Operation
The following sections will guide you through:
- Touch Screen Interface
- Preparing and Installing the Resin Tray
- Preparing and Installing the Print Platform
- Beginning a Print Job
- Changing the Air Filter and Carbon Filter
Touch Screen Overview
The NextDent 5100 has a touch-screen-based Graphical User Interface (GUI), which is used to control the actions of the printer and adjust printer settings. Please use the following guidelines when using the GUI.
- The touchscreen is a 4.3” LCD PCAP Capacitive Touch Screen, meaning that it registers an input whenever something holding an electric charge (like fingers) touches it. Touch input has been tested to work with lab-quality, powder-free gloves; however, you should ensure that you do not touch the screen if you have recently handled uncured resin or partially cured printed parts. This is to keep the complete functionality of the screen intact and to not contaminate it.
- If resin does get on the screen, clean immediately with >90% alcohol solvent and a nonabrasive cloth.
- To wipe fingerprints off the touch screen, use a microfiber cloth.
- Do not attempt to remove the touch screen or its casing from the printer.
- If the touch screen becomes damaged to the point of not functioning properly, cease printing and contact 3D Systems' Service.
The GUI has three tabs with different functionality:
- Status
- Queue
- Material
- Settings
Status Tab
When you have print jobs in your 3D Sprint print queue and there is a material type loaded in the printer's memory, the status screen will look like this:
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First Time Turning Printer On
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Queue Tab
The Queue Tab allows you to view the print queue, which shows the current print job and all pending print jobs. It also allows you to move and delete queue items. The default queue screen will simply show a list of jobs. Hold down on a job to bring up the queue-controls seen below.
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Material Tab
The Material Tab contains information on the material that is currently loaded in the system for printing, and also allows you to change the material you wish to print with. However, you do not have to use this screen to change materials, as the printing process gives you the opportunity to do so. The printer will keep track of how much material is left in each bottle of material that has been scanned to the machine. It will also keep track of the expiration dates of your materials.
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Settings Tab
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Network Settings
Tap the IP address on the Settings screen to enter the Network Settings screen.
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Network Diagnostics
If you experience network-connection issues with your printer, you can go to Settings > Network Diagnostics to view a screen with basic connection information. The screen shows which networks the printer is currently connected to. A blue dot next to the network indicates a regular connection, while a red dot indicates a connection issue.
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Proxy
If you your printer to connect to the internet via a proxy server, you can go to Settings > Network Settings > Proxy. The screen has fields you will need to fill in with your proxy server information.
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Firmware Updates
There are two ways to update the printer firmware:
- Update Installer
- Through the 3D Sprint interface
The following sections describe these processes.
Update Printer Firmware via Update Installer
Whenever a new firmware file is released for the printer, a desktop installation file will be posted in the Software Downloads section of the printer website. Follow the instructions below to download and install this update.
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NOTE: Both your personal computer and the printer must be on the same network to update the printer's firmware using this method. The update cannot be installed during printing. |
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CAUTION: For users on firmware 1.1.1, it is recommended to instead update firmware via 3D Sprint. |
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| Your firmware has successfully been updated! |
Update Printer Firmware via 3D Sprint
Whenever you open 3D Sprint, as long as the NextDent 5100 is set as your default printer, the system will always check to see if your printer has the most up-to-date firmware. If the firmware is not up-to-date, Sprint will show you a popup prompt to update it. Click the button to update. If you choose to update the firmware at a later date, please close the popup and follow the instructions below when you are ready to update.
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NOTE: You must be running >3D Sprint 2.13 to use this update method. Both your 3D Sprint computer and the printer must be on the same network to update the printer's firmware using this method. The update cannot be installed during printing. |
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CAUTION: For users on firmware 1.0, it is recommended to instead update firmware via the Update Installer. |
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Prepare and Install the Resin Tray
Resin Tray Guidelines
The membrane contained within each resin tray is the most fragile component of the NextDent 5100 Printer. It must be handled with care. Follow all resin-tray guidelines and procedures to avoid membrane damage and failure.
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HARMFUL IRRITANT WARNING: Wear protective clothing, disposable nitrile gloves, and goggles while handling the resin tray. |
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CAUTION: If a leak/spill occurs, do not run the machine. UV curing will harden the resin on unwanted surfaces and will make the resin very hard to remove. A nonabrasive cloth and >90% alcohol solvent will help clean up any spilled uncured resin. |
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CAUTION: Failure to clean the resin tray of partially cured resin will lead to membrane failure and failed prints. |
- Expected lifetime of the resin tray is around 900 builds.
