UV Curing Station

UV curing station, a great tool for your resin 3D printer.

Step 1: About This Project:

For a while now i have a resin 3D printer, and i always had a problem with after curing of the 3D prints.

Normaly i only printed when the sky was clear so i could cure the 3d prints in the sun. But i live in the Netherlands so it's more rain then sun. So i decided to make a uv curing box for my resin prints. Maybe you also have problems with curing your 3d prints, or you just want a cleaner solution. Well i hope this may be something for you, just like this is a great solution for me.

Warning!
too much uv light can be dangerous. Only turn the station on when de door is closed. See for more information this link:
https://www.who.int/uv/publications/en/occupationa...

I also participate in the Build a tool contest so if you would be so kind to vote for me, that would be very appreciated

Step 2: What Do You Need

You need some stuff to create this project:

Tools:

* Laser cutter (or a company/makerspace that can cut it for you)
* 3D printer
* Soldering iron

Material

* UV led strip 3M 12V€ 7,20 (https://bit.ly/3jgzYpb)

* Motor DC€ 2,37 (https://bit.ly/32rspW7)

* Powersupply connector € 0,68 (https://bit.ly/32qUCfD)

* Powersupply 12V 3A € 4,31 (https://bit.ly/32tq90n)

* Acrylic normal 31x21cm (red 4x, black 3x, clear 1x )

* Acrylic mirror 31x21cm
(for dutch people i can reccomend this site for the acrylic: https://bit.ly/34wVmT7)

* GLUE (i used pvc glue but other glue's would also be fine)

* Superglue

* 3D models en DXF files can be found on: (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4580505)

* Wires

* 10k and 1k resistor

* 9X m3x10

* 2X m3x16

* 3X m3x20

* 1X m4x20

* 12X m3 nuts

* 1X m4 locknut

For the people that don't like instructions, i made a small video that you can look at (see video above), but that doesn't explaine were the screws need to be or how i did the electronics. For that i would atleast to look at step 18 ;)

Step 3: Construction: Step 1

Glue The UV back and The UV middle together like in the picture.
The holes need to point to the UV back.

Step 4: Construction: Step 3

First glue the right side to the frame. After the glue is dry you can glue the left side on the frame.

Step 5: Construction: Step 4

Now glue the UV top on the frame.

Step 6: Construction: Step 5

Now glue the UV mirror back on the backside.
NOTE: i would not recommend this with pvc glue because the mirror can get dim & ugly.

Step 7: Construction: Step 6

Next glue the UV mirror side's to the inside.

Step 8: Construction: Step 7

Next glue the UV mirror top on the inside of the top.

Step 9: Construction: Step 8

Cut the UV led strip in the right measurements:
4x 200mm 2x 320mm
Solder on all the strips a red (+) and black (-) wire.

Step 10: Construction: Step 9

Now paste the UV ledstrips on the mirror side, past the 2 longer ones on the back and over the top plate of the mirror
There are holes on the underside were you can put the wires trough.

Step 11: Construction: Step 10

Put the UV motor holder over the motor an put it in the hole for the motor in the frame.
Screw it tight with 2x m3x20 and 2x m3 bolts and 1x m3x10.

Step 12: Construction: Step 11

Next glue the Uv rotator tight on the rotating rod of the motor with second glue, make sure there is a little gap between the UV rotator and the acrylic frame.
After that glue the UV roundisk to the motor rod and the UV rotator.

Step 13: Construction: Step 12

Put a m3x16 screw between Hinge_1 & Hinge_2 (do this on both ofcourse).

Step 14: Construction: Step 13

Screw the hinges to the UV front and the door with 8x m3x10mm and 8 m3 nuts.

Step 15: Construction: Step 14

Screw lock_2 on the left side with a m3x20mm and a m3 bolt.
Screw lock_1 on the right side with a m4x20mm and a m4 locknut.

Step 16: Construction: Step 15

You can now glue the front part (with the door) to the frame

Step 17: Construction: Step 16

Screw the powersupply connector in the hole on the backside.

Step 18: Construction: Step 17 (electronics)

I made for the wiring a schematic (yes it's made in paint nothing fancy) for how i made the electronics.
Feel free to make it however you like, if you have a better idea. But this works great voor me.
The voltage devider brings the 12V to 6V for the motor.
See the pictures for a better sight of how i made it.

Step 19: Construction: Step 18

Glue the UV bottom part tight.

Step 20: Done!

Put the adapter in the outlet and you are ready to go!

Now you have a fully working UV curing Station. So you don't have to worry about the time, when you can 3D print with the resin printer.
From my experience it takes about 10 minutes to fully cure a resin print. I do recomend that you also turn the print half way, so the underside also will cure well.