Tuesday, October 06, 2026
RepRapMicron Success! - A decent 500μm (1/2mm) Benchy
Took me a few years, but here we are. This Benchy is 500x258x400μm and took the RepRapMicron PIKA V0.02 2hrs 41min 22sec to print in eSun Standard Resin. This was using the same 125/9 fibre head as before, but with the UV LED controlled by the GRBL Coolant Mist output:
Settings: 30μm/sec print speed, 25% speed first layer, 6μm first layer, 4μm layers, 2 perimeters, 2 top 3 bottom layers, 9μm print width,56R UV LED resistor. If you zoom in to the stern you can see the infill lines.
To rinse off excess resin I plave the slide flat under the binocular microscope with a pad of tissue underneath. Then a 1ml hypodermic syringe and 0.5mm needle with about 0.6ml of isopropyl alcohol is dropped on and jetted at the print. This is gently air dried with a slow fan.
Yes, some detail is missing because the UV beam sets the resin for a considerable drpth downward. This can be avoided by adding a UV dye to the resin, but I haven't done that. Have other plans. You can do it if you want, just use alcoholic turmeric extract.
I'll take a pause from making lots of stuff to document everything and upload the PrusaSlicer filter, LED holder and so forth, have a coffee (https://ko-fi.com/viksworkshop) or mebbe something a bit stronger :)
