Shapeways new SLA Plastic (Accura 60 / Xtreme / Xtreme 200)

[Jesse6669]

Shapeways has a new SLA plastic on their site, I was wondering if anyone has checked it out? 
It seems to be lower detail than the FXD / Smoothest Detail Plastic, but still relatively high resolution, yet stronger and/or more flexible.  I'm interested in it as a potential material for trucks, couplers, frames, gears, linkages, etc.
Minimum is $30 and most of my models didn't exceed it... the only one that barely did was a station platform and shelter (model of Princeton Jct. west side) about 6 inches long in 1:450. 
 

[Chris333]

Thought you had a magic Photon box?

[Jesse6669]

Thought you had a magic Photon box?

Nope, not yet... it's been tempting to consider though.

I did send in a test file a few hours ago, and just now got an email--as I suspected they would, Shapeways declined to try print it.  This is the stuff that aggravates me.  They refuse to print quite often when (from my experience) the technology could probably do it.  Case in point, nearly all of my models I have had to do on a "Print it Anyway" basis just to prove they can do it, after which they will allow them to go into regular production.  However if I make the tiniest change-- which I do fairly often when updating details, etc, I have to go through the process all over again.  The test of the SLA was stuff like couplers and some trucks (the truck sideframes with conical cutouts for the wheelsets are what I suspect they got nervous about with "thin walls.")   This to-and-fro is why I'd consider a Photon.. the aggrevation of dealing with Shapeways anal-retentive "engineers" and customer service policies, versus the space/investment/setup/extra materials/and  smell of the personal printer.   Eventually the personal printer will win out, I'm sure.

[narrowminded]

... and  smell of the personal printer.   Eventually the personal printer will win out, I'm sure.

I read and was very concerned about the stink issue as reported by some and was prepared to have to address the issue in some fashion.  In practice, I haven't had any issue with that, using it in a spare room in the house and using Photon's resins, and have not felt any need to make any provisions past those that the machine came with.

From your description of your use of Shapeways this far I suspect your experience with a Photon resin printer will be one of those, "Should have done it ages ago".

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

.

 

[narrowminded]

Mark,

A question (I am having the same experiences/thoughts like Chris)...... does your Photon produce the same quality prints as Shapeways SMOOTHEST FINE DETAIL (FXD) or is there a difference?????

regards, Dirk

 

In general, I'd say better to much better.  Especially when printing flat with straight vertical sides being the majority of the shapes.  They can still have detail, like board siding, but if there are angles or something like a caboose roof that's radiused, then you will see some lines.  The advantage here is to print them in whatever pieces you need to make sanding easy.  And this material does sand very nicely as well as taking paint well.  You can also use super glue on it and if repairs are needed you can use acetone to dissolve the glue without hurting the resin parts.  Little things that work in its favor.  Small holes, expect to drill them but you can put dimples in for the drilling and it drills well.  I often just draw the hole, often oversized as it will tend to fill in, and then clean the holes out with a drill. 

Here's an example of an Nn3 tipper car I make, all printed and functional tipper as well as link and pin coupler pockets.  I have to drill the pin holes out and adjusted the dimensions for the axle pocket depths so they could be used as printed, not requiring adjustment to the depth with a pointed exacto blade.  Also in that photo is a knuckle coupler to install in the link and pin pocket to adapt to standard Micro-Trains Nn3/ Z couplers.  The coupler is fixed and needs to be lifted onto a mating MT coupler but functions well.  All is printed.

Edit add:  And the track it's sitting on is Nn3 Code 40 Micro-Engineering rail in my flex tie bed, printed.  I'm working on RTR turnouts to go with the track.

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[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

Thanks!
I think I will have to switch to the Photon as well.........