- Do not apply pressure to the membrane. Deformations form easily and permanently, and may lead to membrane failure and degradation of print quality. Never touch the membrane with sharp objects.
- Do not touch the membrane with bare skin. Skin oils may cause print-quality degradation.
- Always verify that all printed parts and supports have been accounted for after a build. Be sure to inspect the resin tray for partially cured material. Cured material (also called green material) that is clear, or tiny bits of cured material may not be visible to the naked eye. If you suspect that partially cured material might be present in the tray, you must clean the tray before building again.
- Do not allow the resin tray to run out of print material during a print, as this will result in build failure. Do not add resin during part building. Resin in the bottle will be a different temperature than resin in the tray during building. This may cause undesirable build quality and/or build failure.
- With thorough cleaning of the resin tray in between builds, it is possible to use different resins in the same resin tray (not at the same time). Please see the section Resin Tray Resin Cross-Usage for information on which resins may share a single resin tray. Do not mix two or more types of resin in the resin tray. Doing so will cause both materials to become ineffective.
- Avoid transporting a resin tray that is filled with resin so as to avoid spills. Always carry resin tray with both hands to help ensure that it does not drop on the floor. Any damage to the resin tray would mean that the resin tray needs to be replaced.
- Do not move the printer while there is a resin tray inside that is filled with resin. Even moving the printer a few inches with resin inside can cause a resin spill.
- Uncovered resin trays should not be left outside the NextDent 5100 Printer when containing any amount of print material. Material will cure when exposed to ambient light. Cured material is extremely difficult to remove from the resin-tray membrane without causing damage. If you store a resin tray containing material outside the printer, use the resin-tray garage and store the tray in a cool, dark place.
- Resin overflow from the resin tray will be channeled into the catch tray. Discard the resin in the catch tray according to all government regulations.
- Never pour resin from the resin tray back into its bottle, nor into any container of common material. Failure to follow this guideline risks contamination, and/or improper mixture, of print material in the bottle.
- Always ensure the resin tray is clean of uncured liquid resin and partially cured bits before each print.
- Always ensure that the resin tray is not damaged in any way, particularly on the membrane. Tray damage could cause build failure and/or resin leakage. Resin-tray damage can be: membrane puncture, dent, scratch or discoloration.
Install Resin Tray
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NOTE: A print platform should not be installed during this procedure. |
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CAUTION: If tension system is damaged in some way, do not attempt to force any components to engage/disengage. Doing so could further damage the tension system, as well as other parts of the printer. Contact 3D Systems Service immediately. |
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Wear 100% nitrile gloves whenever reaching inside the print chamber. |
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Add/Change Material and Scan Bottle
Once a material type has been loaded, this is the material that the printer is expecting for the next print job. But you may wish to change the type of resin you are using. Most of the time, you will be changing the material as part of the printing process. However, you can also tap the Change Material button at the bottom of the Material tab home screen to change the material type to be used on your next print. You can also use this screen to add print material for the first time. If you have not yet activated your printer, you must do so in order to get through the following steps. Please see the section Printer Activation for more information.
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NOTE: The screens in this section will be slightly different depending on whether you are changing the material type or adding material for the first time. |
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You are now ready to perform the print process with a new material.
Resin Tray Material Cross-Usage
You may clean the resin tray with >90% alcohol solvent between builds, enabling you to use different print materials in the same resin tray (not at the same time). However, ensure that the cleaning is very thorough when switching between materials, as residual material in the tray will mix with the new material and create an improper mixture.
Mixing, Stirring, and Curing Chart
Before pouring any NextDent print material in the resin tray, you must mix the material bottle according to the chart below. Before printing again with those materials, you must stir the material in the resin tray using the Resin Mixer. Stirring the material in the resin tray serves two purposes: 1. Ensuring a good material mixture; and, 2. Ensuring there is not debris in the resin tray, such as partially cured particulates.
Resin Stirring and Curing Chart
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CAUTION: Failure to sufficiently mix print materials according to this chart may result in color deviation and/or print failure. |
The chart below serves as a quick reference for material-bottle mixing time on the NextDent LC-3DMixer, bottle hand-mixing time, material stirring time when material is in the resin tray, and part-curing time in the LC-3DPrint Box. For hand-mixing, shake the bottle vigorously in an up and down motion.
