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Operating & Maintaining the Connex500/350 3-D Printer

7–64

 

DOC-13000 Rev. E

Cleaning the 

Exterior Panels

The

 

painted

 

exterior

 

plastic

 

panels

 

of

 

Connex

 

3

D

 

printers

 

have

 

a

 

durable

 

finish,

 

offering

 

excellent

 

chemical

 

resistance

 

to

 

common

 

cleaning

 

agents.

 

However,

 

follow

 

the

 

recommendations

 

below

 

when

 

cleaning

 

these

 

areas

 

of

 

the

 

printer.

Acceptable

 

Cleaning

 

Agents

mild

 

soap

 

solution

 

common

 

household

 

cleaners

 

and

 

window

 

cleaners

common

 

commercial

 

and

 

industrial

 

detergents,

 

5%

 

solution

 

in

 

water

 

alcohol

 

(ethanol,

 

isopropanol),

 

10%

 

to

 

40%

 

solution

 

in

 

water

Wipe

 

the

 

exterior

 

of

 

the

 

printer,

 

using

 

a

 

soft

 

cloth

 

moistened

 

with

 

the

 

cleaning

 

solution.

Unacceptable

 

Materials

industrial

 

solvents

 

cleaning

 

agents

 

containing

 

hydrocarbons,

 

ketones,

 

esters

 

and

 

lacquer

 

thinners

spray

 

disinfectants

abrasives

 

and

 

agents

 

which

 

could

 

wear

 

away

 

the

 

panel

 

finish

Summary of Contents for Connex350

Page 1: ...Shutting Down the Connex Printer 16 Maintaining the Connex Printer 18 Routine Maintenance Schedule 18 Cleaning the Print Heads 19 Pattern Test 21 Improving Print Quality 22 Cleaning and Replacing the...

Page 2: ...nex printer Figure 7 2 Main power cable and switch The main power switch turns on the Connex printer which includes the built in Connex computer Printer cover Printing materials storage compartment CA...

Page 3: ...ed on the printer computer for the application to open This key should be installed during printer installation If the application does not open and a HASP message appears contact your dealer or Objet...

Page 4: ...t to twist or turn it 3 Load model and support cartridges into their respective compartments the model cartridge on the right and the support cartridge on the left Note that the cartridges only fit in...

Page 5: ...e the printer mode changes from Idle to Pre print as the printer s components prepare themselves for production The print block is heated The UV lamps are powered and they warm up When printing begins...

Page 6: ...print job You can monitor printer status indicators by switching the printer interface display To do this click the display toggle button in the printer interface screen Figure 7 4 Connex printer indi...

Page 7: ...K Heads Vacuum The vacuum level in the system is within the acceptable range Red not suitable for printing or indicates a warning For example in figure 7 4 Waste The weight of the waste container is g...

Page 8: ...The specific activity being performed is shown in the current activity field Current job printing information is displayed The printing progress bar is displayed The Stop and Pause buttons are enable...

Page 9: ...6 Connex printer interface after interrupted printing Figure 7 7 Continue from Slice confirmation dialog box in server Job Manager interface 5 If for any reason the correct number does not appear in...

Page 10: ...erial Replacement wizard from the Options menu 2 In the opening screen click Next 3 If the printer cover is not closed a screen appears instructing you to close the cover Confirm that it is closed and...

Page 11: ...re replacing both model material cartridges and the printer will be loaded with two cartridges containing the same model material the Connex printer flushes the entire system and prepares for printing...

Page 12: ...using one model material This mode is required to produce build trays with the High Quality setting and to produce trays with the High Speed setting using only one model material Digital Material mod...

Page 13: ...r It is recommended because it can potentially save 25 to 75 percent of the material used to flush out the old material compared to the High Performance cycle Note however that there may be times when...

Page 14: ...ad new model cartridges After identifying the new cartridge s the Connex printer begins filling the print heads with the new model material Figure 7 15 Material replacement filling heads with new mate...

Page 15: ...field on the left of the interface see figures 7 3 7 4 and 7 5 on pages 3 6 and 8 If after printing a job you know that the printer will not be used for 10 hours or more you can immediately turn off t...

Page 16: ...hort shutdown procedure and a more thorough procedure Up to 10 days The wizard empties the print block of model and support material to prevent leaks This takes about 10 minutes More than 10 days The...

Page 17: ...n progress screen 5 When the final wizard screen appears close the printer control application and shut down the built in computer Figure 7 18 Final Shutdown Wizard screen 6 After the printer computer...

Page 18: ...the wiper See Cleaning and Replacing the Wiper on page 7 23 Weekly Restart the Connex printer computer and the server computer Weekly Clean the roller waste collector See Cleaning the Roller Waste Col...

