Washing and curing is a very important process that is vital to a resin print’s success. Some people choose a DIY solution, which means you have to manually clean your resin prints, as well as cure them using things like UV rays from sunlight or a UV turntable.
Once people figure out there’s a wash & cure station that can be bought, they quickly want to know which ones are the best to get. This article will be taking you through some of the best wash & cure stations out there, so let’s have a look at them.
The Elegoo Mercury XS is a great option if you are looking to get a resin wash and cure station. It has a lot of features that allow you to process your prints easily. Some of these include the following:
【Wash and Cure】 The product includes a cleaning machine, a curing machine and a hand-held UV curing lamp, which can be cleaned and cured at the same time, also improves the processing efficiency of models.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Elegoo Mercury XS has 2 adjustable L-shaped light bars with 14 individual LEDs and 4 LEDs under the rotating turntable that emit UV light to cure the resin model. This light configuration ensures that all parts of the model are uniformly exposed to the UV light for curing.
The Mercury XS also comes with a handheld UV lamp that can be used to cure areas the main UV light source cannot reach, like holes or the interior parts of the model.
With its large capacity of about 7,000ml, you can easily wash your models in one go or it can reduce the number of batches you need to wash the models when you compare it to other washing stations. This ultimately helps to save time when post-processing your models.
The Elegoo Mercury XS is very easy to use. You can control both the wash and cure station with just a single knob. Simply press the knob to turn the machine, then rotate the knob either to the left or right to increase or reduce the wash or cure time on each machine respectively.
It also has an anti-UV cover that can block up to 99.9% of UV rays that are being emitted from UV light sources. This helps to prevent your skin from UV exposure. As an added safety feature, once this cover is taken off when it’s in operation, the UV LEDs automatically switch off.
One user stated that he bought this after his Anycubic Plus didn’t work when it arrived. He said it arrived and worked perfectly. He’s very happy with this product and how it works, and the controls are easy to use as well.
Specifications
Control Method: Knob + Button
Rated Power (Cure): 12W
Input Voltage: 110V/240V 50/60Hz
Maximum Wash Volume: 180x121x153mm(with platform), 201x124x255mm (without platform)
Another great wash and cure station you can buy is the Anycubic Wash and Cure Plus. This wash and cure station is packed with features with nice features that can cater to the needs of both 3D printing enthusiasts and beginners, some of which include the following:
【2-In-1 Wash and Cure Station】 Dual functions of cleaning and curing can not only remove most of the chemicals, settle scrubbing and mess issues, but also seriously streamline the whole post-processing; A professional solution to the messy clean up job of your fabulous prints
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Anycubic Wash and Cure Plus has two washing modes that allow you to place the model directly into the washing bucket or hang the build plate on the basket. This is known as Basket washing and Hanging cleaning respectively.
Basket washing comes in handy in situations where the level of IPA is too low to submerge the model when it’s hung from the basket.
During the washing process, the large propeller at the bottom of the tank spins at high speeds, changing its direction at intervals, to ensure that every part of the model is properly cleaned.
To achieve uniform exposure, the curing station has an L-shaped LED strip that is mounted above a 360° auto-rotating curing platform with a reflective sticker beneath it. This ensures that all nooks and crannies of the model are properly cured.
Due to its large tank capacity (8,500ml), you can comfortably wash very large models in one go. Also, its curing station has a curing volume of 190x 245mm, so you can wash cure models printed by large resin printers such as Photon Mono X.
One downside to the Anycubic Wash and Cure Plus is the fact that you cannot wash and cure prints simultaneously.
Once you’re done washing a model and you already have a model you want to cure, you’d have to wait for one of them to finish, before you can attend to the other. This could lead to time wastage.
One user stated that he was a bit skeptical going into this purchase. He bought the smaller version and while it works, he felt it could be better. He got the Anycubic Wash and Cure Plus and felt it was better in all areas.
He said it’s much quieter than the other, and it gets the parts cleaner in a shorter amount of time, resulting in less chance of damage for highly detailed parts.
