 15 or twenty casts before they succumb to the overwhelming heat.

By being able to add more porcelain powder to alter the factory formulation of this already great resin, it increases the heat resistance enough to prolong the life of my 3D printed bullet molds even further.  

The more evenly I can get the added porcelain powder to suspend within the factory formulation of this resin, the higher the heat resistance; AND, the higher the heat resistance, the longer the service life of the 3D printed bullet mold.

This is my reason for coming up with this Automatic-Resin-Mixing Vat design.

I'll be back with more updates when I get farther along.

One last thing:  Make a mental note.  If you start seeing that some or all of the 3D resin printer manufactures start introducing some kind of resin mixing vat of their own with their latest crop of resin printer offerings,  now you'll know who they stole the idea from.