Hey everyone! In this quick five-minute build video, I share my experience creating a DIY UV LED curing wand for resin printing. While working on a Pickle Rick model, I encountered a challenge with curing the resin inside a vent hole that I couldn’t reach with my standard curing station. Instead of spending an extra $30 on a specialized flashlight, I decided to DIY things.
Materials Needed:
For this project, you only need a few simple parts:
• UV LEDs: I recommend using 405 nanometer LEDs, which are perfect for resin curing. I opted for a 5mm LED, but smaller SMD chips are also available if you need a more compact solution.
• Resistor: I actually made a mistake in the video (which was pointed out by a nice viewer). What you use for V should be Vcc minus the voltage drop of the led. In my case the voltage drop for my led is 3.4 V. So 5 – 3.4V / 0.02 = 80 ohms, or (voltage – voltage drop) / I = R
• USB Cable: A sacrificed cable works best, but you can also grab an inexpensive one from the dollar store.
• Heat Shrink Tubing: This keeps everything neat and tidy.
Assembly Steps:
1. Solder the resistor and LED while ensuring the use of heat shrink tubing to protect the connections.
2. I wrapped the resistor to save space, making the final assembly compact enough to fit into tight spots.
3. After securing everything, I heated the tubing, and voilà!
I tested the LED for 30 seconds on my resin prints, and the results were surprisingly effective.
Thanks for watching. Take care, and see you next time!