3D Systems ZPRINTER 650 User manual
11/5/12
ZPRINTER®650
QUICK START GUIDE
Part Number 09578
Rev. C
23dscentral.3dsystems.com
ZPrinter 650 Overview
Printer Post-Processing Unit
Binder Cartridges
Debris Separator
Heater Vent
Vacuum Hose
Fast Axis
Build Bed
Service Station
(hidden)
Arm Holes
Air Wand Control Nut
Post-Processing Tray
(shown raised)
Control Panel
Printing Storage
Post-Processing
Storage
Accessory Tray Arm
Air Wand
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Push the Control Knob once to:
• Bring up the printer menu.
• Select a menu command.
• Start/Stop/Cancel a menu function.
Turn the Control Knob left/right to highlight menu items.
When selecting the Raise/Lower Platform commands,
hold the Control Knob down to raise/lower the platform.
Printing Storage
Cleaning
Solution
Cartridge
Waste
Tra y
Post-Processing Storage
Tool
Basket
Parts
Trays
Accessory
Tra y
QSG-4 control panel
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Welcome To The ZPrinter®650
Quick Start Guide
Congratulations on your 3D Printer purchase! This guide will
familiarize you with your 3D Printer, and lead you through mak-
ing a build. Please refer to the ZPrinter 650 User Manual for
complete information about using your new full-color, automatic
3D Printer. The Manual is included on the installation CD with
your ZPrint software.
We encourage all customers to logon to our 3DP User Web site at
3dscentral.3dsystems.com to learn more about 3D printing,
materials, Best Practices, and post-processing techniques.
1. About 3D Printing
1.1 Before You Begin
• Ensure the ZPrinter 650 is properly installed and running,
and that no errors are displayed on the ZPrinter 650 control
panel.
• Ensure the ZPrint™ Software is installed and running, and
the printer is connected to the same network as the com-
puter that is running ZPrint. For ZPrint installation instruc-
tions, see the ZPrint™ User Manual.
• Export a solid data file from a 3D modeling software pro-
gram and open the file in ZPrint. ZPrint is compatible with
most 3D modeling software file types.
1.2 Process Diagram
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1.3 Steps To Print
Follow the steps outlined in the sections below to print your part.
Section Title Page
2 Check The Printer 6
3 Setup Your Build And Print 7
4 Automatic Powder Removal 10
5 Fine Powder Removal 11
6 Routine Cleaning After Every
Build
12
7 Post-Processing With Z-Bond 18
8 Additional Printer Operations 22
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2. Check The Printer
Before you start your print job, it’s important that you check the
printer. A clean, well-maintained printer produces better
parts, has less downtime, and needs fewer service calls.
1. Open the printer top cover and pull the fast axis out toward
you.
2. Check for loose powder in or around the Build Bed, Fast
Axis, and Deck. There should be no powder in these areas
prior to printing. If you need to clean these areas, follow the
steps in Section 6.1, “Vacuum Up Excess Powder”.
3. Check that the Debris Separator, Parking Caps, the Rails and
Carriage, and the Service Station are clean. If any of these
need cleaning, follow the procedures in these sections:
•Section 6.2, “Empty The Debris Separator”
•Section 6.3, “Clean the Parking Caps”
•Section 6.4, “Clean The Rails and Carriage”
•Section 6.5, “Clean The Service Station”
4. Close the printer top cover. The Fast Axis reparks and the
printer goes Online.
Service
Station
Build
Bed
Deck
Fast
Axis
Deck
Debris Separator
Parking Caps
(hidden)
Rails and Carriage
(hidden)
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3. Setup Your Build And Print
Now that your printer is clean, you need to open up the 3D file
using ZPrint, and select your printing parameters.
1. If you have not already done so, start ZPrint and select File
> Open. Choose a file to print.
2. Check your printer settings.
• Select File > 3D Print Setup, or click on the Tool-
bar to open the 3D Print Setup dialog.
