Z402C System User Manual
Z Corporation
The Z402C System employs several techniques to quickly build parts. First, binder solution is applied
in a higher concentration around the edges of the part, creating a strong “shell” around the exterior of
the part. Within parts, the Z402C Printer builds an infrastructure by printing strong scaffolding within
part walls with a higher concentration of binder solution. The remaining interior areas are printed with
a lower saturation, which gives them stability, but prevents over saturation, which can lead to part
distortion.
Other interior areas
printed at lower
saturation
Interior infrastructure
printed at a higher saturation
Exterior walls printed at
higher saturation.
Figure 2: The Z402C System Shelling and Infrastructure Features
After printing, the part is removed from the powder bed, depowdered and dried. The part can then be
infiltrated with wax, resin, or other materials to increase strength and durability. You will have the part
in your hands and can start improving your design within the same day—usually within hours.
Because the powder layers support the structures being printed above, the Z402C System prints
parts without support structures and can print parts with complex geometries.
There are several important features of the Z402C System that will help you print the best parts for
your intended purpose.
Part Placement.
The System Software will automatically place the parts within the build box to
maximize build speed, the most important criteria for the majority of our users. The software
positions the parts with the smallest dimension in the z (vertical) axis. In addition to part placement,
the following other characteristics should be considered.
Strength.
The ultimate strength of the part will be somewhat affected by its orientation within the
build box. The part will be strongest along the y-axis and the x-axis and less strong along the z-axis.
This is because the cross sections are printed in continuous strips along the y or the “fast” axis
(the
print heads direction of travel)
, bands across the x or the “slow” axis
(the gantry direction of travel)
and laminated layers along the z-axis. (See figure 3 below.) This discussion only applies to
untreated parts; once parts are infiltrated, they uniformly take on the strength characteristics of the
infiltration material.
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