Resin 3D printing has become increasingly accessible over the last few years, regardless of the specific technology. Be it laser SLA, DLP, or MSLA, all these 3D printers share the need for a so-called release film.
This key component in resin 3D printing acts as a translucent physical barrier between the liquid resin and the curing source. It must endure the high temperatures required for resin curing and also show good mechanical resistance, since any failure could lead to severe leakage in the machine.
In terms of material, many desktop resin printers use FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) films, a material known for its good chemical resistance and non-stick properties. It has somewhat become the standard for resin printing release films, although there are plenty of other suitable alternatives out there.
Release films for resin 3D printers degrade over time, meaning that they need replacing once in a while. Dents and scratches caused by your spatula can also result in your prints not curing properly in places and may affect final print quality. In this article, we’ll talk more about release films for resin printers and highlight some popular brands for when a replacement is required.
What to Look For
In a nutshell, release films for 3D printing are often made of Teflon-based polymers that are very similar to the PTFE plastic used for Bowden tubes. This is where the non-stick properties come from, and it’s relevant to resin printing since the just-cured layer must not adhere to the release film.
FEP films, in particular, aren’t exclusive to resin 3D printing. In fact, such films were already used for industrial molding applications for their non-stick surface and relative high-temperature resistance (up to 205 °C).
When looking for a release film replacement, make sure it’s made from a material that’s compatible with your 3D printer. Pay special attention to sheet dimensions, as most films come in pre-cut packages that would only fit a certain size resin vat.
Release films also come in different thicknesses. They usually range between 0.10 and 0.15 mm, so you need to find the compromise between good transparency (thinner) and mechanical resistance (thicker). Also note that the thickness of your film will dictate the thickness of the paper you need to use for leveling.
It’s probably a good idea to check the thickness of the stock film that came with your 3D printer, unless you’re experiencing issues like frequent tearing. In that case, it might be a good idea to try something thicker and therefore tougher.
In the next sections, we’ll go over several release film brands that are specifically designed for resin 3D printing. Most of them are FEP films and were selected due to their popularity and positive reviews.
Elegoo
The Elegoo Mars series printers are among the most popular resin 3D printers on the market today. The manufacturer uses the same release film for all its resin 3D printers, a 0.15-millimeter thick FEP film.
It’s one of the most popular brands at Amazon, with a 4.8 out of 5.0 review rating and many praising comments. The replacement films are shipped in packages of five units and each film comes with its own protective adhesive layer that’s removed prior to installation.
It’s worth noting that this release film is compatible with other similar machines, including some of the Anycubic series. Just be sure to check the dimensions of your 3D printer. For replacement instructions, check out Elegoo’s video tutorial.
- Dimensions: 200 x 140 mm
- Thickness: 0.15 mm
- Price: ~$5
Epax
Epax 3D specializes in resin 3D printing technology. It develops and commercializes desktop MSLA 3D printers in various technologies and sizes, from the smaller E6 to the large-format E10.
Epax is one of the few well-known brands that use non-FEP materials for release films. According to the company, it’s a Teflon-based material manufactured in Japan that offers a smoother surface and greater air permeability, which in turn reduces the vacuum force applied to the film during the printing process.
The nFEP film from Epax comes in two different sizes to match the company’s own 3D printers: 200 x 140 mm for the X1 and E6 family, and the bigger 290 x 210 mm for the larger vats of the E10/X10. The thickness is the same for all: 0.125 mm.
- Dimensions: 200 x 140 mm, 295 X 210 mm
- Thickness: 0.125 mm
- Price: ~$8 (200 x 140 mm), ~$25 (295 x 210 mm)
Anycubic
Anycubic is another company mostly known for the iconic SLA budget printers in the Photon series. The classic Anycubic Photon was one of the cheapest and most popular MSLA printers of all time and has paved the way for newer machines, including the Photon Zero and Mono X.
The release film for these machines is a 0.15-millimeter FEP film that’s sold by Anycubic in packages of two or five units. There are two different sizes: the standard 200 x 140 mm, which is compatible with most Photons (including the Mono), and the bigger 240 x 165 mm sheet specifically for the Mono X’s bigger vat.
It’s worth noting that Anycubic also sells the plates with the release film pre-attached for a quicker installation. Be aware that, in such cases, the plate will only be compatible with the particular 3D printer that’s advertised, and most likely won’t work with other machines.
- Dimensions: 200 x 140 mm, 240 x 165 mm
- Thickness: 0.15 mm
- Price: ~$7 (200 x 140 mm), ~$15 (240 x 165 mm)
The 3D Club
The 3D Club specializes in FEP film sheets for resin 3D printing. In fact, that’s actually all that’s sold. The FEP is made in the US and purchases on their website have free shipping included.
Interestingly enough, the sheet sizes are big enough for most if not all desktop SLA 3D printers at 280 x 200 mm – falling a little short of standard A4 paper size. The sheets are shipped in packages of 4 units and there are 4 different thicknesses available: 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 mm.
This might be a good alternative to manufacturers’ branded release films considering the comparatively low cost. Reviews at Amazon are mostly pretty good (4.5 out of 5.0), although some users complained about the packaging, which sometimes leads to damaging the sheets during shipment.
- Dimensions: 280 x 200 mm
- Thickness: 0.05-0.20 mm
- Price: ~$6
FEPshop
Okay, the name of this European shop is quite indicative of what it sells. Yet, the FEPshop is an online store that commercializes pretty much anything 3D printing-related, including a wide range of release films.
And we do mean wide: FEPshop stocks everything from branded release films by Phrozen, Wanhao, and Flashforge, to their own FEP material in various sizes and thicknesses. The FEP HD line is said to have superior optical properties and quality, being the “best material for 3D printing”, according to the website.
Sizes vary from pre-cut sheets in 140 x 200 mm and 200 x 260 mm to full A4-sized sheets (297 x 210 mm), bigger 380 x 260 mm sheets for larger 3D printers like the Phrozen Transform, and even massive rolls of 1,200 x 260 mm.
- Dimensions: Various sizes, from 140 x 200 mm sheets to 1,200 x 260 mm rolls
- Thickness: 0.05-0.20 mm
- Price: Prices vary by thickness and size
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