Cleaning the Printer

The external and internal parts of the Printer should be cleaned according to the guidelines in the following sections. The list below provides a quick overview:

As needed, clean the facility flooring/walls/surfaces around the Printer with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to ensure that any material drips have been wiped up. For cleaning dust and other debris, use a small vacuum or other method that does not kick up dust clouds.
As needed, clean the outside Printer frame, EXCEPT FOR THE UPPER-BUILD-CHAMBER DOOR, with IPA and a nonabrasive cloth. Please see the section Inspect Upper-Build Chamber Door for instructions on cleaning it.
Use IPA and a nonabrasive cloth to clean the elevator arms.
The following sections will give instructions on how to remove and clean specific parts of the Printer. Please review all sections before cleaning your Printer to ensure you are properly cleaning each component.
Disable each Printer you are working on before performing any cleaning. To do this:

Go to the Status tab and tap on the printer card for the printer you wish to disable. This will expand the card.
Tap the Enable switch to toggle it off. You have now disabled the Printer. To re-enable it, simply return to this tile and tap the Enable toggle switch again.

Clean/Replace the Catch Trays

Remove and Clean a Catch Tray

This procedure assumes you have either shut down or disabled the Printer.

Once per week, remove the catch tray and clean it of dust or any drops of material with a clean-room wipe and IPA as described below.

If there has been a significant leak from the resin tray, replace the resin tray and install the new catch tray that came with the new resin tray.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to use a catch tray after it has captured a significant spill of material. It can be difficult to clean the glass well enough to ensure perfect transmission of the optical radiation to ensure good print quality. Instead, replace the catch tray. Do not attempt to clean the catch tray while it is still inside the Printer. The cleaning methods discussed below could cause damage to Printer components if attempted inside the unit.

ALWAYS WEAR 100% nITRILE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING THE CATCH TRAY, EVEN IF IT APPEARS THERE IS NO material ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT. Getting fingerprints or other debris on the catch-tray GLASS can degrade print quality. remove/Hold the tray with both hands and upright to prevent spilling.

Use a 4mm Allen key to remove the two screws on the Catch-Tray Retention Plate in the upper build chamber. Remove the chassis plate and set it aside with the screws.

Carefully pull the catch tray toward you until you feel it come out of place, and then pull it out of the machine.

If the catch tray glass is visually clean of dust and material drips, skip to the section Replace the Catch Tray below. If the catch-tray glass has normal dust or other debris on it, proceed to Step 4. If only the catch-tray reservoirs have material in them, proceed to Step 5. If the catch-tray glass only has a few drops of material on it, proceed to Step 6.

CAUTION: Do NOT reuse material that has spilled into the catch tray. Spilled material is no longer viable for printing, as contaminants could have mixed with it.

You may use any of the following methods to clean dust or other debris (not material) off the catch tray:
1. Use shop air to blow debris off both sides of the catch-tray glass. Be sure you clean both sides. You could also use distilled or deionized water at room temperature or reagent-grade IPA >90% to clean the catch-tray glass. DO NOT use abrasive cleaners, hydrocarbon solvents, or acidic/highly alkaline solutions.
2. Use a non-ammonia-based glass cleaner and a nonabrasive cloth to remove finger prints or other debris. Be sure to clean both sides of the glass. After cleaning, use shop air and/or allow the tray to air-dry for one hour before reinstalling.
To clean spilled material in the catch tray and discard it:
1. Wearing nitrile gloves, pour out and discard the material in the catch tray according to all government regulations.
2. Hold the catch tray over a drip pan and squirt IPA into the catch tray, tilting the tray so that all waste material comes out.
3. Use a nonabrasive cloth or lint-free paper towel to dry the inside of the catch tray.
4. Discard all paper towels, gloves, and other waste products involved in the cleaning process according to all government regulations.
5. You can now reuse this catch tray in a Printer.

Catch tray with clean glass

To clean spots of material on the catch-tray glass:
1. Pour IPA onto a nonabrasive cloth such as a clean-room wipe.
2. Wipe the glass inside the catch tray until no more material exists.
3. Turn the catch tray over and, using a new cloth sprayed with IPA, wipe the glass on the bottom of the catch tray.
4. Use shop air or give the glass one hour to air-dry before reinstalling.
Inspect the catch tray, ensuring that the catch-tray glass has not detached or become damaged during cleaning. You may now follow the instructions below to reinstall the catch tray on a Printer.