For part-washing times, these are identical for all NextDent materials. The first part bath should be three minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner with >90% alcohol solvent. The solvent may have been used to clean other parts for this first bath. The second part bath should be two minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner with clean >90% alcohol solvent. The solvent may NOT have been used to clean other parts.
As for part-drying times, these can vary depending on your drying method. Please see the section Part Drying for more information.
| Name | Bottle Shaking Time Before Mixer Use (*see note below) | Bottle Mixing Time Required (LC-3DMixer) | Stirring Time Required (in resin tray) | Curing Time in LC-3DPrint Box | ||
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| Brand-new bottle | After first use (**see note below) | In tray less than 3 hrs | In tray more than 3 hrs | |||
| NextDent® Surgical Guide | 5 min. - may be done instead of using LC-3DMixer | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 10 secs. | 30 secs. | 10 min. |
| NextDent® Ortho IBT | 5 min. - may be done instead of using LC-3DMixer | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 10 secs. | 30 secs. | 10 min. |
| NextDent® Ortho Rigid | 5 min. - may be done instead of using LC-3DMixer | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 10 secs. | 30 secs. | 10 min. |
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NextDent® C&B MFH (Micro Filled Hybrid) |
5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 2.5 hrs. | 1 hr. | 60 secs. | 60 secs. | 30 min. |
| NextDent® Crowntec | Briefly shake before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 60 secs. | 60 secs. | 30 min. |
| NextDent® Denture 3D+ | 5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 2.5 hrs. | 1 hr. | 30 secs. | 60 secs. | 30 min. |
| NextDent® Try-In | 5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 2.5 hrs. | 1 hr. | 30 secs. | 60 secs. | 20 min. |
| NextDent® Model 2.0 | 5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 2.5 hrs. | 1 hr. | 30 secs. | 60 secs. | 10 min. |
| NextDent® Tray | 5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 2.5 hrs. | 1 hr. | 30 secs. | 60 secs. | 10 min. |
| NextDent® Gingiva Mask | 5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 2.5 hrs. | 1 hr. | 30 secs. | 60 secs. | 10 min. |
| NextDent® Cast | 5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 2.5 hrs. | 1 hr. | 30 secs. | 60 secs. | 5 min. |
| NextDent® Ortho Flex | 5 min. before each use, whether "brand new" or "after first use" | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 5 min. - may be done instead of hand mixing | 30 secs. | 60 secs. | 30 min. |
*Pre-shaking by hand
For best printing results, most NextDent print materials require that you pre-shake the bottle by hand before placing it on the LC-3DMixer for the specified time. This is to ensure that sediment thoroughly mixes with the rest of the material.
**Considerations for material that has been sitting, unused, for over 1 month
If you have a material bottle like this, simply treat it like a new bottle and mix it for the time specified in the "Brand-new bottle" column in the above chart.
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NOTE: Ensure that you place the build in your UV curing oven in the same orientation it was printed in, as if the bottom of the oven is the print platform. |
Fill Resin Tray With Material
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HARMFUL IRRITANT WARNING: Always handle the resin tray with care, even if you believe there is no material in it. wearing contact lenses when handing a resin tray filled with material is not recommended. Wear 100% nitrile gloves when handling the resin tray, even if you believe there is no material in it. Be careful not to pour material outside the resin tray, or to allow material to splash outside the resin tray. Liquid material has the potential to damage electrical equipment, particularly in the lower part of the printer. |
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TIP: You may choose to hold the material bottle with two hands, just in case it slips out of one hand, so that you do not drop the material bottle. |
Mixing Old and New Materials
NextDent materials are assigned a "lot number" when they are manufactured. This number can be found on your bottle of material.
Biocompatible Materials
For biocompatible materials, those that are CE certified as a medical device, you can NOT mix materials that come from two different lot numbers, even if they are the same material type. Doing so will compromise the ability of 3D Systems to reconcile any issues that might arise with these materials. Biocompatible materials currently include: Surgical Guide (SG), C&B MFH, Ortho IBT, Ortho Rigid, Tray, Denture 3D+, and Try-In.
Non-biocompatible Materials
For non-biocompatible materials, those that are not CE certified as a medical device, it is permissible to mix materials from different lot numbers. These materials are not registered and do not have the same restriction. Non-biocompatible materials include: Model 2.0, Cast, and Gingiva Mask.
Fill the Resin Tray
Before filling the resin tray, you should have completed the steps in the section Add/Change Material and Scan Bottle. If you have not done so, do so now.