Page 19: ...he work day or before a big printing job To clean the print heads 1 Prepare isopropanol IPA isopropyl alcohol or ethanol ethyl alcohol disposable cleaning gloves an Objet supplied cleaning cloth or eq...

Page 20: ...nd forth motion see figure 7 21 Use the mirror to make sure that you have removed all of the residue material Figure 7 21 Cleaning the heads 10 When you have finished cleaning select the confirmation...

Page 21: ...condition of the nozzles in the print heads Make sure therefore that you perform this test weekly and whenever you suspect a printing problem To perform the pattern test 1 Make sure that the build tra...

Page 22: ...21 If the results are poor use the following procedure to improve print quality If the results of the last pattern test are poor 1 From the Options menu select Execute Purge Sequence or press F4 2 In...

Page 23: ...t least once a week If the wiper is damaged or worn replace it To inspect and clean the wiper 1 Prepare isopropanol IPA isopropyl alcohol or ethanol ethyl alcohol disposable cleaning gloves an Objet s...

Page 24: ...d and the cleaning cloth remove any material remaining on the wiper and the surrounding area 9 Inspect the wiper If the wiper is scratched torn or worn or if you cannot clean it completely replace it...

Page 25: ...aste collector removes waste material scraped from the roller Suction removes this waste to the printer s waste container This assembly should be cleaned weekly to prevent a blockage in the tubes lead...

Page 26: ...ock and then pull and lift up the UV lamp 4 Loosen the two screws securing the suction tube on the print block Figure 7 31 Lifting the suction tube 5 Lift the suction tube to secure it in a raised pos...

Page 27: ...eaning gloves 2 Wet a cloth with isopropanol 3 Use the cloth to wet the bottom of the roller 4 Turn the roller slowly with your hand As the blade scrapes the roller make sure the isopropanol is spread...

Page 28: ...ng the Roller Scraper Knife You should replace the roller scraper blade after 1 000 hours of printing if it does not effectively keep the roller clean To replace the roller scraper 1 Prepare a new rol...

Page 29: ...roller scraper assembly Figure 7 37 Removing the roller scraper screws Figure 7 38 Removing the old roller scraper blade 5 Remove the scraper blade and discard it 6 Place the new scraper blade onto t...

Page 30: ...placing one or more heads if model quality is not acceptable even after cleaning the orifice plate on the bottom of the print block see Cleaning the Print Heads on page 7 19 The head alignment procedu...

Page 31: ...ing the transparency on the build tray 6 Make sure that the transparency sheet is lying flat and tape it to the tray 7 In the wizard screen select the check box to confirm that the transparency sheet...

Page 32: ...lines use a magnifying glass or loupe to inspect pairs of consecutive rows printed on the transparency to see where the vertical lines align Figure 7 44 Comparing rows of alignment lines Note It does...

Page 33: ...umbers the wizard adjusts the head alignment accordingly 12 Click Next to display the next head alignment screen and again select the number representing the most closely aligned vertical lines on the...

Page 34: ...ion possible You do this by running the Head Optimization wizard During the optimization process 32 samples are printed on the build tray After carefully weighing each of them you enter the weight in...

Page 35: ...g wizard screen click Next to begin The Wizard Conditions screen appears 4 Read the conditions select I Agree and click Next 5 Close the printer cover and confirm this in the wizard screen 6 In the fo...

Page 36: ...with a back and forth motion Figure 7 51 Cleaning the print heads Use the mirror to make sure that you have removed all of the residue material 12 When the print heads are clean select the confirmati...

Page 37: ...of each print head after inspecting each of the printed samples Figure 7 53 Weight Test Data Entry screen a Enter the number of faulty missing nozzles Faulty nozzles are seen in Weight Test samples a...

Page 38: ...ess Enter The data entry indicator moves to the next position d Repeat these steps for all 32 samples To change an entry click Edit Data enter the correct data and click Save 17 When you have entered...

Page 39: ...re 7 56 Defective print heads found 18 Choose Replace defective head s if you are prepared to replace the print heads now or Choose Abort wizard if you want to replace the print heads at another time...

Page 40: ...d consists of the following phases A Identifying the head s needing replacement This is normally done by the Head Optimization wizard Otherwise evidence of physical damage to the head surface or a mal...

Page 41: ...ion screen 5 Choose Replace faulty heads and click Next Preparing the print block 6 Select the print head s needing replacement and click Next Figure 7 58 Head selection screen The Connex printer heat...

Page 42: ...afety Figure 7 60 Replace the defective head when this screen appears Removing the Defective Head 9 On the print block release the upper and lower screws that secure the print head in the block If nec...

