Notice:
Third-party solutions are not certified for use with Formlabs resins for biocompatible applications. To comply with biocompatibility requirements, only use the Form Wash, Finish Kit, and Form Cure with the following resins:
Introduction to post-curing prints
Every Formlabs resin combines advanced, light-sensitive polymers with other active chemical components to deliver distinct functional properties. Formlabs SLA printers use 405 nm lasers to cure the liquid resin, producing a highly accurate solid part. Each material’s print settings are designed and refined to print parts successfully at optimal speeds. Additional post-curing improves the functional properties of the materials.
Curing during and after printing
Printing cures the resin to its “green” state. In the green state, some polymer connections are not yet fully reacted. Post-curing parts with additional light and heat strengthens the polymer structure, improving strength, stiffness, and temperature resistance.
The increased number of bonds pulls the material together more tightly. Therefore, post-curing also causes minor shrinkage, and each material’s print settings are designed to account for the expected shrinkage during printing and post-curing.
Post-cure settings
To develop the recommended post-curing settings for each resin, Formlabs prints and tests the performance of multiple tensile bars, a standardized sample used to test materials. All sample bars are exposed to predetermined post-curing temperatures for varying amounts of time.
Formlabs tests each tensile bar according to regulated ASTM standards to determine the tensile modulus. The change in tensile modulus helps determine recommended time and temperature settings for each Formlabs resin to achieve its optimal properties.
Formlabs resins for biocompatible applications, such as Dental SG Resin and Dental LT Clear Resin, are further tested after post-curing to ensure that the printed and post-cured parts meet the safety and accuracy requirements for biocompatibility.
For the best results, use the recommended time and temperature settings tested specifically for use with the Form Cure or Form Cure L. A higher temperature accelerates the post-curing process, but it may also warp some materials, depending on part geometry and features. Alternate post-cure systems will produce different material properties and may require experimentation.