Alumina 4N Resin has unique printing and post-processing requirements compared to other Formlabs resins.
To safely handle resin, follow Formlabs general safety and handling recommendations and read and understand the safety data sheet (SDS).
At room temperature, Alumina 4N Resin has a shelf life of three months. Formlabs recommends refrigeration at -25–4 °C to add up to twelve months of additional shelf life.
Required resources
Made by Formlabs:
Form 3 generation
Form 4 generation
All compatible printers
Made by third parties:
Preparing your model
Follow the instructions in the support article Design guidelines for Alumina 4N Resin. Alumina 4N Resin, like other ceramics, shrinks when fired. Design parts using CAD software to accommodate 21.8% horizontal shrinkage and 26% vertical shrinkage.
To prepare a model for printing in PreForm:
Printing with Alumina 4N Resin
Form 3 generation
Formlabs strongly recommends calibrating your printer's resin level sensor and Z-axis. Access these features by tapping Settings > Maintenance > Calibration.
If there are any issues during the print, check the tank for any debris and remove it.
Printing with Alumina 4N Resin on a Form 4 generation printer requires no special calibration, checks, or additional hardware.
Post-processing
Wash the printed parts for 2 minutes in Ceramic Wash Solution. Do not allow Alumina 4N Resin parts to come into contact with water or IPA, as this will cause cracking. Use a separate wash bucket to prevent loose ceramic particles from adhering to non-Alumina 4N parts. Minimize the amount of time the printed part is covered in Ceramic Wash Solution to prevent cracking.
Gently blow dry parts with air, focusing the airflow on corners and crevices. Wipe accessible surfaces dry with a paper towel. Aggressive drying rates can cause cracking.
Once parts are removed from the build platform, the build platform and any peripherals can be cleaned with IPA or soapy water to remove liquid resin. Remove rafts using a spatula and a hammer. Take care to avoid injury from sudden movements, and wear safety glasses.
Parts printed with Alumina 4N Resin are easy to sand in their green state. Dry sand the parts or use the Ceramic Wash Solution as a lubricant.
Firing Alumina 4N Resin
Notice:
Read the support article Printing and firing Alumina 4N Resin for detailed instructions.
Dry parts for 24 hours prior to firing. Green parts can be stored or shipped as necessary.
Fire parts on setter plates rated for a minimum of 1700 °C. Formlabs recommends the two furnace schedule below, but several options for firing exist.
Two furnace schedule (recommended)
Single furnace schedule
Fast firing schedule
Additional resources