Page 43: ...print head driver card out of its socket so that the head is free A and remove it from the bottom of the print block B Figure 7 64 Releasing the print head driver card to remove the head 13 Make sure...

Page 44: ...of the new print head 14 Inspect the replacement head and make sure that the O ring seals are in place see figure 7 65 15 Gently insert the replacement head into the vacant slot in the print block an...

Page 45: ...the screws to lock it in place 18 Tighten the upper and lower screws that secure the print head in the print block see figure 7 61 on page 42 Note Hand tighten these screws Do not use a screwdriver 1...

Page 46: ...hem If there are no installation problems the Head Optimization procedure begins see Calibrating Print Heads on page 7 34 If a vacuum leakage is detected or if there are other problems the wizard aler...

Page 47: ...creens appear If the printer software does not sense the replaced head the following warning screen appears Figure 7 73 Incorrect installation screen If this happens a Open the print head compartment...

Page 48: ...page 7 42 b In the wizard screen select the check box to confirm that you have installed another print head and click Next c Contact your authorized Objet Customer Support center about the unformatted...

Page 49: ...evel is too low to be adjusted the wizard continues to the next phase the final wizard screen indicates that the lamp s radiation for the printing mode is unacceptable To test and calibrate UV lamp ra...

Page 50: ...esults are displayed This shows the current condition of the lamps after the wizard has calibrated them Figure 7 77 Results and current condition of the UV lamps 3 Cover the UV sensor and confirm this...

Page 51: ...e the load cells once a month with the Load Cell Calibration wizard To calibrate load cells 1 Start the Load Cell Calibration wizard From the Options menu of the printer interface see figure 7 26 on p...

Page 52: ...cells are calibrated 6 Click Done in the final wizard screen Figure 7 82 Final wizard screen Replacing the Odor Filter The Connex500 350 printer has an activated carbon filter for removing odors from...

Page 53: ...switch the printer to offline mode 2 Start the UV Lamp Replacement wizard From the Options menu of the printer interface see figure 7 26 on page 23 select Wizards UV Lamp Replacement 3 Make sure that...

Page 54: ...mp Figure 7 86 Disconnecting the UV lamp Note Do not disconnect the power connection to the cooling fans 6 Loosen the screw securing the UV lamp cover A and pull the cover up B then out C Figure 7 87...

Page 55: ...it in the new reflector as long as the black paint has not faded 9 Discard the old reflector and lamp 10 Insert the new UV lamp reflector unit into the housing next to the print block Figure 7 89 Prin...

Page 56: ...confirm that you have replaced the lamp s and that the black strip is attached then click Next Figure 7 92 UV installation confirmation screen The wizard operates the lamps and checks if their power i...

Page 57: ...e running the tests effects the operation of the printer you can only open the Built in Tests interface when the Connex system is not printing The test suite features The organization of printing rela...

Page 58: ...een you select and run tests and the results are displayed Figure 7 96 Built In Tests screen Test List Test Name This column lists all of the tests together with selection check boxes Click the check...

Page 59: ...uccessfully completed Test failed Unknown results The test has not been run yet All Click to select all of the tests in the list None Click to de select all of the tests in the list Unknown Click to s...

Page 60: ...ML file You can save any number of reports for the tests you run the name of the file saved is BITReport date time htm By default these files are saved in the Connex installation folder but you can sa...

Page 61: ...ace on disk Monitor resolution Failure of RAM memory allocation in the Eden computer Block Filling Analyzes the thermistor readings when the block is full and when it is empty Faulty thermistor Interl...

Page 62: ...replace the waste container You can monitor the weight of the waste container in the Maintenance screen of the printer interface You can also visually inspect the level of waste in the container To ac...

Page 63: ...o remove it from the printer 3 Place the new waste container next to the full container 4 Unscrew the cap securing the waste drain tube and connect it to the new container 5 Close the full container w...

Page 64: ...of the printer Acceptable Cleaning Agents mild soap solution common household cleaners and window cleaners common commercial and industrial detergents 5 solution in water alcohol ethanol isopropanol...

Page 65: ...DOC 13000 Rev E 8 1 Handling Printed Models Removing Models After Printing 2 Removing the Support Material 2 Storing Models 3...

Page 66: ...dels cool for several hours Removing the Support Material After printed models have cooled the support material must be removed This can be done by different methods depending on the size of the model...

Page 67: ...removed but it is typically between half an hour and several hours In any case you should remove as much support material as possible before the caustic soda treatment and rinse the model thoroughly w...

Page 68: ...Handling Printed Models 8 4 DOC 13000 Rev E...

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