Bottle of Anycubic Resin and the Model

Anycubic Water Washable Resin Review & Testing


The Anycubic Water Washable resin is a low-cost resin for desktop MSLA resin 3D printers that offers the ability to clean models without using a chemical solvent. Anycubic is one of the most popular brands in desktop resin 3D printers, offering printers like the Photon Mono X and Photon M3 Plus which provide an excellent balance of performance and price. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that this resin performs just as well as the Anycubic machines.


Table of Contents

Specifications and General Settings:

UV Light: 365-405nm
Temperature: 18-35℃
Layer Exposure Time: 1.5 – 4 seconds
Shades: Aqua Blue, Clear, Black, Grey, White
Price: $22-37
Bottle of Resin and a Model
Amazon
Official Website – Offer: Get 3 for the price of 2

Water Washable Resin

The typical process for cleaning parts from a resin printer involves submerging them in a solvent bath after printing to remove any uncured material that is stuck to the surface of the part. This process can be messy, and solvents like Isopropyl Alcohol can cause irritation if inhaled. This Water Washable resin is designed to be easier to handle and clean using only water, making it ideal for anyone using a resin 3D printer at home.

Note: Water Washable doesn’t mean it can be rinsed in a bathroom sink. The water, in which the model was washed, has residue resin which needs to be UV cured, and afterward disposed of in a safe way for the environment.

3D Printed Model on Resin Printer
3D Printed Model with Supports
©3DWithUs – Photo: Andrew Sink
Loot Studios Model
Loot Studios model printed with Anycubic Water Washable Aqua Blue resin
©3DWithUs – Photo: Andrew Sink

Anycubic Water Washable Resin – Aqua Blue

The Anycubic Water Washable resin in Aqua Blue is a cool blue color that sits somewhere between light blue and turquoise. In a liquid state, it’s thin and has a low viscosity that allows it to flow easily and pour like water. Printing with higher viscosity resins like the Resione M68 Tough White resin can be difficult and requires slower print speeds to allow the resin to flow under the platform, so this low viscosity is a benefit for printing at higher speeds.

Resin being poured into a vat
Resin being poured into a vat
©3DWithUs – Photo: Andrew Sink
Aqua Blue resin in the vat
Aqua Blue resin in the vat
©3DWithUs – Photo: Andrew Sink

Just like the Anycubic Craftsman resin, a resin that performed very well during testing, the Water Washable resin includes some basic exposure settings and general printing information on the side of the bottle.

Exposure Settings in the back of the bottle
Exposure Settings in the back of the bottle
©3DWithUs – Photo: Andrew Sink

This information includes a working temperature range, slicer best practices, and a range of per-layer exposure times. 1.5 – 4 seconds is the suggested range for a Mono LCD printer, and I found the 3 second exposure from the Creality HALOT-ONE PLUS worked great for this material.

Grey

Here are a couple of print examples of Anycubic Water Wash Resin in grey color shade.

Washed and Cured Test Print
Zombie Superman
3D Model by B3Dserk on Patreon
©3DWithUs – Print and Photo: Will Zoobkoff
Anycubic Wash and Cure Max and Test Prints
Anycubic Wash and Cure Max and Test Prints

Will printed these for the Anycubic Wash & Cure Max review, a large volume post-processing station.


Printing with Anycubic Water Washable Resin

As the name implies, the Water Washable resin is designed to be washed using water instead of a solvent to dissolve any resin left on the surface of a model after printing. It’s important to note that you should never rinse a part in a sink or allow the resin to go down a drain, as it’s still uncured and can be dangerous.

rinsing the model
A model being rinsed in a container filled with water
©3DWithUs – Photo: Andrew Sink

I used a small container of water to rinse the parts after printing, and used a UV flashlight to cure the remaining resin after it settled to the bottom of the container. Once the resin has been cured and stuck to the sides of the container, it can safely be discarded. This process doesn’t require any additional solvent, and is ideal for anyone who is sensitive to solvent exposure.

Loot Studios Crystal Model
Loot Studios Crystal model
©3DWithUs – Print & Photo: Andrew Sink
Loot Studios Crystal Model - close look
Crystal model – close look

Printed using default settings on the Creality HALOT-ONE PLUS, the Aqua Blue resin was used to print the Crystal Formations from Loot Studios without any difficulty. These models have a clean and geometric appearance, with the edges being sharply defined and the smooth surfaces being free of defects.

Geralt of Rivea bust by Fotis Mint
Geralt of Rivea bust by Fotis Mint
©3DWithUs – Print & Photo: Andrew Sink

Printing larger models like the bust of Geralt of Rivea by Fotis Mint worked equally well, showing impressive levels of detail for an inexpensive resin.


General Settings for Anycubic Printers

Table: Printing Settings for Anycubic Machines
Printing Settings for Anycubic Machines
Image: Anycubic

HALOT BOX Slicer Settings for Anycubic Water Washable Resin

As indicated by the settings on the label, the Anycubic Water Washable resin has a wide working range of exposure times and print speeds. HALOT BOX, the slicer used with the Creality HALOT-ONE PLUS, uses a conservative per-layer exposure time of 3 seconds per layer and a 40 second base layer exposure time coupled with a .05mm layer thickness.

HALOT BOX Slicer Settings for Anycubic Water Washable Resin
HALOT BOX Slicer Settings for Anycubic Water Washable Resin
Screenshot: HALOT Box

The 6mm rising height allows for fresh resin to flow under the exposed layer and prepare the vat for a new layer to be cured. These settings are a good starting point for anyone interested in reducing print time by decreasing the exposure time or increasing the Z motor speed from these conservative numbers.

Where to Buy Anycubic Water Washable Resin

Anycubic Water Washable resin is available on Amazon in 1 kg bottles for $37 as well as 500 gram bottles for $22. The Water Washable resin is available in Aqua Blue, Black, Clear, Grey, and White. You can also purchase this resin directly from the Anycubic site.

3D Printed in Auqa Blue models
3D Printed in Auqa Blue models
©3DWithUs – Photo: Andrew Sink

The simple processing of the Anycubic Water Washable resin makes it an easy decision for users interested in post-processing their models without using harsh solvents like Isopropyl Alcohol. I was impressed with the level of detail captured using the Aqua Blue color, and the models have a clean appearance that is well suited for painting miniatures, models, and prototypes that don’t need any further post-processing or finishing.

Bottle of Resin and a Model
Amazon
Official Website – Offer: Get 3 for the price of 2

Read more: Best Wash and Cure Stations for Resin 3D Printing

Post-processing is a big part of 3D printing in resin, and additional equipment, like wash and UV cure stations, is needed. In recent years, these two separate units started coming as two-in-one stations. Similar to 3D printers, washing and curing stations saw a few improvements with time, which made them more efficient with a better user experience.

Category: Resin

Have a look at other reviews, guides, and articles related to resin 3D printing materials.



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