Material Handling and Safety

NOTE: For complete safety information and instructions for use, please read the SDS and Instructions for Use for the NextDent resin you are using. These documents are packaged in with each bottle of print material.

HARMFUL IRRITANT WARNING: Always wear chemical-resistant gloves (such as nitrile gloves), goggles, and protective clothing when handling print material. Avoid skin contact. Avoid breathing in print material fumes.

• Always practice standard dental-lab hygiene and follow Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements outlined in this manual.
• Always wear chemical-resistant gloves, such as nitrile, when working near print materials or with partially cured parts. It is recommended to wear approved goggles and protective clothing. Protective clothing includes, but is not limited to: closed-toed shoes, full-length pants, and splash-resistant lab coats or equivalents. 3D Systems recommends using 100% nitrile gloves; however, other chemical-resistant gloves will suffice. Do NOT use latex gloves, as they do not provide complete chemical protection.
• Wearing contact lenses when working with print materials is not recommended.
• Avoid breathing in vapors from print material. To avoid breathing in vapors: when opening the build chamber, allow a few seconds to pass before putting your face near the opening. No special facility and/or ventilation modifications should be required to operate the printer in a lab environment.
• Always wash skin thoroughly with a nonabrasive soap and COLD water after working with print materials. DO NOT USE HOT WATER OR SOLVENTS to wash hands, as these will stimulate your pores and result in absorption through the skin. Print material is sensitizing and can cause bad allergic reactions if absorbed through the skin. A person who becomes sensitized to print material should not work around that material in the future.
• If a small amount of resin gets on your clothing, remove the article of clothing as soon as possible (it might be a good idea to have a change of clothes on hand just in case). Have contaminated clothing dry cleaned. DO NOT wash in regular washing machine that drains into wastewater. If a particularly large amount of resin gets on your clothes, it is best to discard them according to all local, state, and federal regulations. Keep contaminated clothing away from food and drinks. Wash hands thoroughly after handling contaminated clothes, even if you wore protective clothing/gloves to handle them.
• Use extreme care when handling >90% alcohol solvent, which is used to remove excess print material from uncured parts. >90% alcohol solvent is very flammable.
• Keep all print materials away from heat, sparks, static discharge, and flame. Print material containers may rupture when exposed to extreme heat. We recommend storing your NextDent materials in a fire-resistant storage cabinet. Please refer to the SDS for a particular resin to view its flash point.
• High temperatures may cause a spontaneous polymerizing reaction, generating heat and pressure. Closed containers may rupture or explode during a runaway polymerization. Use a water spray or fog to reduce or direct vapors.
• Fire fighters should use a self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective clothing in the event of a resin fire.
• Do not leave uncured, or liquid, resins in an area where persons who are not knowledgeable about their handling or use may have access to them.
• Keep away from food and drinks.

WARNING: Use National Fire Protection Association Class B extinguishers such as carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or foam. A spray of water might also be effective. Do not use a direct jet of water or smothering to extinguish burning resin or solvents.

Print Material Characteristics

The photopolymers used in the print materials may be hazardous if handled improperly. Repeated skin contact with print materials may cause sensitization. Consult the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for information on specific print materials. For further information on this and related topics, consult the 3D Systems Materials website.

WARNING: Never mix different print materials. doing so will render both materials ineffective.

NextDent Material Storage

Print materials should be stored in the opaque, non-reactive containers in which they were provided, according to the guidelines given in the SDS included with the print material, and according to all applicable regulations (local, state, and federal). Protect print material from sunlight, ambient light, and moisture. Close the resin bottle after each use. Be sure your resin-storage area is dry, dark, and between 5°C-30°C (41°F-86°F). It is preferable to store the resin in a fireproof cabinet. Improperly stored resins may increase in viscosity, and may eventually result in a gelled, polymerized product in the storage container. Materials should be stored in conformance with applicable laws and regulations. The expiration date of the product is mentioned on the product label. If resin is past its expiration date, the product is no longer guaranteed in terms of treatment. 3D Systems is not responsible for losses incurred as the result of improper storage of print material.

