---
title: Bulk Mixing Materials & Equipment
slug: process/bulk-mixing-materials-equipment
description: Discover the materials and equipment required to support mixing Carbon's bulk resins.
docTags:
createdAt: 2024-07-04T00:58:26.750Z
---
# Materials
## Resin components
All Carbon two-part resins are made by combining two components: **Part A & Part B.**
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**Part A** is highly viscous, similar to honey. It contains photosensitive chemicals so it must be stored in an opaque container.
::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Process/Resin%20Mixing%20and%20Dispensing/Bulk-Mixing-Materials-and-Equipment/5L_can_RPU_70_PartA__DSC4053_530x689px.png" size="70" width="530" height="689" darkWidth="530" darkHeight="689" position="center" alt="RPU 70 Part A 5 L" showCaption="false"}
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**Part B** is lower viscosity than Part A, similar to vegetable oil. It can be stored in clear or translucent containers.
::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Process/Resin%20Mixing%20and%20Dispensing/Bulk-Mixing-Materials-and-Equipment/5L_can_RPU_70_PartB__DSC4058_v03_1.3_aspect_530x689px.png" size="70" width="530" height="689" darkWidth="530" darkHeight="689" position="center" alt="RPU 70 Part B 5 L" showCaption="false"}
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In some cases, other substances may be added to Part A or Part B. For example:
- [EPU 46 Soft](docId\:gwPcpLgV72H6vU9jVbCI4) requires **Huntsman Jeffamine D230** to be added to EPU 46 Part B.
- EPU 46 Color Base Part A requires pigment dispersions to be added to achieve the desired color.
## Downpacking
By their nature, bulk resins come in large packages and can be quite heavy to move by hand. Large drums and IBCs require equipment for safe transport. Additionally, Part B components are much less viscous (more watery) than Part A. So they will pour much faster and are more difficult to control when using larger containers. For these reasons, **downpacking **is recommended for large package volumes. Consider downpacking to 5 L, 3.6 L, or 1 L containers to dispense components much easier.
::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Process/Resin%20Mixing%20and%20Dispensing/Bulk-Mixing-Materials-and-Equipment/Downpacking-03.png" size="80" width="6052" height="3082" position="center" caption="Downpacking container examples" alt="Downpacking container examples" darkWidth="6052" darkHeight="3082" showCaption="true"}
**Container Size Considerations**
**Spouts - All Bulk Containers**
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- A **spout** can be useful for down-packing.
- Select a cap/spout for the container size that you use from your preferred industrial supply retailer.
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- If the spout contains **clear plastic housing**, this can lead to premature resin curing and can clog the spout and affect part quality.
- Cover the housing with duct tape, foil or another opaque material to protect the resin from light exposure.
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::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Process/Resin%20Mixing%20and%20Dispensing/Bulk-Mixing-Materials-and-Equipment/translucent-spout.png" size="60" width="2594" height="2475" position="center" alt="Cover clear housing" darkWidth="2594" darkHeight="2475" showCaption="false"}
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**Part A Considerations**
- The **Part A** component is light sensitive, so it must be stored in light-proof containers like **opaque amber Nalgenes.**
- Due to its high viscosity, **Part A **components are better suited to be stored in containers with **wide mouths.**
**Part B Considerations**
- **The Part B **component is not light sensitive, so it can be stored in any color PPE or HDPE bottle.
- Due to its low viscosity, **Part B **components work best with **narrow mouth bottles **in order to have better control of the material during pouring.
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Carbon recommends **immediately** down-packing **RPU 130 Part B** and **EPU 41 Part B** into **1 L bottles** to make handling easier, safer, and avoid “salt” formation.
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### Handling
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- Tipping mechanisms can be useful for drums if you use them frequently.
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## Pigments
EPU 46 Color Base Part A enables the creation of a wide range of custom colors. Coloration is achieved by mixing a range of pigments into Part A.
