Resin leak or torn film in the vat

Symptom

Resin appears under the vat, on the screen or inside the printer, or the film at the bottom has a hole, a cut or deep dents.

Likely causes, from most to least likely

1. The film is punctured, cut or badly worn: dents, cloudiness or loss of tension.
2. After replacing the film, the edges were not left clean or the screws were not tightened properly.
3. An accidental spill while handling the vat or removing the part.

Checks to tell which one it is

• Wearing gloves, empty the vat and look at the film against the light for holes, cuts or dents.
• To find pinholes, Phrozen suggests putting kitchen paper under the empty vat with a little alcohol inside and checking for wet spots; use a product your film's manufacturer allows.
• Check for resin on the screen, under the vat or inside the printer base.

Before you start

Uncured resin irritates skin and eyes: wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses, ventilate the room and do not look at the UV light. Before taking anything apart or cleaning it, switch the printer off and unplug it, unless a step says otherwise. If in any doubt, stop and ask a professional.

Step-by-step fix

1. Stop and unplug

   Cancel the print, turn off the printer and unplug it before cleaning. Put on nitrile gloves.

   Check: The printer has no power before you touch anything.

   If that does not fix it: If you cannot clean right away, do it as soon as possible: hardened resin is much harder to remove.

2. Empty the vat

   Take out the vat and pour the resin through a filter into an opaque container that protects it from light.

   Check: The vat is empty and the resin is stored in a closed opaque container.

   If that does not fix it: If the film is torn, do not refill that vat until it is replaced.

3. Clean the screen carefully

   First soak up the resin with paper. Then clean as your manufacturer indicates: Phrozen uses 95% alcohol wiped in one direction, while Prusa asks for dry paper only on the screen. For hardened resin, Phrozen covers it with alcohol-soaked paper and cling film for 12 to 24 hours. Never scrape with metal.

   Check: The screen is clean and not sticky.

   If that does not fix it: If the hardened resin will not come off or the screen is damaged, contact the manufacturer's support.

4. Check the inside

   If resin got into the base, open it following your manual and clean it with paper; Phrozen warns not to use alcohol on internal parts. If it reached the electronics board or the UV light, do not switch the printer on: take photos and contact support.

   Check: No resin is left inside and everything is dry.

   If that does not fix it: Contact the manufacturer's support before switching it on again.

5. Replace the film or the vat

   If the film has a hole, a cut or deep dents, replace it before printing again. When fitting it, leave the edges perfectly clean and tighten the screws in order without overdoing it; otherwise the vat will leak.

   Check: The film is taut and smooth and the leak test shows no spots.

   If that does not fix it: If it still leaks, replace the whole vat or contact support.

6. Check before printing again

   Leave paper with resin on it in the sun or under UV light until it hardens before throwing it away. Then re-level the build plate and run a dry print or the screen test to confirm the screen works.

   Check: The screen shows the complete image and the levelling is correct.

   If that does not fix it: Follow the LCD screen and UV light sheet.

Prevention

• Check the film against the light before every print and replace it if it is punctured, badly dented, cloudy or slack.
• Never scrape the screen with metal objects.
• If there is a spill, clean it straight away, before the resin hardens.

Still not fixed?

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Printers it applies to

Any resin (MSLA/SLA) 3D printer, from any brand.

Official sources

This guide summarises the official documentation linked here:

• Flooded/spilled resin (SL1) · Prusa Research
• FEP film replacement (SL1) · Prusa Research
• How to Minimize Damage After a Resin Spill · Phrozen
• When to Replace FEP Film · Phrozen