ZPrinter
®
150 / ZPrinter 250 User Manual
ZPrinter 150 / ZPrinter 250 Overview
5
All Rights Reserved
11/1/12
When the part is finished printing, the user empties the Build Bed of most of the excess powder around and
on the part by vacuuming with the integrated vacuum system. This “gross depowdering” returns the pow-
der to the Feeder for reuse. After gross depowdering, the part is ready to be removed from the printer and
undergo “fine depowdering”. Fine powder removal consists of blowing off the remaining powder using com-
pressed air and brushing the part to loosen any powder. Fine powder removal is easily accomplished in the
separate Powder Recycling Station, or in another printer equipped with a Fine Powder Removal chamber.
You can evaluate the part as it is, or you can choose to post-process the part with infiltration products to
give it additional strength and durability. With the finished part in your hands, you can start improving or
modifying your design within the same day, and usually within hours.
1.5 Important Terms
Binder
- Solution that is dispensed through the HP11 print head and applied to the powder. The binder sat-
uration value will vary depending on the part geometry. The ZPrint software uses a default core and shell
saturation value that is suitable for most part geometries.
Build Bed
- The area in front of the Feeder where the part is printed. The platform of the Build Bed can be
raised or lowered using the appropriate command on the printer LCD menu. Before each build, the printer
fills the Build Bed with powder and then spreads a layer of powder to ensure the surface of the Build Bed is
completely smooth.
Build Chamber
- The interior of the printer that houses the Build Bed, Service Station, the Debris Separa-
tor, the Carriage, the Fast Axis assembly, the Vacuum Hose, and the Feeder.
Carriage
- Assembly that houses the Print Head and its Pogo Pin Connectors.
Consumables
- Powder-Binder-Infiltrant products that are available in a variety of systems for all of your
modeling needs. All consumables have been developed for the fastest printing speeds and lowest materi-
als costs.
Debris Separator
- Located in the Build Chamber. Its function is to prevent chunks or particles from going
back into the printer Feeder during any vacuuming operation.
Deck
- Area surrounding the Build Bed.
Depowder
- Process of removing excess powder from a newly printed part. First, there is the initial manual
“gross” powder removal process, which removes the bulk of the powder after the part has dried in the Build
Bed. After the initial powder removal, there is the fine-powder removal process - which cleans the part of all
remaining powder. Fine powder removal is easily accomplished in the separate Powder Recycling Station,
or in another printer equipped with a Fine Powder Removal chamber.
Feeder
- Printer component that stores powder. Powder that is vacuumed up after a build, or powder that
is manually emptied from the Build Bed, is recycled and returned to the Feeder for reuse.
Fast Axis
- Printer component that houses the Carriage and the Fast Axis rails that the Carriage moves
on. The Fast Axis moves on the Slow Axis rails which are housed beneath the Build Chamber Deck.
Infiltration
- Process of applying various post-processing products (resins, wax, epoxy, etc.) to fully
depowdered parts to give them specific properties such as strength and durability.
LCD
- Liquid Crystal Display.
Platform
- The metal plate in the Build Bed. The platform (or Build Platform) can be raised or lowered by
selecting the appropriate command on the printer LCD menu. The Build Platform is also removable for
ease of moving delicate parts to the Powder Recycling Station.
Pogo Pins
- Gold contact pins for the print head contacts. Clean the Pogo Pins with an alcohol swab
whenever a print head is removed, cleaned, or replaced.
Powder
- Very fine particles that are not bound together. Powder is spread layer by layer and saturated
with binder to create a solid object.