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Only validated pigments can be used for color creation. See [EPU 46 Color Mixing](docId:74h6IE6GvINCNbSCZ0r9l) for more information.
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# Equipment
## Mixer
The mixer is the main piece of equipment required for blending resin components.
These mixers are compatible with Carbon's two-part materials:
1. Vortex mixer
2. Overhead mixer
3. Planetary mixer
4. MMD (Meter Mix and Dispense)
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Go to [Two-Part Resin Dispensing](docId:0QvLFoNGogoxo_DwmyXz4) for general information about the strengths of each mixing option.
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## Calculator or computer
A calculator or computer is needed to calculate the correct amount of each component to measure out. Information such as the resin type, density of the resin and A\:B ratio by weight is required.
A computer gives access to the [Carbon Resin Mixing Calculator](docId\:eHr4Rn9ypf660IgJ3vPrp) which provides a user-friendly interface for calculating resin amounts.
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## Precision scale
A high precision scale **accurate to at least 0.2 g** is required.
- Consider maximum weight capacity for your printer/application
- Recommended option: **Cole-Parmer IBS-200-6H**
- Reasonably priced
- 0.2 g resolution
- 6,000 g capacity
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Reference [Accessories & Supplies](docId:95TwE3ttL-5ihI6dNl4XI) for purchasing link.
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When **mixing custom colors **(EPU 46 Color Base) a scale with an **accuracy **of **0.01 g **is required.
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## Production scale
For **high-volume production, **the **Sartorius PMA Vision** scale is an excellent option offering advanced features:
- Resin recipe storage
- On-demand recalculation in case of overpour
- Job and user tracking
- 0.1 g resolution
- 7,500 g capacity
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Reference [Accessories & Supplies](docId:95TwE3ttL-5ihI6dNl4XI) for purchasing link.
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::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Process/Resin%20Mixing%20and%20Dispensing/Bulk-Mixing-Materials-and-Equipment/sartorius_PMA_Vision.png" size="80" width="558" height="770" position="center" caption="Sartorius PMA Vision" alt="Sartorius PMA Vision" darkWidth="558" darkHeight="770" showCaption="true"}
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## Opaque Amber Nalgene
1 L and 5 L Nalgene bottles can be used to hold components purchased in higher volume packaging. This makes dispensing and storage easier.
Part A components must be stored in opaque containers to protect contents from exposure to light.
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## Plastic containers
Plastic containers (HDPE or polypropylene) can be used to store components purchased in higher-volume packaging.
- **Part B** components are not light sensitive so they can be stored in **clear or natural** containers.
- Due to the low viscosity of Part B, **narrow mouth** bottles are a good fit. The smaller opening makes it easier to pour accurately.
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**Part A contains photosensitive chemicals and so must be stored in opaque containers.**
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## Mixing containers
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) are used for the packaging of Carbon resins and are recommended to be used for mixing operations as well.
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::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Process/Resin%20Mixing%20and%20Dispensing/Bulk-Mixing-Materials-and-Equipment/Overhead_mixing_containers_02.png" size="90" width="1989" height="1989" position="center" caption="Various wide mouth containers for overhead mixer." alt="Various wide mouth containers for overhead mixer." darkWidth="1989" darkHeight="1989" showCaption="true"}
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::Image[]{src="https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Process/Resin%20Mixing%20and%20Dispensing/Bulk-Mixing-Materials-and-Equipment/paint-can_transparent.png" size="72" width="1589" height="1972" position="center" caption="Plastic paint can and lid for vortex mixer." alt="Plastic paint can and lid for vortex mixer." darkWidth="1589" darkHeight="1972" showCaption="true"}
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## Pipettes
Pipettes are used to dispense small amounts of components and pigment dispersions.
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## Silicone spatula
Spatulas are useful for capturing residual mixed resin left in mixing containers.
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## Blue paper towels
Standard disposable shop towels for cleaning up spills and smears.
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