You must now remove the printed part(s) from the print platform to prepare them for cleaning.

WEAR 100% nitrile gloves whenever handling uncured or partially cured print material.

CAUTION: Ensure that any tools you use in post-processing have been cleaned since their last use.

Put a nonabrasive cloth/lint-free paper towel underneath the print platform. Using the included punch tool, remove printed part from the print platform by pushing on it through the top side of the platform. Hold it the way you would a rubber stamp.
Once the parts are off the platform, rinse them in >90% alcohol solvent by hand, holding them over a container that can catch the solvent.

Special Considerations for Elastomeric Resins

If you are running elastomeric resins, such as Ortho IBT or Gingiva Mask, it may be difficult to remove parts from the print platform using only the punch tool.

Use the punch tool as described in Step 1 above. This will get the part started in detaching from the platform.
Use the Platform Scraper to fully remove the part from the platform.
For instructions on removing the remaining, partially cured resin, see the section Clean Print Platform.

The following equipment is needed to clean parts produced on the NextDent 5100 Printer:

1. Stainless steel or glass containers that are big enough to contain the printed parts you wish to make
2. >90% alcohol solvent
3. Ultrasonic cleaner, which agitates solvents like >90% alcohol solvent using ultrasonic sound waves. Sonication is the required cleaning method for your printed parts to achieve medical certification. Your ultrasonic cleaner should have:
   
   1. Digital Timer
   2. Volume great enough to hold your steel or glass containers
   3. Explosion-proof features

WARNING: >90% alcohol solvent is FLAMMABLE AS BOTH LIQUID AND VAPOR. KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT, SPARK AND OPEN FLAMES. USE WITH ADEQUATE VENTILATION. STORE AT 20-30ºC (68-86°F).

always wear gloves when cleaning build parts.

For information on the different methods for drying printed parts, please see the section Air-Drying Parts. Dry printed parts until you see no more liquid on their surfaces. For any drying method, please use the following guidelines:

1. Always dry printed parts over a tub, lab paper towel, or absorbent cloth. Do NOT dry the part over a sink or tub that drains to normal wastewater.
2. Discard any disposable towels used in the drying process according to all local, state and federal regulations. These towels have been in contact with uncured resin and solvents, and must be treated as such.
3. On a regular basis, have a professional cleaning service wash any absorbent cloths used in the drying process.
4. If you dry the part over a tub, periodically empty/clean it, discarding its contents according to all local, state, and federal regulations. The tub has been in contact with uncured resin and solvents and must be treated as such.
5. If using an air compressor in the same room (as opposed to shop air), wear ear protection when it is in use.
6. Always wear 100% nitrile gloves and safety glasses when handling partially cured printed parts. When drying with a high-pressure method, uncured resin or solvent may splash.
7. If you come into contact with uncured resin during part drying or at any time, wash the affected area with soap and COLD water. Any clothes contaminated with uncured resin or solvent must be dry cleaned promptly.
8. There might be remnants of supporting architecture left on your part(s). You can remove these supports by hand in the majority of cases. If you experience any issues removing supports, please see Troubleshooting item PCI4.
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After the part is completely dry, insert the part into the middle of the LC-3DPrint Box. If there are multiple parts, ensure there is some space between them on the oven platform. It is necessary to use the LC-3DPrint Box as your UV oven, as it has been tested specifically for the NextDent resins that are used to build certified medical devices. Ideal, tested curing times are outlined in the Resin Stirring and Curing Chart in the "Operation" section of this manual. CAUTION: Use nitrile gloves whenever touching or operating the LC-3DPrint Box. Normal usage of the box will most likely get uncured resin on the box handle and buttons; so it is always best to take this precaution. Also, the printed parts are still "green" at this stage, not yet fully polymerized and not safe to touch without gloves.

2. Follow instructions in your UV oven instruction manual to begin the post-curing process. If you have the LC-3DPrint Box, the instruction manual can be found both in the packaging or by downloading the link here: NextDent LC 3D-Printbox Instructions for Use.
3. Please see the Resin Stirring and Curing Chart in the "Operation" section of this manual for resin curing times. Do not open the curing chamber door until the curing process has been completed. The LC-3DPrint Box has a sensor that will turn the machine off during curing if the lid is open. Please see the User Guide of the resin you are using for full post-curing instructions. These guides are linked to in the section NextDent Material Documentation.
   

   CAUTION: Be careful not to over-cure the part. Over-curing can cause discoloration and part warping.

4. Once the printed part has been fully cured, remove the part from the UV oven, using nitrile gloves when opening and closing the oven.
5. The printed part is now safe to touch without nitrile gloves.
   

CAUTION: Do not clean the print platform or resin tray in a sink or tub that drains into wastewater. These components must be cleaned in a self-contained tub and the solvent/resin mix must be discarded according to all local, state, and federal regulations.

WEAR 100% nitrile gloves throughout this procedure.

Clean Print Platform

You must clean the print platform after each use.

