T2 Battle Damage first print ... reasonable success (Patreon)

Ok, well after a 30 hour, 30cm high print, I can see what needs to be fixed with this model for all scale printing. 

The skeletal bicep on the right arm neds thickening, the skull on the top needs a small repair job but other than that I am really happy with the way the piping in the chest printed. I procrastinated on the angle of that piping so much when I did it I was happy to see it printed with very few supports underneath.

So, if you are printing this big scale, sure it's ready but honestly I want to fix a few small things that will make it a perfect print no matter what size you print it at.  Will be ready for download tomorrow once I've fixed those things up. I want to get more done on the Vader helmets today. Lance gave me some really detailed references, this is looking to be an insanely accurate Vader helmet(s). Doing all 3 at the same time to save time (it's much easier than re-visiting a model months later...)  so Ep1/2/3 will all be done and then later on the modifications to the Vader armor that's already been uploaded. So yes, we will have 3 complete accurate Vader costumes very soon :)

SLA Printer acquired!
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With thanks to you all and your support here on Patreon,  I have purchased the most basic entry level SLA machine you can buy, the Sparkmaker.  I am always very weary of how I spend any money saved from this Patreon. Most of it (in fact all of of it most months) goes to paying bills which keeps the whole thing going, as my 3D printing business and my Patreon is my families sole source of income, my appreciation for your support is very hard to reflect accurately.

Now that SLA machines are in that $300-$700 range I honestly feel more people will be buying them. I sure know I've wanted one for 8 years but the cost was just too high for the build volume, but for the price, this Sparkmaker does a 98mm x 56mm x 128mm build volume.  No, not massive but when you are printing small fine detail parts, this isn't too much of a worry - and at the end of the day you didn't pay an arm and a leg for the machine.

I am going to post a video here just for you guys on my first experiences with the machine and how I am adapting from like I said, 8 years of FDM printing to SLA.  While I knew how the machines worked, the resins etc.. it isn't until you actually get one (and get messy) that you start to appreciate how awesome SLA printing is - BUT also how it has downsides compared to FDM that you didn't expect.

Is is a great machine? it can be! out of the box it does work but like any printer there are some teething issues to sort out and also wrapping your head around the differences in preparing the model for printing.

I'll attach a couple of files of a test print I did on the Sparkmaker. What you are seeing is the back piping from the Robot "Cane" in Robocop 2.

First picture shows the print in the Curing chamber (a $16 nail curing UV station off Ebay)  second the piping. Printed at 0.05mm, took about 8 hours to print.