Reinstall a Catch Tray

Use the following instructions to reinsert the catch tray in the Printer or to install a new catch tray.

CAUTION: The printer will not print without a catch tray installed.

Line up the catch tray on the rails. Hold up the catch tray, flush with the underside of the chassis, and push it toward the print-engine spine until it stops at the back of the rails.
Push gently against the front of the catch tray to ensure that it does not go back any more and is fully seated in the machine.
Reinstall the Catch-Tray Retention Plate and secure it using the 4mm Allen key and the same screws you removed in Step 1 of the previous section.

Clean Resin Trays

You must clean the resin tray if:

You believe the resin tray has foreign debris or partially cured material in it, and you do not believe a resin-tray cleaning has removed all the debris.
You are using a different 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: For ease of removing the resin tray, the elevator should be at its upper limit and the print platform should 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 in Steps 6-8.

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

Procedure

Ensure the printer is idle and mark it as "not ready" by tapping the button. To ensure the Material-Delivery Tube does not drip while the Resin Tray is absent, place provided cap on fill nozzle (1, below) and disconnect the tube from its holder (2, below). Remember to remove the cap before starting your next print.

Push the Tension toggle button to release the tension arms.

Using nitrile gloves and holding a drip tray underneath, slowly lift the resin tray out of the printer.

CAUTION: Take care not to hit the resin tray on the MCO tube, Material-Level Sensor, 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 material and debris out of the tray. If you wish to retain this material, you could pour into another compatible resin tray and place that tray in its garage for later use.

CAUTION: Do NOT use the Platform Scraper to clean the resin tray, as it will easily puncture the membrane at the bottom of the tray.

CAUTION: Do NOT pour the material back into the cartridge. Doing so risks contamination, and/or improper mixture of material in the cartridge. This could result in undesirable build quality or build failure.

Place tray in its garage.

TIP: You may place a paper towel or clean-room wipe on your cleaning surface, so as not to get 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 after each cleaning, according to all government regulations.

There are two different cleaning solvents you might use in this step, depending on which material was in the resin tray:
1. For any material EXCEPT for Figure 4 RUBBER-BLK 10: Pour approximately 250 mL of >90% alcohol into resin tray and use the Part-Cleaning Brush to gently agitate the material on the membrane and tray edges.
2. If cleaning Figure 4 RUBBER-BLK 10 out of the tray: Pour approximately 250 mL of Propylene Carbonate into resin tray and use the Part-Cleaning Brush to gently agitate the material on the membrane and tray edges. RUBBER-BLK 10 has some material components that do not dissolve in >90% alcohol. Do not use >90% alcohol for this step.
After brushing all surfaces that were in contact with material, discard dirty solvent according to all government regulations.
Rinse the resin tray with clean (not contaminated) >90% alcohol and discard solvent according to all government regulations. It is okay to use alcohol for RUBBER-BLK 10 in this step.

Gently dry membrane with dry, compressed air using an air gun attachment at 30 psi, or allow tray to air dry for one hour.

If uncured material remains within the tray, repeat steps 6-9.
If uncured material remains on the outer edges of the resin tray:
1. Wipe clean with a lint-free paper towel soaked with >90% alcohol (~15mL). Discard used paper towels and gloves according to all government regulations.
2. Gently dry resin tray with dry, compressed air using an air gun attachment at 30 psi, or allow tray to air dry for one hour.

Inspect the resin tray to ensure no uncured material and/or foreign objects remain.

Be sure to 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 be reinstalled in a printer, according to the section Resin-Tray Material Cross-Usage.

NOTE: Even though you have cleaned the tray of all material in this procedure, it is still necessary to store the resin tray via one of the methods below to ensure protection of the bottom and top of the resin tray.

→

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

CAUTION: When covering the resin tray inside the printer, do NOT press down on the cover. The resin-tray membrane is sitting on the membrane lip while in the machine, meaning that even a small amount of pressure can damage the membrane.

