THORLABS PTR306, User Manual

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PTR306 / PTR306B Recoaters with Linear Proof Testers Chapter 6: Controlling the PTR306/PTR306B
Page 16 TTN090913-D02
6. Turn the selection lever to the Inject position (lever horizontal) and screw in (turn clockwise) the syringe
screw until the inject end of travel point is reached. Note: If the syringe screw was fully unscrewed until it
spun freely, a slight forward pressure may initially be required to re-engage the threads.
7. Watch the injection port for signs of recoat material. Make sure to collect the recoat material as it comes
out of the mold injection port. Do not allow the recoat material to run down the face of the mold and under
the mold plate.
8. The above steps of filling and injecting the syringe must be repeated several times to fully displace air from
the system. Recoat material should run freely from the mold without bubbles. If bubbles are still present,
run additional fill-inject sequences. It may help to turn the recoat plunger back and forth several times during
the inject sequence in order to remove air trapped at the O-Ring seal. It is also sometimes helpful to fill the
syringe and then lift the left side of the unit such as to angle the syringe at an approximately 45° angle.
Leave the unit angled in this position for approximately 15 minutes. This will allow any air trapped in the
syringe to rise up towards the distribution valve so that it can be injected out.
9. Once the system runs free of air bubbles, clean the mold plates of any excess recoat material.
Automatic Injection System (PTR306)
The PTR306 comes with the automatic recoat injection pump fitted inside the unit. It is very important to remove all
air from this recoat injection system prior to performing a recoat. When operating the system for the first time, the
pump must be filled with recoat material and cleared of all air in the pump and tubing. In order to clear the inject
tube, recoat material must be injected out through the mold inject port and collected and disposed of. Make sure to
have cotton swabs and acetone or isopropyl alcohol available for this purpose prior to starting this procedure. The
Handset Controller is required to perform this procedure.
WARNING
Prior to handling the UV acrylate material, be sure to read the Material Safety Data Sheet provided in
Section 10.2. Also review the MSDS provided with your chosen cleaning solution.
To prime the recoat injection system:
1. Turn off power to the unit.
2. Remove the front plate by using the 3/32" Hex wrench provided in the tool kit to remove the four (4) black
socket-head cap screws located at the corners of the plate.
3. The recoat pump is located on the left side of the
device as shown in Figure 10. Unscrew the brown
recoat bottle located at the front of the pump and
remove by angling out through the front opening.
The red Fill tube will flex to allow removal.
4. For new systems, replace the empty recoat bottle
shipped with the unit with a new bottle of recoat
material. For systems that have previously been
run with recoat material, the recoat injection
system should be flushed clean prior to adding
new material.
5. Screw the new recoat bottle into place and replace
the front panel and the four (4) socket head cap
screws.
6. Ensure the Handset Controller is connected to the
unit.
7. Turn on power to the device and wait for the
system to initialize.
8. Execute five (5) Purge cycles (Tools:Purge on
Handset Controller). Each purge cycle will draw
100 microliters of recoat material from the bottom
of the recoat bottle through the red Fill tube and
inject material back into the top of the recoat bottle
through the green Purge tube (see Figure 11).
Figure 10 Recoat Bottle Access
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