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CAUTION: Failure to properly switch materials will result in reduced reactivity of the new material, even when only very small amounts of different material(s) are mixed in. This will result in build failure and wasted material. |
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Keep in mind that the largest possible build on the printer consumes around 200 mL (6.8 fl. oz.) of material.
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Mixing Material in the Resin Tray
Resin that is left in the resin tray between builds needs to be stirred periodically. In this case, you would use the resin mixer to stir the resin, as seen below. Refer to the Resin Stirring and Curing Chart for information on stirring materials.
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CAUTION: Failure to sufficiently mix resins before each build may result in color deviation and/or print failure. |
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CAUTION: Ensure that the comb is clean before each use. To clean the comb, wipe it with a nonabrasive cloth and the recommended solvent. |
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CAUTION: Putting too much pressure on the resin-tray film can dent or puncture the film, rendering the tray unusable. The film cannot be replaced by itself; if the film is damaged, the whole resin tray must be replaced. |
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CAUTION: Puncturing the resin tray will force a full tray's worth of print material into the catch tray. Use extra caution when handling a full catch tray. |
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CAUTION: If the resin tray gets punctured, discard it in the same way you would other materials that have been in contact with liquid resin. |
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CAUTION: Take care not to slosh resin out of the resin tray while stirring. If this happens, you will have to clean the parts of the printer that the resin got on. |
- Repeat the stirring process as indicated by the Resin Stirring and Curing Chart.
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CAUTION: Be sure to clean the resin mixer with >90% alcohol solvent between uses. Failure to do so risks mixing unstirred resin or different resin in with material currently in the resin tray. |
Prepare and Install the Print Platform
Print Platform Guidelines
Print platforms should be treated with care in order to preserve their shape and coating. Avoid dropping print platforms. Print platforms should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected after every use to ensure print adhesion, to ensure that two different resins do not mix, and to avoid resin-tray membrane damage.
- Remove and post-process the printed part and the print platform either together or separately, according to your purposes.
- Once the printed part is separated from the platform, follow the instructions in the section Clean Print Platform before reusing the platform.
- Inspect the following areas for cured resin. If cured resin is present, remove using the included Platform Scraper.
- Elevator guides
- Print surface - underside of print platform
- Print surface holes
- Verify flatness of the print platform. Ensure the platform has not become concave, convex, or scratched to the point of making a groove. To check this, follow the procedure in the section Check Print-Platform Level. If the platform is damaged, as discussed or otherwise, dispose of the platform. The user is responsible for determining the integrity of the print platform before using it to print.
- Always handle the print platform with two hands, so as to prevent dropping it on the ground. A drop could cause damage to the platform, as well as get debris on it, which could contaminate the resin in the resin tray.
- Contaminants such as dust, oils from the skin, or cured print material can cause poor print adhesion and/or resin contamination. Even if it appears there is no contamination, clear resins, or small bits of cured material may not be easily spotted by the naked eye. Because of all these factors, clean the platform as well as possible in between builds and always wear 100% nitrile gloves when handling the print platform.
- Never attempt to move the elevator arms by hand. The elevator should only be operated via the printer's GUI.
Install Print Platform
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Always wear 100% nitrile gloves when handling the print Platform. |
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CAUTION: The printer will operate without a print platform installed. Ensure you install it before every print. |
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CAUTION: Do not leave the printer lid open for an extended time. Leaving the lid open will allow light to cure the material inside and will also allow dust/contaminates in. |
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Start Printing
Prepare Build File in 3D Sprint
Before printing can begin, you must prepare a 3D model in 3D Sprint, slice the file, and export the sliced file to the printer. When in the 3D Sprint Software, you can click the 
icon, or press F1, for full software instructions. If you do not wish the print job over your network, please follow the steps in the section Submit Build File via USB.
Printing for the First Time
If you are building for the first time on the printer, the Quick-Start Guide will walk you through running a verification build to ensure the printer is functioning normally. It is highly recommended to print this part before attempting any other builds on the printer. This build is not meant to test the printed parts for accuracy. To test accuracy, please follow the instructions in the section Accuracy Wizard.
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CAUTION: Do not run this test print without resin in the resin tray. It is necessary to print the part and observe part quality to ensure that the test print was a success. |
Print Process
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Submit Build File via USB
If you do not want to submit your build file over a network, you may save the build file to a USB drive and upload it to the printer. This section assumes you have prepared the build file in 3D Sprint and transferred the file to a USB device.
