Anycubic Photon Auto-Dispense Mod

thingiverse

A significant amount of effort and time went into designing, testing, and troubleshooting this innovative creation! We would be forever grateful if you considered leaving a generous tip after printing and installing this remarkable design, especially if you're willing to share your results with others. READ ALL BEFORE USE! This is my take on an Auto-Refill mod for the Anycubic Photon My primary goal was to create a system that's not only reliable but also incredibly easy to use! While I've researched refill mods for other SLA printers, all of them presented significant inconveniences. Some were difficult to refill, while others required special treatment of the tubes before each use. I aimed to resolve these issues and still fit the construction within the limited space available in the Photon's enclosure. I've read comments suggesting a construction placed outside the Photon, but I decided against it, opting for transparent bottles that allow you to monitor the amount of resin left in the container. This also enables you to check if the system is working correctly. If there are visible bubbles in the bottle even when the vat is filled, there must be an air leak in the system, and disaster can be averted. To use the mod, print all parts using the following materials: Cap, Dock, Duct: Transparent standard resin (Don't forget to sand off the elephant's foot!) DripVat, Filler, Stamps, RigidPin, FlexPin: Resin of your choice BottleSeal, DockSeal: Cast in Silicone, print in flexible or elastic resin, or cut from sponge rubber or similar material using the stamps Valve: Cast in Silicone, print in flexible or elastic resin, or in rigid resin in combination with the RigidPin You'll also need: Wire of your chosen diameter (I chose bicycle brake wiring ⌀ 2 mm) Silicone tubing of 6 mm ID x 9 mm OD (Cut the ends at 45°) 4 M3x20 bolts A spring of roughly 0.5mmx6mmx10mm, similar sizes also work (A rigid valve requires a stronger spring) Optional: A 100 ml wide-mouth bottle, like this one A sponge rubber sheet of 2.5 mm thickness Assemble all parts as shown in the pictures and check their fit. Everything should fit together snugly and securely. If something is too loose, apply a thin layer of resin, then cure immediately and recheck the fit. Make sure there are no air leaks in the system! Test it a few times before actual use. For this, the DripVat comes in handy. Use water for your test runs. If you confirm that there are no air leaks, you're good to go. If you want to be absolutely sure, apply resin to the silicone tube's ends before inserting them and then cure it. Be aware that this fixes the tube to the Dock and Duct permanently! I didn't do this, and it's not necessary, but it may help if you have trouble with air leaks. To use, prepare your print like normal and fill the vat with resin, as you always do. Then fill the 100ml bottle with resin and close the cap. Flip the bottle upside down, insert it into the printer, push it downwards into the dock, and tighten it down by twisting it clockwise. Check that everything is placed correctly and that there are no air leaks. Start the print! After a print, remove the bottle from the dock. The tube will automatically empty out. Now you can remove the vat. Insert the DripVat and connect the duct. This ensures no excess resin drips onto the screen and allows you to flush the system with IPA. Benefits of this system over other refill-mods (in my opinion): - The bottle can be inserted and removed without creating a big mess! Want to remove a half-filled bottle? No problem! Twist the bottle cap counterclockwise and remove. The valve closes instantly, stopping the resin flow. Hold above the dock for a second to let drip off. IMPORTANT: When twisting to remove the bottle, always hold on to the bottle cap!!! Do not remove by twisting the bottle itself, as that could open it! - The system is easy to clean. Remove the bottle and the vat, insert and connect the DripVat, and flush the system with isopropyl alcohol. Let evaporate, and you're good to go. - Quick and easy! You don't need to suck on a tube to remove the air from it or other shenanigans. Assemble once, and the system is plug-and-play.