Clean Print Platform

You must clean the print platform after each use. This section assumes you have already taken steps in the Post-Processing Guide to remove the printed part from the print platform.

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

WEAR 100% nitrile gloves throughout this procedure.

Use the punch tool to punch out any bits of supporting architecture that may have been left 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 material off the underside of the print platform. If you are running an elastomeric material such as ELAST-BLK 10, please see the section below, Special Consideration for Elastomeric Materials.
Put the platform-cleaning fixture in a tub with IPA. 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 material remains. If you find material or partially cured bits on the platform at this point, follow the steps in this section again on the problem areas. Allow the platform sufficient time to dry. Use compressed air to speed up this process, if desired. Your print platform is now clean and ready to be reused.

Special Consideration for Elastomeric Materials

For cleaning print platforms that run elastomeric materials such as ELAST-BLK 10, your printer package includes a Wire Brush. The following instructions demonstrate how to use this brush.

Use the Platform Scraper to remove as much partially cured material as you can.
Identify all areas of the platform with partially cured material 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 material.
Place the print platform in solvent and use the Part-Cleaning Brush to clear away areas of any remaining material.
While in solvent, use the Wire Brush to scrape the remaining partially cured material 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 material remains. If you find material or partially cured bits on the platform at this point, follow the steps in this section again on the problem areas. Allow the platform an hour to dry. Use compressed air to speed up this process, if desired. Your print platform is now clean and ready to be reused.

Clean Membrane-Interface Lip

It would be good to perform this procedure while your resin tray is being cleaned, so that it is already out of the machine.

The membrane interface lip is pictured below. It is the part of the chassis that makes contact with the resin-tray membrane.

If the lip has dust, debris, or material on it, clean it with IPA and a nonabrasive cloth. Inspect the lip for any damage, as chips or cracks affect the tension of the resin-tray membrane during printing.

Clean Upper-Build-Chamber Door

This section assumes you have either shut down or disabled the Printer you are inspecting.

Because it is made of acrylic, the upper-build-chamber door requires special cleaning instructions that must be followed to avoid damage and printer downtime. Inspect the door for material splashes and dust/debris (particularly on the inside of the door).

Clean Acrylic Door

This door must be cleaned with a specialty product such as Novus No. 1 or Brillianize. A mild solution of soap or detergent and water can also be safely used. DO NOT use window-cleaning fluids with ammonia (such as Windex or Formula 409), gasoline, denatured alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, or acetone. Using any of these will cause the acrylic to crack.

Apply the cleaning product with a damp, nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Using a microfiber cloth or cellulose sponge is also acceptable.
Rinse with a nonabrasive cloth and clean water.
Blot-dry with a chamois cloth, damp cellulose sponge, or microfiber cloth to prevent water spotting
Remember to clean both sides of the door.
In rare cases, the door can acquire a static charge, which can attract material to its surface. Material can also splash onto the door if a failed build falls off the platform and into the resin tray. If there is material on the door, follow Steps 1-4, above, and then wipe down the door with an anti-static cloth to dissipate any charge that might be there.

NOTE: Grease, oil, and tar may be removed with hexane, naptha or kerosene. Be sure to wash these solvents off quickly to prevent damage to the acrylic.

Clean the Touch Screen and Keyboard

Ensure that the Controller's touch screen does not have material, dust, or other debris on it. Inspect the touch screens on the Printers, as well. The Controller/Printer should be powered off to prevent accidental touch interaction.
1. If it has dust or other debris on it, used compressed air and/or a microfiber cloth to clean it.
2. If it has material on it, pour EtOH or IPA on a nonabrasive cloth and spot clean; finish with an overall wipe down with a fresh cloth and IPA.
Ensure that the Controller's keyboard does not have material, dust, or other debris on it. Before cleaning, ensure that the keyboard is powered off.
1. If it has dust or other debris on it, use compressed air and/or a microfiber cloth to clean it.
2. If it has material on it, pour EtOH or IPA on a nonabrasive cloth and spot clean; finish with an overall wipe down with a fresh cloth and IPA.

Clean Projector Lens

This section assumes you have either shut down or disabled the Printer you are inspecting.

