SLA Screen Printing

This is a tutorial/ or method of making screens for screen printing with SLA 3D printer.

Follow up for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8ny-d8zL8U

Have you seen this ?? https://youtu.be/RudStbSApdE?si=NsjlE6hjBa7-jTG6 ???

So in principle, method is similar.

Using a SLA printer and prepared silkscreen frame, illuminate it with printer. Wash it. Fully cure it use it for custom silk screen projects.

In this example I used negative photoresistive ink.

Hi resolution screens can be achieved as typical SLA printer pixel is ~50 um !!!!

Make frames according to your SLA printer with location indexing and easier allingment.

• FDM 3D printer
• SLA 3D printer
• Screen fabric
• Photoresistive ink
• M3 hardware
• Printed frames
• Soldering iron
• Permanent pen

• Print silk screen frame and tensioning piece with FDM printer.
• Using frame part mark holes on piece of screen fabric.
• Using soldering iron melt small holes in screen fabric.
• Assemble frame using m3x6 tapered screws and m3 nuts.
• Attach frame to tensioning part.
• Tension appropriately.

In pictures frame is show with TOP side up !!!

Apply photoresist according to manufacturers guidelines. There are plenty tutorials online. Make sure that last stoke is performed from top side!!!! You want top side to be as smooth as possible.

Dry photoresist.

Take note if its positive on negative photoresist.

• Draw design in your favorite vector image software. For the first time make normal and inverted images, later on you will know which one you need. Export as DXF or SVG.
• Make 3D model. I use Fusion 360 for both design making and 3D model preparation. Insert DXF or SVG as sketch. Extrude sketch to make 3D model. Usually I extrude to 0.1mm. (depending on photoresist one might need extrude negative parts)
• Export 3D model
• Open 3D model in SLA printer slicer software.
• Slice with layer thickness 0.1 x120 sec. or any other combination (As I typically print with SLA using 0.05 mm layers, I go for 2x 60 sec).
• Transfer sliced file to SLA printer

• Put Silk screen with dried photoresist on to SLA printer TOP side down.
• Select file and Illuminate silk screen. For me 2 mins works well. Change slicer to test what works well for you.
• Wash uncured zones according to photoresist manufacturers specifications.
• Dry silk screen with air stream.
• Fully cure according manufacturers specification (either more UV (or 405nm light), or heat). Do not heat up too much !!!! silk screen fabric will be damaged.
• Use for whatever You like. In my case I used for screen printed electrodes.

Make frames according to your SLA printer with location indexing and easier alignment.