Specifications
Machine: Wash and Cure
Control method: Digital tube, LED indicator, Control knob
If you’re looking to get a budget-friendly wash and cure station, then the Creality 3D UW-01 is a great choice for you. While this wash and cure station is not the latest from Creality, its features are still relevant, and can comfortably still wash and cure your prints.
Some of its features include:
Adjustable three-gear speed
Dual-band UV light source
LED Touch Controls
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Depending on the intensity of washing the model needs, you can adjust the propeller’s speed to either “Slow”, “Normal”, or “Quick”. For brittle models, you can set the propeller speed to “Slow Mode” so that the intensity of the washing does not damage the print.
The UV light source is an array of 18 (2X9) LED beads that ensure quick curing and even exposure for larger models. This LED assembly is paired with a curing tray that rotates 360° to ensure that the UV light source cures all parts of the model.
The speed at which the curing tray turns can also be adjusted as well.
At the front of the device, there is a panel with touch-sensitive buttons and an LED large-size screen that can be used to control its operation.
Due to the way the controls are laid out, someone who has never used a wash and cure station wouldn’t have a problem using the Creality 3D UW-01.
The controls give you access to easily select if you want to cure/wash, start/stop, adjust the timer, and select the propeller speed with just a tap of a button.
Once the cover comes off during the curing process, the device switches off the UV light as a safety feature to prevent UV exposure.
One user stated that he got this device to go along with his Halot-ONE Plus printer. He said it makes the washing and curing process so much easier.
He said while you can rig up a homemade washing station and some LEDs to cure your models, he believes this is a better solution.
Specifications
Control method: Touch Button, LED indicator
Rated power: 60W
Time selection: 2-90min
Curing size: 165x200mm
Washing Size: 170x120x160mm
Machine size: 225x225x360mm
Weight: 4.64kg
You can find the Creality 3D UW-01 on Amazon for your wash and cure needs.
Check out JustVlad’s review on the Creality UW-01.
The Phrozen wash and cure kit is another wonderful choice if you’re looking to get a wash and cure station. It is very easy to get your messy prints covered with resin to the final cured product in simple steps.
【One Stop Post-Printing Solution】 Complete all your post-printing processes with Phrozen Wash & Cure Kit. Wash any excess resin of your prints with the powerful vortex of Phrozen Washing Station’s, then dry and cure it in one go with the Phrozen Curing Station.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The dual fan setup for this system is one of its major selling points. On average, when a user washes his print, they usually need to wait so that the model can get dry before placing it into the curing station so that the resin drops do not deface the turntable.
Now, you can immediately dry your prints once you take them out of the washing bucket and cure your models in one go. The LCD screen allows you to input how long you want to wash, dry, and cure the prints (up to 2 hours).
Another major highlight of this device is its large build volume. With its extra-large tank volume, you can rest assured that it can clean almost any model (up to 10 inches build plate).
This is paired with a very powerful propeller at the bottom of the tank that cleans your resin prints properly without causing damage to the details on your model.
The dual light bars inside the curing station radiate high-intensity UV rays (405nm) that allow you to cure your resin prints in minutes. There are also UV LEDs under the build platform that ensure that the insides of the models are not left out during the curing process.
One user said the Phrozen wash and cure station is worth the money if you are getting serious about 3D printing. He said it’s very easy to use and set up, with lots of features.
The Elegoo Mercury Plus V2.0 is another budget-friendly wash and cure resin station you can purchase. This wash-and-cure resin station is a great choice for people who are just getting into 3D printing with resin.
While it has a smaller capacity when compared to other wash and cure stations in the Elegoo lineup, it has the key features that makes it a great buy.
【2-in-1 Multifunctional Design】 ELEGOO Mercury Plus 2.0 has dual functions of cleaning and curing, it supports one step to finish the model postprocess. Which makes the operating process more efficient with less effort to meet your needs. Compatible with most LCD/DLP/SLA 3D printers such as ELEGOO Mars series.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Mercury Plus V2.0 has two wash modes that allow you to either mount your build plate with the model onto the cleaning basket or you can dip the models directly into the cleaning basket.
