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==Project==
==Project==


This page describes how you can build a Curing box for photocrosslinkable resins. Such curing boxes are mainly used for after curing of stereolithography builds. Research Group of Polymer Technology develops biodegradable photo-crosslinkable resins for SLA devices. Therefore, we can use a box like this to test the crosslinking properties of our materials. The box we have in the lab right now is too small for many of our needs and lacking a gas inlet.   
This page describes how you can build a Curing box for photocrosslinkable resins. Such curing boxes are mainly used for after curing of stereolithography builds. Research Group of Polymer Technology develops biodegradable photocrosslinkable resins for SLA devices. Therefore, we can use a box like this to test the crosslinking properties of our materials. The box we have in the lab right now is too small for many of our needs and lacking a gas inlet.   


There are many designs on curing boxes on the web, but none of them fit all of our needs. One requirement set by our users was to be able to create a N2 atmosphere within the box. This should be possible with this box as long as the box shows to be airtight enough. Examples of other DYI curing boxes and sources of inspiration:
There are many designs on curing boxes on the web, but none of them fit all of our needs. One requirement set by our users was to be able to create a N2 atmosphere within the box. This should be possible with this box as long as the box shows to be airtight enough. Examples of other DYI curing boxes and sources of inspiration: [https://forum.formlabs.com/t/3d-print-room-and-diy-uv-c Design 1], [https://forum.formlabs.com/t/diy-cure-box-made-easy-thanks-ikea/10967 Design 2], [https://forum.formlabs.com/t/another-homemade-cure-box/15299 Design 3], [http://www.esologic.com/?page_id=1412 Design 4], [http://www.esologic.com/?p=1394 Design 5]and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mahcMOpeZkMurebox/9507 Design 6].




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====Hose connector====
====Hose connector====
Adding a bracket with screwholes to design so that the connector is easier to attach to the box.
Adding a bracket with screwholes to design so that the connector is easier to attach to the box.
====Heating and spinning platfrom====
A plan is to also add a heating plate to the bottom of the box but we do not need that urgently. A nice addition would also be a [https://www.amazon.com/HDE-Rotating-Mini-Display-Stand/dp/B002Y2AW3C/ref=pd_rhf_dp_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002Y2AW3C&pd_rd_r=1JV168V9XY8771JYKXAR&pd_rd_w=EET24&pd_rd_wg=YZQ3o&psc=1&refRID=1JV168V9XY8771JYKXAR Rotating platform]

Revision as of 14:52, 28 October 2017

Curing box design

Final project of Kasper Dienel in course ELEC-L3999: 3D Printing of Open Source Hardware for Science at Aalto University.

26.10.2017 Comment: The plans for the curing box are ready and most of the parts printed, but the whole box is not yet put together. This is because the LED strips ordered on ebay will not arrive until in november or early december 2017.

Designer

Kasper Dienel Aalto University, Research Group of Polymer Technology

Project

This page describes how you can build a Curing box for photocrosslinkable resins. Such curing boxes are mainly used for after curing of stereolithography builds. Research Group of Polymer Technology develops biodegradable photocrosslinkable resins for SLA devices. Therefore, we can use a box like this to test the crosslinking properties of our materials. The box we have in the lab right now is too small for many of our needs and lacking a gas inlet.

There are many designs on curing boxes on the web, but none of them fit all of our needs. One requirement set by our users was to be able to create a N2 atmosphere within the box. This should be possible with this box as long as the box shows to be airtight enough. Examples of other DYI curing boxes and sources of inspiration: Design 1, Design 2, Design 3, Design 4, Design 5and Design 6.


Parts

  • The box
  • UV LED Flexible Strip
  • Shelf brackets
    • I modified this model found on Thingiverse to suit my needs, here is a link to my shelf bracket that you can modified using eg. the parametric OpenSCAD file
  • Bars for insulating strip
    • To make the door airtight, bars are needed to attach the insulating weather strip on. Parametric 3D printable model I created can be found here including OpenSCAD file.
  • Hose connector
    • A nice Universal hose adapter can be found here. I decided to use it as it is by just scaling it downa little.
  • Weather strip for sealing door and silicone sealant to seal gaps.
    • Buy in local hardware store
  • Glas plate as shelf

Directions

1) Choose a box suitable for your needs. For example the one from IKEA mentioned above.

2) Print the parts you need. Note that all 3D printable models shared on this page are parametric and therefore customizable according to your needs using OpenSCAD.

3) Put together the box according to the curing box design.

4) Make sure the box is airtight by sealing the box with a silicone sealant. - a way to test is by purging with N2 for some time while having a SMALL burning candle inside the box. The candle should go out if the N2 atmosphere is good enough.


Final Prints and Parts

This far the following parts have been printed 4. Shelf brackets using fused filament fabrication An idea would be to print sliding rails on which the brackets can slide so that the hight can be altered easily 1. Bar (printed in two parts)for insulation strips using fused filament fabrication . 3 more should still be printed. However, I am waiting for a FFF printer with a bigger build platform to be functional so that I can print the part whole and not divided into two. 1. Hose connector printed using a Form1+ stereolithograph because I had access to such a device. This allows for a part with better resolution.



Estimated Cost

The price for this DYI curing box is:

IKEA EKET box 25€
LED strip 18€
Weather strip 8€
Silicone seal 4€
Glas plate 10€
Printed parts (asuming you must buy a spool of filament) 25€
Total price:90€

For example Formlabs is selling Curing boxes for 699€ (28.10.2017).

Ideas to improve the design

Shelf bracket

Creating a vertical bar with holes on which the shelf bracket can slide on and be attached to at different heights so that the height of the shelf can be easily changed.

Hose connector

Adding a bracket with screwholes to design so that the connector is easier to attach to the box.

Heating and spinning platfrom

A plan is to also add a heating plate to the bottom of the box but we do not need that urgently. A nice addition would also be a Rotating platform

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