3D Systems sPro, User Manual

Page: 71 / 280

SLS p r o c e s s 7 1 P R E P A R E T O B U I L D
u s e r ’ s g u i d e v e r i f y i n g s u f f i c i e n t p o w d e r
Ve r i f y i n g S u f f i c i e n t Po wd e r
You need to make sure
the SLS system
feed
hopper contains
enough powder before
you start building. Do
this by checking the
status lights on the
feed hopper’s material sensors as described
below.
To verify sufficient powder before you
build
Open the SLS system's left side access door and
note the states of the upper and lower material
sensor lights on the feed hopper.
`
Sensor light ON: powder at or above the
sensor level
`
Sensor light OFF: powder below sensor level.
You can start a build if...
✓
both material sensor lights are ON, or,
✓
the lower sensor light is ON and the upper
sensor light is OFF.
When the upper material sensor stops sensing
powder, its light switches OFF and the SLS system
requests more powder from the IRS. If the IRS has
powder in its blender bin, it refills the feed
hopper and the upper material sensor light
switches ON again.
This automatic refill from the IRS only takes a few
minutes, so the upper material sensor light
should not stay OFF for long. If it does, this likely
indicates that the IRS blender is empty. (See
next.)
IF BOTH MATERIAL SENSOR LIGHTS ARE OFF...
You cannot start a build, because either...
`
The IRS blender bin is empty because the IPC
empty. Replace the IPC and load more virgin
powder in the IRS. See
Loading Virgin Powder
on page 167.
`
The powder inlet tube from the IRS is
clogged. See
IRS & IPC Troubleshooting on
page 172.
See Sinter Help for a
complete description of
upper and lower
material sensor light
states.
Sensor light
Lower sensor
Upper sensor
Feed hopper