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NOTE: The printer only accepts USB drives formatted in FAT32 or NTFS. If you experience issues with the printer reading your USB device, you can troubleshoot by turning the power switch on the back of the printer off, and then on again. If you continue to experience issues, contact your reseller. |
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Submit Build File via Network
One way to submit your build file to the printer is over your network via 3D Sprint. This section summarizes the process. For full 3D Sprint instructions, see the 3D Sprint Help Menu.
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Change Material Before Printing
If the print job sent over from 3D Sprint uses a different print material than that loaded on the printer, one of two screens will pop up, prompting you to take certain actions:
Pending Job Requires a Different Material - Materials Compatible
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When you see this screen, it means that the material currently loaded on the printer is not the same material that was sent over in the build file AND that the new material and the old material ARE compatible with the same resin tray, according to the section Resin Tray Material Cross-Usage.You must now:
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Pending Job Requires a Different Material - Materials NOT Compatible
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When you see this screen, it means that the material currently loaded on the printer is not the same material that was sent over in the build file AND that the new material and the old material are NOT compatible with the same resin tray, according to the section Resin Tray Material Cross-Usage.You must now:
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QR Code Override
When you scan a bottle's QR code, there could be an error in reading the code itself. You should contact 3D Systems Customer Service to let them know you have a faulty QR code on your bottle. However, it is possible to continue printing for a limited number of builds by overriding the QR code requirement. This section describes how to access QR code override.
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Abort a Print Job
There are two ways that you may abort the print job:
- Trip a printer sensor during a print.
- Tap the Abort button on the touch screen:
Safety Sensor is Tripped
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The printer has three safety sensors that, when tripped, will abort the current print job without warning. In any of these cases, you will see the screen at the right and the elevator will move to the offload position.
One of the three sensors might also trip just after you press the Start Job button in Step 5 of the section Start Printing. This will abort the pending job and you will see the screen below:
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Tap "Abort" Button
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Change Air Filter
| Frequency: | Every 3 months, or when prompted by touch screen |
The air filter is located on the back of the lower build chamber. A fan inside the printer pulls air in to cool off the printer components. This filter keeps contaminants out of the air being pulled in. If the filter gets resin on it, it must be replaced IMMEDIATELY.
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CAUTION: If you need to move the printer to perform this procedure, you must remove the resin tray and place it in its garage before beginning. Also, you will need to lift all leveling feet to move the printer and will need to re-level the printer once this procedure is done. |
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CAUTION: Failure to change the filter when prompted could lead to a clogged filter, which would block the cooling fan from taking in air. This could cause printer parts to overheat and fail. Similarly, installing a damaged or used air filter may result in overhearing or debris getting in the lower print chamber. |
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Change Carbon Filter
| Frequency: | Every 6 months, or when prompted by touch screen |
The carbon filter located on the back of the upper build chamber, must be replaced every three months. If the filter gets resin on it, it must be replaced IMMEDIATELY.
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CAUTION: If you need to move the printer to perform this procedure, you must remove the resin tray and place it in its garage before beginning. Also, you will need to lift all leveling feet to move the printer and will need to re-level the printer once this procedure is done. |
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CAUTION: Failure to change the filter when prompted could lead to a clogged filter, which would trap noxious fumes in the print chamber. Upon opening the printer, these fumes could be very potent. Failure to change the filter could also result in a loss of positive pressure in the print chamber, causing it to lose it's "clean-room-like" properties. Do not run the printer without a carbon filter installed. |
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When Printer is Idle / Sleep Mode
When the printer is idle, be mindful of the following:
- Be sure to keep the printer lid closed to keep out dust and other debris, as well as to keep any fumes inside the printer.
- After a time, the printer will go into Sleep Mode: the touch screen will turn off, while the printer will remain turned on. You can wake up the screen by touching it.
NOTE: The screen the printer fell asleep on will still be present, and will still register a button press if a button is active on the screen. It is recommended to touch the screen at the top when waking it up, since the buttons at the top are simply menu buttons, and accidental presses will not perform critical actions.
Running a Resin Tray Cleaning
Any time you experience a failed build, there will more than likely be partially cured resin either floating in the resin tray or stuck to the resin-tray film. Because of this, you must perform a Resin Tray Cleaning after a failed build, even if floating debris in the tray is not obvious. The following steps describe the process.
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button to open the Settings screen. Tap the Resin Tray Cleaning Tool icon.