There’s also an adjustable bracket that can be used to increase or lower your build plate into the basket, depending on the level of liquid in the basket.
Also, it has a smaller footprint and doesn’t take up as much space. This is because both the wash and cure station can be used interchangeably with the base. However, the downside to this is that you cannot wash and cure prints simultaneously.
The cure station uses a fan-less mechanism, which eliminates any form of noise while it is in operation.
One user stated that it is a very easy-to-use device and an all-in-one solution that makes a perfect companion to the Elegoo Mars resin printer.
Specifications
Control Method: Touch Button
Rated Power: 48W
Input Voltage: 100V/240V 50/60Hz
UV Light: 405nm(8+8)
Time Setting: 0-30mins
Machine Size: 200x200x352mm
Maximum Curing Size: φ140x165mm
Maximum Wash Volume: 124x90x110mm(with platform), 131x90x220mm (without platform)
Another good option is the GeeeTech wash and cure station. While it’s not really a household name yet, there have been a lot of reviews that attest to its quality. They also offer great features that have caught the eye of many 3D printing enthusiasts. They include:
Washing and Curing Station: The resin wash and cure station has dual functions of washing and curing. This makes it easier to wash and cure the resin 3d printed model.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Like most wash and cure stations, this device also uses a 405nm UV light to cure resin models in no time.
The UV LED array is a combination of 16 UV lamp beads + 3 UV LEDs at the bottom of the machine with a 360° rotating turntable that ensures uniform exposure of the model all around, even at the bottom.
It has a very intuitive control setup that makes it very easy to use. It consists of a 0.96-inch TFT LCD screen and a knob to start and stop the wash/cure process.
The wash and cure station has a much more refined design that immediately gets anyone’s attention.
One thing that stands out is its touch panel which adopts an inclined surface that provides a better control experience compared to the 90° vertical control panel of other wash and cure stations.
One user stated that it’s a wonderful machine, very sturdy, and loves how easy it is to switch from washing to curing. He said it’s a great machine to add to your setup, making the cleaning and curing process easier.
Specifications
Power Supply: 12V
Power Adapter: Input 100~240V, 50~60Hz, Output 12V/6A
The Creality 3D UW-02 is a premium-grade wash and cure station. The Creality UW-02 is a huge leap from its predecessor, the Creality UW-01. When placed side by side, it offers much more. While it’s more expensive, it’s definitely worth every penny.
Some of its features include:
1 Inch wash and cure capacity
Powerful Washing
Dual UV Waveband Lightsource
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The Creality UW-02 has an upgraded 10.1-inch washing and curing space. It has a washing volume of 240x160x200mm, which is much larger than most wash and cure stations. This makes it suitable for processing larger models.
It has a curing volume of curing volume of 7.87″ x 11.81″, so you can wash cure models printed by large resin printers.
The powerful fan blades at the bottom of the wash station create a Super large vortex for high-speed cleaning and removal of excess resin on the surface of the model. You can also reduce the speed of the blades with the buttons in front so that it doesn’t damage brittle models.
The UV light source is a built-in LED beads array (18 pieces of UV LED light) that emits both 385nm and 405nm and works hand-in-hand with a 360° reflection rotary curing platform for all-round even exposure for the models.
One user said it fits his models just right and he loves the dryer/fan in the curing station.
Specifications
Fully-enclosed machine size: 325x295x584mm
Washing size: 240x160x200mm
Curing Size: 200x300mm
Maximum model weight: 2.5kg
SLA wavelength: 385 and 405nm
Rated Power: 60W
Cure/Wash Time: 2-30mins
You can get the Creality UW-02 from Amazon for around $210.
Check out this review video from VogMan on the Creality UW-02.
Michael Dwamena is the founder of 3D Printerly, a platform dedicated to simplifying 3D printing for hobbyists and professionals alike. Owns over 20 3D printers (filament and resin) and has plenty experience 3D printing. Michael has authored over 900 articles, helping millions navigate the exciting world of 3D printing.
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