If you have failed prints in the vat of your 3D resin printer, it can be a hassle to drain, remove the print from the FEP sheet, and then refill the vat. There’s a better way.

As these videos on the YT channel TableFlip show, there are a number of methods for peeling the print from the vat without draining it.

If you have a vat cleaning function on your printer, all you have to do is sink an old print or supports into the vat (this will act as a handle) and turn on the cleaning function (with no build plate installed). This will create a thin mat at the bottom of the vat. Now, just peel up the mat using the “handle” you created and everything will peel cleanly out. Reinstall your build plate and go about your business.

If your machine does not have a vat cleaning function, you can create a .05mm mat in your slicer and print that (with build plate removed and a “handle” in the vat). Peel away.

If your printer has a full-size exposure test (as my Photon S does), you can run that to create the mat (again with the build plate removed and a “handle” in the vat).