Print Material Disposal

Do not dump print material down any drains. Dispose of print material according to the guidelines given in the SDS included with the print material and according to all applicable regulations (local, state, and federal). For more information on print-material disposal, please see the section Considerations for Material in the Chapter: Facility Requirements.

Print-Material Spill Containment

A major print-material spill is unlikely during normal use of the NextDent 5100 Printer. However, there may be certain situations that require containment of a major resin spill. Your company has the responsibility to define what constitutes a major spill. Clean up spilled print material as quickly as possible, as material will cure under both natural and artificial lighting. Personnel who are involved in cleaning up major spills of print material should wear NIOSH/MSHA approved respirators designed for use with organic chemical vapors. In addition, each person should wear protective goggles, rubber boots, and 100% nitrile gloves to minimize exposure to print material, which can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, as well as possible skin allergies and respiratory reactions.

WARNING: Untrained personnel should be evacuated from the area.

WARNING: Print materials are flammable. Care should be taken during print material containment and cleanup operations.

A supply of dikes and control booms should be stocked so they are available to contain the affected area in the event of a major print-material spill. The spilled print material should then be absorbed on inert, absorbent material and placed into drums for transfer to an approved waste-disposal site. After absorbing all spilled material, clean the spill location with a nonabrasive cloth and >90% alcohol solvent. After cleaning up the spill, individuals should wash thoroughly with soap and COLD water. Any clothing touched by resin should be dry cleaned before reuse. If resin has gotten onto your skin or clothes, avoid exposure to sunlight or other UV-light sources until skin and clothing have been cleaned of print material. Repeated or prolonged skin contact may cause sensitization. Vapor may be harmful.

Eliminate sources of ignition. Prevent entry into drains. Absorb spilled resin onto sand, earth or any other suitable adsorbent material. DO NOT absorb onto sawdust or other combustible materials. Resin spills or uncontrolled discharges into wastewater systems must be reported to the appropriate regulatory body. Do not discard resin into drains/surface waters/groundwater. Maximize ventilation after accidental release.

Shelf Life

Print materials are certified for use for 24 months from their date of manufacture. The expiration dates are marked on the material bottle labels. Resins should not be used past their expiration date. The printer will not accept the scan of a resin bottle that is expired.

In-Service Life

In-service life of the print material is defined as the useful life of the material after having been poured into the NextDent 5100's resin tray. The in-service life of print material greatly varies depending on material type, usage and environmental conditions. If the material is exposed to temperatures outside of the normal operating limits, is exposed to UV light, is exposed to particulates or vapors in the air such as dust or fumes, or if contaminates are introduced such as partially cured platforms being placed back into the resin tray, this will shorten the material's in-service life. The types of patterns and builds performed also affect the in-service life of the material. With all this taken into consideration, the in-service life of the material is the same as its expiration date: two years. The material retains its usefulness until a buildup of viscosity or a change in reactivity prevents further processing in the NextDent 5100 Printer. All materials require some level of stirring or spinning to retain their properties. You must NOT mix resin from an old resin bottle with resin from a new resin bottle. These resins will be from different batches; and mixing them could render both ineffective. Follow the Instructions for Use of the specific material you are using for complete instructions on getting the most use out of it.

Contamination

Care should be taken when cleaning windows, panels, and other parts of the NextDent 5100 Printer. Cleaning products that contain ammonia should not be used because they can contaminate the material. Instead, use a small amount of >90% alcohol solvent on a paper towel to clean up spills. Accidental contamination of resins may change the material’s performance characteristics to such an extent that acceptable parts can no longer be reliably created.

Polymerization

Polymerization may occur upon heating the resin bottle. Signs of polymerization of stored resin include container bulging, leaking, the emission of heat, or an unusual odor from the container. If you notice any of these traits, do not use the material and dispose of it according to all local, state, and federal regulations.

WARNING: Sealed container may rupture if explosively hot. Please see the resin's sds for information on its flash point.