3D Systems Viper Pro SLA iPro 8000, Quick Start Manual

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q u i c k s t a r t g u i d e g e l a n d d e b r i s f i l t e r i n g
46
Gel and Debris Filtering
Resin life is adversely affected by partially-polymerized material in the RDM, both in debris, such
as broken supports and crash remains, and in gel. In order to maintain the longest possible resin
life, the user should remove as much debris as possible, either continuously or periodically. Gel
should be kept apart from neighboring gel, to avoid viscosity increase.
Both debris, defined here as any solid material 0.015 in. or larger, and gel, or partially
polymerized material, are a continuum of sorts. Debris can be anything from broken supports to
the large scraped-off remains of a full-on blade crash. Gel continually forms, both in the bulk of
the RDM, and around debris that has settled to the bottom of the RDM. Gel may agglomerate into
larger masses, may gradually increase in molecular weight because of chain growth, and may or
may not settle to the bottom of the RDM, depending on the specific resin and the state of the gel.
Debris removal avoids some gel formation, although not all gel is related to larger debris. Gel can
be very difficult to actually remove, as it isn’t easily separated from viscous resin, is slippery, and
can clog filters and sieves.
Caution!
Do not leave debris in the machine and do not allow debris to bypass the debris-
catching device.
Gel must be kept apart from its neighboring gel, which requires continuous resin movement in the
RDM. When installed in the RDM, the resin should circulate continuously. When offline the
material does not circulate, nor does it need to. Circulation while online allows the resin to take up
oxygen from the RDM surface, improving resin life by keeping the RDM temperature uniform.