<p>Brushed aluminum is a common bed surface for resin based printers. The aspect of the aluminum that is important to the print is the adhesion, hence the roughness of brushed aluminum. It has to be sufficient to hold the print in place, but not so extreme as to cause destruction on removal.</p>

<p>In the case of copper as a print surface, one would certainly want some mechanical adhesion in the form of surface roughness. You've not specified the forces that would be applied to the copper once cured. If you do not plan to manipulate the copper surface in an excessive manner, it's likely that it would adhere. It's also just as likely to pop free if the plate or surface is flexed. I've seen no reference online to copper coated print beds. This would lead me to believe that it was tested and rejected as suitable for 3D printing, but not necessarily unsuitable for your purposes.</p>

<p>This is one of those situations where testing is warranted and not particularly difficult to accomplish. You can purchase UV curing resin, build a tin to hold the copper surface and pour the expected layer thickness. Leave it in the sun and let nature's UV do the curing.</p>

<p>Consider if you have not yet done so to research safety practice for handling this substance. Wear gloves and eye protection, cover any exposed skin surfaces and have good ventilation.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-18T21:08:41.257Z
You're saying there is no research on copper build surfaces which implies that it doesn't work. Either it sticks too well, or doesn't stick at all.
user77232
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-18T21:23:09.193Z
Another consideration with copper is that it's much more expensive than aluminum and may have been suitable, but rejected due to cost.
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-19T10:58:29.037Z
Copper would not be a suitable print surface because it corrodes easily, and the oxides are mechanically weak. Aluminium forms a thin, but well sealed oxide.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-19T15:16:11.613Z
I'd expect that a copper plate covered in resin is going to remain corrosion free, or if the resin reacts with copper, corrode quickly!
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-20T06:19:24.150Z
Downsides of copper are: expensive compared to Aluminium, soft, and it's 3 times as dense.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-20T08:12:10.383Z
@SeanHoulihane are you saying that the print sticks to the oxide layer of the bed. That's why Aluminum is used?
user77232
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-20T08:16:48.970Z
Aluminium always forms an oxide layer, you only see pure metal for a few hours after it is cut. There will be lots of factors that mean it is a good-enough cheap build surface. Adhesion is a minor factor. There are many better surfaces.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-20T11:22:56.170Z
@SeanHoulihane, so will it stick to copper at all?
user77232
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-18T20:48:17.063Z
2019-07-18T20:48:17.063Z
fred_dot_u
<p>Do the properties of 3D printer resin allow it to stick to copper clad surfaces when cured? I am interested in turning my filament based 3D printer into a photo plotter with a laser that can cure a thin layer of resin coated onto a copper surface.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-18T20:20:58.080Z
why not try an FDM printer? Not sure how SLA ones work, but that should work with no modification.. just binder clip it to the bed and enter the appropriate offset.
kolosy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-18T21:06:28.240Z
FDM doesn't have the resolution that I need.
user77232
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-19T06:29:27.757Z
What resolution do you need? FDM can be pretty high.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-19T10:59:10.513Z
copper, or copper and FR4 mixed substrate?
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-19T13:53:57.953Z
I recommend in the strongest possible terms that you stick with standard photoresins used by PCboard houses.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-20T08:10:57.153Z
The part that I'm intending to mount has a 1.27mm ball grid spacing.
user77232
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-22T08:42:47.993Z
@AndrewMorton, This idea is just for the etching process. To create an etching mask for copper I chloride.
user77232
<resin>
Can the resin from Resin based 3D printers be used to make printed circuit boards?
user77232
# Can the resin from Resin based 3D printers be used to make printed circuit boards?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-18)

Do the properties of 3D printer resin allow it to stick to copper clad surfaces when cured? I am interested in turning my filament based 3D printer into a photo plotter with a laser that can cure a thin layer of resin coated onto a copper surface.

**Tags:** resin
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: why not try an FDM printer? Not sure how SLA ones work, but that should work with no modification.. just binder clip it to the bed and enter the appropriate offset.  
> **username_0**: FDM doesn't have the resolution that I need.  
> **username_2**: What resolution do you need? FDM can be pretty high.  
> **username_3**: copper, or copper and FR4 mixed substrate?  
> **username_4**: I recommend in the strongest possible terms that you stick with standard photoresins used by PCboard houses.  
> **username_0**: The part that I'm intending to mount has a 1.27mm ball grid spacing.  
> **username_0**: @AndrewMorton, This idea is just for the etching process. To create an etching mask for copper I chloride.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-07-18. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Brushed aluminum is a common bed surface for resin based printers. The aspect of the aluminum that is important to the print is the adhesion, hence the roughness of brushed aluminum. It has to be sufficient to hold the print in place, but not so extreme as to cause destruction on removal.

In the case of copper as a print surface, one would certainly want some mechanical adhesion in the form of surface roughness. You've not specified the forces that would be applied to the copper once cured. If you do not plan to manipulate the copper surface in an excessive manner, it's likely that it would adhere. It's also just as likely to pop free if the plate or surface is flexed. I've seen no reference online to copper coated print beds. This would lead me to believe that it was tested and rejected as suitable for 3D printing, but not necessarily unsuitable for your purposes.

This is one of those situations where testing is warranted and not particularly difficult to accomplish. You can purchase UV curing resin, build a tin to hold the copper surface and pour the expected layer thickness. Leave it in the sun and let nature's UV do the curing.

Consider if you have not yet done so to research safety practice for handling this substance. Wear gloves and eye protection, cover any exposed skin surfaces and have good ventilation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: You're saying there is no research on copper build surfaces which implies that it doesn't work. Either it sticks too well, or doesn't stick at all.  
> **username_5**: Another consideration with copper is that it's much more expensive than aluminum and may have been suitable, but rejected due to cost.  
> **username_3**: Copper would not be a suitable print surface because it corrodes easily, and the oxides are mechanically weak. Aluminium forms a thin, but well sealed oxide.  
> **username_5**: I'd expect that a copper plate covered in resin is going to remain corrosion free, or if the resin reacts with copper, corrode quickly!  
> **username_6**: Downsides of copper are: expensive compared to Aluminium, soft, and it's 3 times as dense.  
> **username_0**: @SeanHoulihane are you saying that the print sticks to the oxide layer of the bed. That's why Aluminum is used?  
> **username_3**: Aluminium always forms an oxide layer, you only see pure metal for a few hours after it is cut. There will be lots of factors that mean it is a good-enough cheap build surface. Adhesion is a minor factor. There are many better surfaces.  
> **username_0**: @SeanHoulihane, so will it stick to copper at all?  

---