Clean the projector lens every two weeks or as needed. Use a clean-room swab and >90% IPA to wipe the projector lens of any dust. Be sure to wet the clean-room swab with the IPA, rather than squirting IPA directly onto the lens. Wear 100% nitrile gloves whenever handling IPA.
Thoroughly dry each of the lenses with a microfiber cloth.

CAUTION: Do not use the Printer if material has spilled onto the projector, rather than just the lens. Do not attempt to clean the projector. Disable the Printer and contact 3D Systems Service immediately.

Clean Tension Arms

Ensure you have disabled the Printer you are cleaning.

If the arms have dust, debris, or material on them, clean them with IPA and a nonabrasive cloth. Inspect the arms for any damage, as imperfections or misalignment could affect the tension of the resin-tray membrane during printing.

Clean Drip Trays

There are two different drip trays in the printer: MDM Drip Tray and Printer Drip Tray. This section shows how to clean both trays.

MDM Drip Tray

The MDM Drip Tray is designed to channel material spills and drips out through the back of the MDM. If you notice that material is leaking out the back of the MDM from the drip tray, cease printer operation immediately. You must find out if the leak is due to component leakage and contact 3D Systems immediately. For simpler spills, such as incidental material drips from a material changeover, simply wipe the drips away with a paper towel moistened with IPA. For significant leaks, use the following instructions:
Power down the printer by pressing the power button.
Open the lower-build-chamber door and pull the MDM Drawer toward you. There is a hard stop built into the slides to keep the drawer from coming completely out.
Use a T20 screwdriver to remove the bottom two M4 screws (in red, below) on the MDM front panel. Loosen the top two M4 screws (in green, below). The panel should now slide up and off.
Wearing nitrile gloves, move the material tubing up to clear the drip tray, and carefully remove the tray with your other hand.
When carrying the drip tray to your hazardous waste bin, tilt it slightly away from the spout on the far side of the tray, so as not to accidentally pour material out of the spout.
Empty the contents of the MDM Drip Tray into your hazardous waste container, according to all government regulations. Pour slowly from the tray's spout.	Material amount exaggerated for clarity.
While holding the tray above your hazardous waste can, with the spout channeling waste material into the can, use a lint-free paper towel and wipe excess resin into the waste can. Wet the drip tray with IPA and wipe problem spots until entire drip tray is clean. Wipe entire drip tray with an IPA-soaked, lint-free paper towel. Dry the drip tray with lint-free paper towels. Allow tray to air dry for at least 30 minutes before reinstalling in the MDM. Your MDM Drip Tray is clean and ready to be reinserted into the printer. Remember to reinstall the MDM front plate before resuming printer operation.

Printer Drip Tray And Leak Sensor

The Printer Drip Tray is designed to contain a large material spill so that material does not leak outside of the machine. If there are only drops of material near the center of this tray, it could indicate a slow leak inside the MDM. Cease printer operation immediately and follow the instructions in the previous section to check the MDM Drip Tray. If there is a significant amount of material in the Printer Drip Tray, it indicates a major leak. Cease printer operation and contact 3D Systems Service immediately. For simpler spills, such as incidental material drips from a material changeover, simply wipe the drips away with a paper towel moistened with IPA. For significant leaks, use the following instructions:
Open the Lower-Build Chamber Door and, wearing nitrile gloves, gently remove the Leak Sensor from its bracket, being sure to grab the sensor itself and not the cord. Clean the sensor with a paper towel moistened with IPA.
Carefully pull the Printer Drip Tray out with both hands. When carrying the tray, be sure to keep it level, parallel to the ground so that no material spills over the edges. Empty the contents of the Printer Drip Tray into your hazardous waste container, according to all government regulations. Pour slowly over one corner.	Material amount exaggerated for clarity.
While holding the tray above your hazardous waste can, with the far corner channeling wast material into the can, spray IPA on any visible spots of material. Continue until all visible material is gone. Be sure to also spray the Leak-Sensor Bracket with IPA. Dry the drip tray with lint-free paper towels.
Reinstall the Printer Drip Tray in the machine and reinstall the leak sensor. Ensure that the bottom of the sensor is flush with the tray and that the light on the sensor turns green.