Formlabs Form1+ Vat

This is a printable Formlabs Form1+ printable vat. I got tired of having to buy a $50 vat every time the PDMS wore out, so I designed this so I could make my own. I attempted to replace the PDMS in the existing commercial vats, but the acrylic frame was already cracked from repeated use which made it impossible.

I printed this with 3-4 perimeters, 0.2mm layer height, 50% infill out of PLA.

DO NOT USE ABS AS IT WILL MELT WITH REPEATED UV RESIN EXPOSURE.

For V1, add a 1/4" x 5.75" x 6" piece of glass. For V2 (with the pour lip), add a 6mm x 160mm x 150mm piece of glass. Epoxy it in place and then add 65g Sylgard 184 PDMS. Make sure when you pour it that it's completely level! Also: you may have to fine tune your Z-height, so please check this when using this vat!

V1 is very similar in appearance to the stock Form1+ vat. V2 has the tabs removed and the exposure window spans the entire length of the vat. With the tabs removed, you can rotate the vat 180° if you prefer to print on one particular side of the build platform.

I have printed about two-dozen parts on this vat design and have to say it works REALLY well.

How I Designed This

Designed in Autodesk Inventor 2016.