DLP/LCD Test Print

[cliffyk]

Hello,

I just sliced and printed your file, using Chitubox v1.8.1 (0.020 mm layers) and my plain 'ol Mars printer.

The result is not promising as I do not believe this class of printer (not just my Mars, but all hobbyist printers in this class) have the resolution necessary to do what you wish to do--in fact I do not know if the photo-initiated curing resin technology is capable that sort of resolution.

To back up a bit here are the specs for my Elegoo Mars printer (serial # M20Silver20200401)

LCD Shutter aperture (maximum print) size: 120 x 68 mm (X x Y);
LCD Shutter pixels: 2560 x 1440 (X x Y);
∴ LCD resolution = 0.0469 x  0.0472 mm (X x Y);
Z-Axis resolution is selectable @ 0.010 - 0.050 mm;

The Elegoo Mars Pro specs are:

LCD Shutter aperture size: 115 x 65 mm (X x Y);
LCD Shutter pixels: 2560 x 1440 (X x Y);
∴ LCD resolution = 0.0449 x  0.0451 mm (X x Y);
Z-Axis resolution is selectable @ 0.010 - 0.200 mm;

The Elegoo Mars 2 specs are:

LCD Shutter aperture size: 130.56 x 82.62 mm (X x Y);
LCD Shutter pixels: 2560 x 1620 (X x Y);
∴ LCD resolution = 0.0510 x  0.0510 mm (X x Y);
Z-Axis resolution is selectable @ 0.010 - 0.200 mm;

Note that while this printer is touted as having a "high resolution" LCD shutter due to its 2560 x 1620 pixels; it is actually lower resolution due to its larger aperture (print surface).

The Elegoo Mars 2 Pro resolution specs are the same as the Mars 2 as listed above;

The Elegoo Saturn specs are:

LCD Shutter aperture size: 192 x 120 mm (X x Y);
LCD Shutter pixels: 3840 x 2400 (X x Y);
∴ LCD resolution = 0.0500 x  0.0500 mm (X x Y);
Z-Axis resolution is selectable @ 0.010 - 0.150 mm;

I.e. the vaunted Saturn model, while having a significantly larger LCD aperture still has the same 0.0500 mm resolution, a bit "grainier" than my plain ol' Mars and the Mars Pro.

I believe the Mars "Saturn" is close to "state-of-the-art" for this class of printer--again, these are "happy-homeowner" hobbyist machines seemingly mostly used to print collectible "miniatures" (I.e. dolls, etc.).

I gave my printout a 40 minute post print curing in my DIY curing chamber--a converted  0.7 ft³ microwave with a 30 W 405 nm LED in place of the Magnetron--I'll run out to the barn and get it so we can see what it looks like.

Here we go, in no particular order--sorry 'bout the debris, my shop in the barn is not the world's cleanest environment:













I believe the output could be improved some by tweaking exposure times, lift speeds, etc; however the primary issue as I see it is that your tiny cones, by definition, terminate vertically at a zero dimension "point"--however with these machines the smallest a point can possibly be is 0.0449 x  0.0451 mm (if using the the Mars Pro)--throw in the inherent imprecision of the resin printing process (light scatter in the resin, unwanted excursion of the curing once initiated, etc.) and the practical resolution is far larger than that ultimate mechanical potential. I would be surprised to find 0.1 x 0.1 mm in a final product.