In the UniFormation Maker Stories Challenge, we received a thoughtful submission from Nico Seeleib, a seasoned 3D printing enthusiast who’s been resin printing since 2020.
His story isn’t just about perfect prints — it’s about perseverance, problem-solving, and rediscovering trust in his tools.
After weeks of failed attempts and technical troubleshooting, Nico realized the truth: the issue wasn’t the printer, it was the slicer. The GKTwo remained rock-solid, proving once again that precision engineering pays off.
Nico’s journey reminds every maker that frustration often hides the best lessons. His experience speaks to every creator who’s ever struggled through failed prints — reminding us all to stay curious, stay patient, and keep making.
Let’s take a closer look at his story.
Nico Seeleib's Story:
I’ve been resin printing since 2020, and in March 2024 I treated myself to a Uniformation 3D Printer GKTwo for my birthday - easily the best resin printer I’ve owned. Never failed, delivered astonishing results and no matter, which resin I used, it always renders amazing results.
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A few weeks ago I was cranking through an ultra-hard industrial resin with high viscosity for a custom part, basically a low-profile take on those server-rack cam locks with the classic O-key. Space was tight, so I modeled my own version, printed it on the GKTwo, and it clicked into place perfectly. Then the printer had a short break.
Two weeks later I switched gears to minis for my D&D campaign. Usual routine: open slicer, lay out models, send the job. But suddenly nothing would stick to the build plate. First layers clung to the nFEP with fuzzy, frayed edges, while VAT cleaning still produced a solid cleaning layer. I went down the rabbit hole—re-leveled Z (multiple times), deep-cleaned and lightly scuffed the plate, mixed and checked the resin, verified exposure, bottom layers, lift distances and speeds in the slicer, inspected the nFEP for clouding or damage. The doubt crept in… unfairly, as it turns out. I even swapped my unit for an identical GKTwo from my brother-in-law just to rule out hardware. Same result.
The latest firmware dropped with official, pre-sliced calibration files, so I printed those as a last test - and they worked flawlessly. Back to my own files: still failing. That’s when the penny dropped, real hard, after 2 weeks of continuous issues and frustrations. I switched to a different slicer, used default exposure and lift parameters, exported fresh files, and – boom – perfect adhesion and gorgeous surfaces again. The exposure settings resulted in some broken supports and failures. In total. the culprit wasn’t the printer; it was my slicer.
Paying hundreds of dollars per year and an update of the software cost me precious time…
Moral of the story: don’t blame the machine too fast. My Uniformation Printer has been rock-solid from day one. Whether it’s high-res detail work or thick, technical resins with serious viscosity and strength, it just delivers. I’m still absolutely thrilled with this printer - this little odyssey was on me, not on the GKTwo.
What made me choose UniFormation?
at the time in 2023/2024 it was straight away THE best resin printer when choosing my new setup. Also the heating system was a mayor reason, as this made it possible to print during winter seasons as well.
How has 3d printing influenced your life, work, or hobbies?
I made it from an unknow guy so a somewhat KOC. I have several years of experience, launched my own shop for supplies and am testing and developing new devices all over the globe.