If you find cured resin on your 3D printer's LCD, immediately stop using it. The resin will block UV light and prevent your prints from curing properly, resulting in surface defects such as holes. Prepare cleaning tools, and initiate the cleaning process. Remember that patience is key to success. This article will guide you step by step on how to clean resin from your 3D printer LCD screen. Hope this can save your printer LCD display.
How to Remove Resin from LCD Screen Without Damage
You'll need the following tools:
- 95%(or higher) isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- Plastic scraper
- Masking tape
Step 1: Soften cured resin.
To clean an LCD sreen dislpay, IPA is a very effective LCD cleaner. Pour a small amount of IPA onto the microfiber cloth instead of directly onto the screen, as it is essential to control the force to prevent excessive alcohol from seeping into the machine, potentially damaging internal electronic components. Gently and repeatedly wipe the screen to soften the cured resin, making it easier to scrape off.
Step 2: Remove the cured resin.
After softening the resin, gently scrape the hardened resin horizontally using a single-edged plastic scraper at a very low angle. Patience is crucial in this step to prevent damaging your screen with the scraper. Alternatively, there is a safe way to clean your LCD screen without any sharp object scratching your screen. Apply masking tape to both sides of the cured resin, and when you peel it off, the resin will also come off with the tape.
Step 3: Re-level your print bed.
The final step of cleaning an LCD screen is to first re-level your 3D printer bed, as an uneven bed may lead to cracks in your FEP film and subsequently, resin leaking onto your screen. Over time, the printer's vibrations during printing may gradually loosen the nuts and bolts, so leveling your bed is essential when you encounter a print failure due to it being unlevel.
How to Avoid Resin Leaks on Your LCD Screen
Clean your resin vat and FEP film. This will help reduce the particles created by printing failures in the resin vat, which can lead to resin leaks. To make a quick cleaning, you can pour resin directly into the vat and let the machine cure a thin layer of resin inside. Then, peel it off to remove excess resin debris. For a deep cleaning, the process is more complex. You can refer to this guide on cleaning the resin vat and FEP film.
Inspect and replace your FEP film. Leaks usually occur due to damaged FEP film. If a print fails, cured resin debris may float in the resin vat, and when the build plate presses down for printing, the debris can easily puncture the film. Some signs indicate that you need a replacement for FEP film: a cloudy appearance, cracks, holes, and noticeable scratches on its surface. For more information, here is an article about 'When & Why to Replace FEP Film'.
Apply a screen protector to your resin printer, which will shield your screen from scratches, dust, and resin leakage. Anycubic's Photon Mono M5s is a fast 3D printer with auto-leveling and comes with a screen protector for users. Replacement protectors are also available for purchase on the official website. In the event of resin leakage onto the screen, you can simply peel off the protector, making cleaning an effortless affair.