Anycubic Wash and Cure Review: 2-in-1 Post-processing Solution

Resin 3D printing is an excellent opportunity to make accurate prints out of elastic or durable polymers. Any resin print should be washed and additionally cured with the UV lights after printing. This will get the job complete. Anycubic Wash and Cure is a 2-in-1 device that makes post-processing easier, giving the ability to do both operations using only one machine.

Read the article to find out about how to use Anycubic Wash and Cure and what it’s capable of.

Technical Specifications of Anycubic Wash and Cure

Source anycubic.com

• Max model size for washing: 115mm(L)*65mm(W)*165mm(H)
• Max model size for curing Max model size for curing: 140mm(D)*165mm(H)
• Chamber temperature:60°C
• Input voltage: AC110/220V 50/60Hz
• Controls: Touch screen 
• Power: 40W
• UV lights: 405nm+365nm
• Curing and washing time: 2min 4min 6min
• Dimensions: 225 x 220 x 378 mm
• Weight: 6 kg

Anycubic Wash and Cure Overview

Using resin 3D printers allows even inexperienced users to create sophisticated print jobs with extreme precision. The most complex job that a human must do for 3D printing is creating a CAD file. The vast majority of modern slicing programs can automatically add support structures to an object, which prevents defects from emerging. After the print is finished, it should be cleaned, and the excess resin must be removed. The last step would be placing a finished print in a special chamber with a UV light. 

Source: anycubic.com

China-based Anycubic has developed a single device to deal with both processes. The manufacturer specializes mainly in developing 3D printers, and the number of resin printers in their portfolio is rather small at the time of writing this article. Although the Anycubic Wash and Cure can be used with the majority of resin materials and resin 3D printers, since its light source outputs both 365 nm and 405 nm waves. The fact that the size of its chamber is similar to the build volume of most of the resin 3D printers also helps. The Anycubic Wash and Cure can remove excess resin from prints with a maximum size of 115 x 65 x 165 mm. For successful UV curing, the object should fit in in a ring with the 140 mm diameter and its height must not exceed 165 mm.

Source: anycubic.com

According to the manufacturer, the transparent safety cover blocks more than 95% of the UV light that the machine outputs. The device has a safety system that prevents the curing unless the lid is correctly installed. If it’s removed during the process, the system will automatically stop.

What’s in the Box

Source: anycubic.com

The standard packaging includes: the device itself with a removable safety lid, power cord, adjustable bracket, cure platform, washing basket made of stainless steel, plastic washing container (3.5 liters), several bearings, and a manual.

Preparation

If you want to use the Anycubic Wash and Cure, you will need alcohol or some other cleaning agent to remove the residue. You don’t have to remove the print from the platform to wash it. To do so, you will need to use an adjustable bracket. Another way to wash the print is to place it in a special basket, which in turn should be placed in a plastic container. Choose the ‘Wash’ mode and set the timer for 2, 4, or 6 minutes. The process involves using an impeller with magnetic plates installed at the bottom of the container. The impeller creates enough motion in a solvent, which will be enough to get rid of resin.

For UV post-processing, the cure platform (that’s technically a turntable) should be installed. The print must be placed in the center of the platform, after which a user can choose the ‘Cure’ mode and set a timer.

Applications

Plastic Model Processing

There’s a video on the VOG YouTube channel that shows how to use Anycubic Wash and Cure. The most important thing the video’s creator mentions is that after washing, you should wait some time for alcohol (or any other solvent) to settle and the residue to accumulate at the bottom. After that, you can reuse the cleaning liquid for different purposes, but the bottom part with the residue should be disposed of. 

Compatibility with other 3D Printers

The review by Teaching Tech shows that the Wash and Cure’s container can be used with print platforms from other 3D printers. In this case, they used a part of the LONGER Orange 10 LCD printer.

Washing Low-Density Resins

In this example, you can see how to perform the post-processing of the prints made from materials with a lesser degree of density than the cleaning agent. If the print is removed from the print platform, then it will rise to the surface after being placed in the container. But the impeller creates a whirlpool so intense that the print dips into the cleaning agent completely and ends up being thoroughly washed. 

Pros and Cons

Let’s sum up the main advantages and disadvantages of the Anycubic Wash and Cure.

Pros:

• A convenient post-processing device;
• Compatible with many different resin 3D printers;
• Affordable.

Cons:

• Can’t be used with the print platforms larger than a specific size. So if the model was printed on a larger-format device, then it should be removed from a platform beforehand.

Conclusion

The Anycubic Wash and Cure is a 2-in-1 solution that significantly simplifies the post-processing of resin prints. While the vast majority of the devices on the market are either UV curing chambers or washing solutions, the Chinese manufacturer has managed to combine both features in a single affordable device. It’s compatible with the prints done on almost any 3D printer since the Anycubic Wash and Cure’s LEDs outputs both 405 nm and 365 nm waves. In fact, the only limitation for the print is its size. 

Buy Anycubic Wash and Cure at Top 3D Shop and get original quality equipment, official warranty, and the best possible service.