Use the punch tool to punch out the bits of supporting architecture that are inside the holes. Punch in a column, going up an down until you have run the punch tool through every hole. See the punching pattern below for reference.
Use the Platform Scraper to scrape cured resin off the underside of the print platform. If you are running Ortho IBT or Gingiva Mask, please see the section below, Special Consideration for Elastomeric Resins.
You should have the platform-cleaning fixture in a tub with >90% alcohol solvent. Place the print platform on the fixture, being sure it is submerged in the solvent, and use the punch tool up and down on the platform once more, as you did in Step 1. Platform-cleaning fixture
Wipe down the platform with a lint-free paper towel or nonabrasive cloth.
Inspect the platform, particularly the holes on the flat surface, to ensure no partially cured resin remains. If you find resin or partially cured bits on the platform at this point, follow the steps in this section again on the problem areas. Your print platform is now clean and ready to be reused.

Special Considerations for Elastomeric Resins

For cleaning print platforms that run elastomeric resins such as Ortho IBT or Gingiva Mask, your printer package includes a Wire Brush accessory. The following instructions demonstrate how to use this brush.

Use the Platform Scraper to remove as much partially cured resin as you can.
Identify all areas of the platform with partially cured resin and use the Wire Brush to scrape off as much as possible.
Turn the print platform over and use the Wire Brush to scrape all areas that have partially cured resin.
Place the print platform in solvent and use the Part-Cleaning Brush to clear away areas of liquid resin.
Use the Punch Tool if desired to punch bigger chunks of material through the platform. Use the Wire Brush to scrape the remaining partially cured resin from the platform
Wipe down the platform with a lint-free paper towel or nonabrasive cloth.
Inspect the platform, particularly the holes on the flat surface, to ensure no partially cured resin remains. If you find resin or partially cured bits on the platform at this point, follow the steps in this section again on the problem areas.

You must clean the resin tray if:

• You believe the resin tray has debris in it.
• You are using a new bottle of the same print material AND that bottle has a different batch number than the previous bottle.
  

  CAUTION: Do NOT mix identical print materials from bottles with different batch numbers, as any issues with the material must be traceable to a specific batch number. Mixing batches makes this impossible to track.

• You are using a different print material in the same resin tray, according to the section Resin Tray Material Cross-Usage.

Every time you remove the resin tray for any reason, you should also inspect/clean the catch tray, as in the section Clean/Replace the Catch Tray.

NOTE: The elevator must be at its upper limit and the print platform must not be in the printer during this procedure.

NOTE: Two iterations of this process tends to be enough for a fully cleaned resin tray. If you find that you need to repeat this process more than once, consider spending more time brushing the membrane/tray when soaked in >90% alcohol solvent.

NOTE: Avoid touching the bottom of the membrane during this procedure. If resin is observed on this surface, spot clean with >90% alcohol solvent by squirting/pouring solvent on the area with uncured resin. Finish by drying with compressed air. Do not touch Part-Cleaning Brush or any other tool to the bottom of the membrane.

Procedure

Push in the tension-arm release lever and lift tension arm. Using nitrile gloves and using both hands, slowly lift the resin tray out of the printer. CAUTION: Take care not to hit the resin tray on the elevator arms, printer lid, or other printer components during removal.
Pour the contents of the tray over the tray corner into your hazardous waste container. The Resin Mixer may be used to guide print material and debris out of the tray. CAUTION: Do NOT pour the resin back into the bottle. Doing so risks contamination, and/or improper mixture, of material in the bottle. This could result in undesirable build quality and/or build failure. CAUTION: Do NOT use the Platform Scraper to clean the resin tray, as it will easily puncture the resin-tray membrane.
Place resin tray in its garage. TIP: You may place a paper towel or clean-room wipe on your cleaning surface, so as not to get print material and/or solvent directly on it. This can also prevent foreign debris from dirtying or puncturing the tray's membrane. If you use this tip, be sure to discard the paper towel/wipe according to all government regulations after each cleaning.
Pour approximately 250 mL of >90% alcohol solvent into resin tray and use the Part-Cleaning Brush to gently agitate the resin on the membrane and tray edges. After brushing all surfaces that were in contact with resin, discard dirty solvent according to all government regulations. Rinse the resin tray with clean >90% alcohol solvent and discard solvent according to all government regulations.
Dry membrane gently with 30 psi dry compressed air using an air gun attachment, or allow tray to air dry.
If uncured print material remains within the tray, repeat steps 5-8. If uncured print material remains on the outer edges of the resin tray: Wipe clean with a lint-free paper towel soaked with >90% alcohol solvent (~15mL). Dispose of used paper towels and gloves discard according to all government regulations. Dry membrane gently with 30 psi dry compressed air using an air gun attachment, or allow tray to air dry.
Inspect the resin tray to ensure no uncured resin and/or foreign debris remain.

12. Discard all paper towels/wipes used throughout this procedure according to all government regulations.

The resin tray can now be stored in the Resin-Tray Garage or filled with new print material for printing, according to the section Resin-Tray Material Cross-Usage.

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You can also store the resin tray in the printer with the cover from the garage on top, as seen below.

It is necessary to clean any tools you used during post-processing before their next use, even if you are continuing to use the same resin. Items to be cleaned include:

1. Punch Tool
2. Resin Mixer
3. Platform Scraper
4. Part-Cleaning Brush
5. Your own dental tools

To clean any of these items, you can either soak them in >90% alcohol solvent or place them into a beaker of >90% alcohol solvent and put them in an ultrasonic cleaner. Ensure that they are completely dry before their next use, either by using compressed air or letting them air dry.