How To Cure UV Resin Without UV Light: Is It Possible?

Unquestionably, resin 3D printers are the technology of the future. When compared to FDM printers, their key benefit is print precision and object smoothness. You have a choice between the traditional 2-part resin and the well-liked UV resin when it comes to the print medium. If you choose the latter, you must additionally make a suitable UV resin curing lamp purchase.

In actuality, UV light is required to cure UV resin. UV resin does not contain a hardener, in contrast to 2-part resin. Instead, the UV radiation's photons set off a chemical process that leads to the resin molecules joining forces to create a network. The resin hardens as a result of this process.

Does UV Resin Require UV Light?
Simply said, absolutely. Every UV resin needs UV light to cure. But you're not required to purchase a UV light. Exposure to sunlight will also work, however it can take longer time for your product to solidify.

We advise utilizing a qualified UV curing equipment as a result. While this device can quickly cure UV resin, reducing the chance of damage, not all UV lamps are made equal, and choosing the right one can make or break a transaction.

Regular resin versus UV resin
Resin may be used in 3D printing in a variety of ways, but ultimately, it all depends on the resin you choose to utilize. UV (or 1-part) resin and ordinary, epoxy resin are the two types of resin. Let's look at the pros and cons of each kind to determine which is best for your project.

UV Resin Called 1-Part Resins
UV resins are polymerized polymers that can be quickly cured using the energy from UV rays. This resin type, depending on the layer thickness, cures in seconds or minutes when exposed to UV light, however it doesn't cure when not exposed to UV light.

This is a benefit since it lengthens the processing time and enables you to print more complex things.

The fact that UV resin may be used just as it is is a significant plus. If you don't want to utilize the entire tub, there is no messy mixing or ratio calculation needed with this resin type.

The key drawback is that in order to allow for effective curing, the UV resin coating must be rather thin. Work in layers and cure each layer before printing the subsequent layer if your product is thicker than 3mm. This procedure could take a while.

Another minor issue is that using a standard lamp to cure the material is not an option. Although most UV resins cure when exposed to sunlight, this rarely yields the best results.

Certain UV resins require UV light to cure.
You may work with a variety of UV resin types, such as:

Polyester resins: While UV light isn't necessary for all polyester resins to cure, the UV solar cure polyester resin type is a great option for novices who aren't yet ready to make the UV lamp investment. The catalyst in this resin cures in around three minutes when exposed to UV lights or natural sunlight. Solar exposure is an excellent kind of treatment, but only if you live in a region with a warm environment and lots of sunshine.
UV polyurethane resins, which are synthesized from polyester polyol, are the ideal material for printing more delicate components. Although it takes at least 250 nm for polyurethane resin to cure, the finished product is exceptionally scratch- and stain-resistant.

UV-free resins Called 2-Part Resins
Two components make up two-part resins (also known as normal resin), which, as their name implies, harden when combined. Due to the catalyst's inherent ability to harden, these resins don't require UV light to cure. Contrary to UV resin, the curing process takes longer.

Respecting the predetermined mix ratios when making the product is the key to dealing with non-UV resin, particularly if you want to limit the amount of resin you produce. Using hardener in excess or insufficiently might have severe effects.

Non-UV resins have a longer shelf life than UV resins, but after you've combined it, you can't use the residual substance. These resins can eventually dry up and break, but they are also less costly.

Types of Resins That Can Cure Without UV Light
Epoxy resins, which require appropriate mixing before use, make up the majority of 2-part resins on the market. Although they could cure more quickly in a warmer atmosphere, epoxy resins don't require UV light or particular environmental conditions to cure.

Since this sort of resin is unaffected by UV radiation, UV light cannot cure epoxy resin. While UV resins may be printed using either stereolithography (SLA) or digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing, epoxy resin is often employed with hot-lithography stereolithography.

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