1. User Guide
  2. Operation
  3. Moving the Printer/Controller in Your Facility

Moving the Printer/Controller in Your Facility

If you are moving your Printer(s) and/or Controller(s) to another building, contact 3D Systems Service to schedule an uninstall/reinstall appointment. The Field Engineer will ensure that all components are uninstalled and packed up properly for safe travel.

If you are moving a Printer or Controller around in your own facility, you may do this without the assistance of 3D Systems. To ensure proper uninstallation and reinstallation, please follow the steps in this section. To skip the section on moving the Controller, click here.

Moving the Printer

Necessary Supplies

Item Quantity
19 mm open-end wrench 1
T-level 1
Measuring Tape or Ruler 1
Razor (to cut air line) 1
  1. Remove the print platform, resin tray, and material cartridge from the Printer. Ensure that the resin tray is in its garage and covered. Also ensure that you mark the resin tray and material cartridge in some way to link them to the Printer you are moving.
  2. Shut down the Printer by pressing the power button in the upper-right.
  1. Shut off the compressed air line going to this Printer.
  2. On the back of the Printer, unplug the power and Ethernet cables, and disconnect the air hose.
 unplug-power-ether-air.jpg
  1. Use a 19 mm open-ended wrench to loosen the locking nuts (1) on each of the four leveling feet (2). Use the same wrench to loosen the adjustment screws (3) and lift the leveling feet off the ground. Raise the leveling feet a little at a time around the Printer, so as to avoid one side of the Printer being significantly higher than the opposite side.
  2. Inspect the Printer to ensure there is no leaked material on the inside or outside. If there is, clean the Printer thoroughly.
  3. You can now wheel the Printer around your facility. This is best done with two people, to maintain the best control over the Printer while rolling.

WARNING: Take extra care when rolling the Printer over floor seams, up/down ramps, on/off an elevator, and over any other surface that is not smooth and flat. If loading in an elevator, remember that the Printer weighs 190.5 kg (420 lbs). Ensure your elevator is rated for that weight, plus the weights of those persons moving it.

   TIP: Place painter's tape across the upper and lower doors of the printer to prevent them from opening during movement throughout your facility. Painter's tape is recommended because it will not leave a sticky residue on the printer when removed.
raise leveling feet.jpg
  1. Review the Facility Requirements Guide to ensure that the space you wish to move the Printer to meets all the requirements.
  2. Move the Printer into the exact spot and orientation you desire. Let go of the Printer and ensure that it does not roll in any direction on its own. If it does, it means the floor is not level and that you will need to find another space for the Printer.
 FRG-thumb.jpg
  1. Use your 19 mm open-ended wrench to lower all leveling feet (2) to touch the ground. Measure the distance from the bottom of the caster plate to the floor (see below); you will need to raise the Printer until this distance is 8 cm (3.1 in) on all sides. To do this, go around the Printer and gradually turn each adjustment nut (3) and take a new measurement on each side's caster plate. Once you are at 8 cm on all four sides, tighten each locking nut (1) against the top of each caster.

raise-printer-8cm.jpg

raise leveling feet.jpg
  1. Put a T-level on the Resin Tray Chassis, as shown, ensuring that the Printer is level in both X and Y. If it is not:
    1. Measure around all four sides again to ensure the 8 cm distance from Step 10.
    2. Identify which sides of the Printer need to go up/down to bring all leveling bubbles to the center of the level, and adjust the leveling feet up/down accordingly.
 level-on-chassis.gif
  1. Ensure that the circuit the Printer is on can handle the Printer's electrical specs, as seen in the Facility Requirements Guide. Also, ensure that the network where your Printer is now set up is part of the same network as the Controller this Printer is tied to. Reconnect power and Ethernet.
 connect-power-ether.jpg
  1. Ensure that your facility's compressed air lines are shut off. If necessary, use a razor to perform a new cut on the end on the your air-supply line going to the Printer. This must be a flat, even cut to create a good seal once the line is connected to the Printer. Connect air-supply line to the Printer's compressed-air input: a 3/8 in., push-to-connect, bulkhead fitting.
connect-air.jpg
1/4" tubing with elbow adapter shown. Your setup may vary.

 
  1. Turn on your facility's compressed air. Open up the back, lower door of the Printer and check the regulator gauge to ensure that it reads 66 +/- 5 psi.
 pressuer-gauge.jpg
  1. Power the Printer on by pressing the power button on the top front. Ensure that:
    1. The Printer has an IP address - swipe left on the Printer's local display to view this.
    2. The Printer is connected to your Controller - On the Controller, view the status screen and ensure that the Printer's status is "ready."

local-ip-address.jpg

printer-status-ready.jpg
  1. Reinstall your resin tray, print platform, and material cartridge that you uninstalled in Step 4.

You are now ready to print with your relocated Printer. If you experience any issues, contact 3D Systems Service.

  

Moving the Controller

No special supplies are needed to move the Controller.

  1. Shut down the Controller by flipping the power switch on the back of the unit to the 0 position.
 ctrl power off.jpg
  1. Unplug power cord and Ethernet cable(s).
  2. You can now wheel the Controller around your facility.

    WARNING: Take extra care when rolling the Controller over floor seams, up/down ramps, on/off an elevator, and over any other surface that is not smooth and flat. If loading in an elevator, remember that the Controller weighs 98.5 kg (217.2 lbs). Ensure your elevator is rated for that weight, plus the weights of those persons moving it.

       TIP: Place painter's tape across the front door to prevent it from opening during movement throughout your facility. Painter's tape is recommended because it will not leave a sticky residue on the Controller when removed.
  3. You may use a 19 mm open-ended wrench to lower all leveling feet to the ground. This is not required, but will keep the Controller in place to prevent unwanted movement.
 ctrl-unplug-power-ether.jpg
  1. Review the Facility Requirements Guide to ensure that the space you wish to move the Controller to meets all the requirements.
  2. Move the Controller into the spot you desire. Let go of the Controller and ensure that it does not roll in any direction on its own. If it does, it means the floor is not level and that you will need to find another space for the Controller.
 FRG-thumb.jpg
  1. Plug power and Ethernet cable(s) back in and power the Controller on by flipping the power switch to the I position.
 ctrl-power-on.jpg
  1. Ensure the following:
    1. The Controller has an IP address. To do this, go to the Settings screen and check the Network Settings card to see if Port A has an IP address. If you have a dedicated LAN for your printers, ensure that Port B is also getting an IP address.
    2. The Controller is connected to all its printers. To do this, go to the Status screen and ensure that none of the printers shows as Disconnected.
    3. The Print Queue is correct. To do this, go to the Queue screen and review the different sections to see that all jobs are listed.

Your Controller is now ready to process new print jobs for your Modular Printers. If you experience any issues, contact 3D Systems Service.