Post‑Processing Guide

This guide outlines the steps for washing, curing, and cleaning a resin print after completion.

1. Health & Safety

Resin is toxic and can trigger contact allergies. Protect yourself by:

• Wearing nitrile gloves to avoid skin contact.
• Using eye protection.
• Ensuring adequate fume exhaust; turn on room exhaust on before opening the printer lid, and allow machine exhaust to run while cleaning if fumes are strong.

2. After Printing (Before Washing)

1. Remove excess resin
   Use a plastic scraper to scrape off any resin that remains on the build plate, preventing drips during removal.
2. Detach the print
   • Unlatch/unscrew the build plate from the Z‑axis, placing it over a drip tray.
   • Gently lift the print with a metal scraper; avoid scratching the build plate.
3. Remove supports
   Most supports can be removed by hand; use scissors or side cutters if necessary.
4. Pre‑clean
   Spray and scrub the model with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) using a brush to remove most surface resin.

3. Washing & Ultrasonic Cleaning

1. Wash station – Place the pre‑cleaned print in an IPA‑filled wash station for 10 min, ensuring the lid is closed. Repeat until no visible resin remains. Use the ELEGOO Mercury XS for small prints; use Phrozen Wash Mega S for larger ones.
2. Ultrasonic cleaner – Sonicate the print with IPA for 10 min in a separate container that sits inside a water bath (do not place directly in the ultrasonic unit). This conserves IPA and reduces ignition risk. Reference
3. Dry – Gentally shake off excess liquid and pat dry with a paper towel. Use the Phrozen Cure Mega S drying mode if needed.

4. Curing

Note

Do not cure a print that still contains IPA or resin; residual solvent will become tacky and uncleanable once cured.

1. Place the clean print in a cure station (ELEGOO Mercury XS for small prints, Phrozen Cure Mega S for larger ones).
2. Cure 10 min, flip the print, and cure another 10 min. Repeat until fully cured.
3. Post‑cure check – The surface should be rigid and matte.

5. Cleanup

1. Drain and clean the vat
   • Recycle resin into its bottle using a funnel and filter, and wipe the bottle exterior clean.
   • Scrape any print residue on the release film with a plastic scraper.
   • Wipe clean with IPA.
     If you plan to do another print soon, the resin can be left in the vat.
2. Wash station & ultrasonic cleaner
   • Keep IPA sealed to prevent vaporization or spills.
   • If sediment forms, pour clean IPA from the top into a clean container; collect dirty IPA (label as chemical waste) in a separate clear container. Then pour the top portion clean IPA back in.
   • Replace IPA completely when it fails to clean effectively.
     • Transfer clean IPA from the ultrasonic cleaner into the wash station, and refill the ultrasonic cleaner with fresh IPA.
     • IPA in the ultrasonic cleaner is always the most fresh and clean.
3. Clean cure stations – Wipe down dust, drips, or residue with IPA; ensure the chamber is clean for next use.
4. Tool cleaning – Clean scraper, drip tray, brush, and any other tools with clean IPA (can be done while curing).
5. Work area – Wipe all surfaces that contacted hands, tools, or prints with clean IPA to remove sticky residue.
6. Waste disposal - Store saturated IPA in a clear and clearly labeled sealed container, near a window for passive curing. Dispose it according to chemical‑waste regulations once fully cured.
   When all resin has cured out of the IPA, it becomes unsaturated and may be reused in the wash station if appropriate.
   Never pour resin or IPA down the drain.
7. Personal hygiene – Remove gloves, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. If skin contact is suspected, clean with diluted IPA followed by soap and water; seek medical advice if irritation persists.

Warning

Dispose of all cleaning consumables (gloves, paper towels, etc.) in a dedicated waste bin; do not mix with general waste.