•CheckyourPrinter Selection, the Powder Type
(ZP131) and Layer Thickness setting (0.004”).
•ChecktheBleed Compensation option, if it isn’t
checked already.
• If you want to print all in one color, check the Print in
Monochrome option.
•ClickOK.
3. ZPrint orients the part in the Build Bed for the fastest print
time. If you need to transform the part prior to printing, you
have a couple of options, otherwise proceed with Step 4.
• In the Top or Side views of ZPrint, select the part (left-
click on the part), then drag and drop it to a new posi-
tion.
• In any ZPrint view, select the part and use the Justify
, Rotate , or Scale features to change
the orientation, or scale of the part.
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4. Select File >3D Print, or click on the Toolbar, to open
the Printer Status dialog.
5. ZPrint checks each item in the Printer Status dialog prior
to printing to ensure there are enough materials to complete
the build.
•SeeSection 8 of this guide for instructions if you see a
message saying any of the items needs attention.
•ClicktheDetails button to view usage information for
each print head, the binder, and the powder.
6. Check or uncheck Print Job Options for the current build.
•Print in Monochrome will print the entire part using
clear binder. The finished part will be white.
•Preheat Build will cause the printer to turn on the
heater in the build chamber prior to printing. This
warms the powder and binder, and is used for certain
combinations of powder and binder. Visit the Materials
section of our Web site at 3dscentral.3dsystems.com
to learn more about which binders and powders would
benefit from preheating.
•Delay Start Time allows you to start the print job at a
later time. This is useful if you wish to have the print
job complete at a particular time.
•Empty Build Piston after Printing will empty the
build bed of loose powder when the print job is com-
plete. The printer turns on the vacuum systems and
vibrates the build bed to evacuate the powder. The
powder is then recycled to the feeder.
Important: The Empty After Printing option is checked
by default. If you are printing a part with especially delicate
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features, uncheck this option. Also refer to the ZPrinter
650 User Manual for information on adding fixtures and
bumpers to help protect delicate parts.
7. If all the Print Heads, Powder, and General items display
OK, the Print button is enabled. Click Print to start your
build.
NOTE: Before starting the build, the printer will:
• Service the print heads.
• If necessary, print an alignment pattern and align the
print heads.
• Fill the Build Bed with
powder and then spread
one layer to make the
Build Bed surface smooth.
8. The Printing dialog opens
and reports the status of the
print job for the duration of
the build.
This dialog details:
• Estimated print finish time.
• Estimated remaining print time.
• Actual print start time.
• Actual print elapsed time.
• The layer that is currently printing and the percentage
completed.
The Printing dialog also provides:
•ThePause button. Click to pause the current print job,
Click again to resume printing.
•TheCancel button. Click to cancel printing this job.
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4. Automatic Powder Removal
When the build is finished, the printer starts an automatic drying
cycle. A counter on the printer LCD counts down the time
remaining before the part is dry.
After the drying cycle
completes, the printer
automatically removes
excess powder around the
part by vibrating the Build
Bed and vacuuming
through the bottom of the
Build Bed. The powder is
then recycled back into
the Feeder.
If you unchecked the Empty Build Piston After Printing
option in the ZPrint Printer Status dialog, manually excavate
the excess powder away from the part using the vacuum. Or, run
an Automatic Powder Removal cycle that you can control at the
printer by selecting BUILD CHAMBER > EMPTY BUILD
CHAMBER on the LCD display.
1. Open the cover of the
Post-Processing Unit.
If the solid metal tray
has been placed on
the bottom of the Unit,
lift the tray and latch it
into place in the top of
the Unit.
2. Open the printer top
cover and gently
remove the part from
the Build Bed.
For easier part
removal, select
BUILD CHAMBER
then RAISE PLAT-
FORM on the LCD
menu. Hold down the
Control Knob to raise
the platform to the top
of the Build Bed.
3. Move the part to the Post-Processing Unit. Close the Unit
cover.
4. Close the printer top cover.
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