11/5/12
ZPRINTER
®
650
QUICK START GUIDE
Part Number 09578
Rev. C
2 3dscentral.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
3dscentral.3dsystems.com 3
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
Tray
Post-Processing Storage
Tool
Basket
Parts
Tray s
Accessory
Tray
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.
•Check your Printer Selection, the Powder Type
(ZP131) and Layer Thickness setting (0.004”).
•Check the Bleed Compensation option, if it isn’t
checked already.
• If you want to print all in one color, check the Print in
Monochrome option.
•Click OK.
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.
•See Section 8 of this guide for instructions if you see a
message saying any of the items needs attention.
•Click the Details 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
3dscentral.3dsystems.com 9
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:
•The Pause button. Click to pause the current print job,
Click again to resume printing.
•The Cancel 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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5. Fine Powder Removal
The freshly-printed part will still have powder clinging to it,
which must be removed before proceeding with the post-pro-
cessing steps.
1. Ensure the metal tray is latched in the up position in the top
of the Post-Processing Unit.
2. With your part in the Post-Processing Unit and the top cover
closed, select
DEPOWDER on the LCD menu to start the air
compressor and the vacuum.
• Slide your arms into the unit through the arm holes and
remove the Air Wand from its clip.
• Test the air flow against your hand and adjust as
needed. Adjust the air pressure by turning the control
nut located at the connection between the Air Wand and
its air hose.
Important: For thin-walled or delicate parts, start with light
air pressure.
3. Using the Air Wand,
remove all remaining
powder on the part.
The vacuum will evac-
uate the powder
through the floor of the
Post-Processing Unit
and recycle it.
Important: When fin-
ished, use the Air
Wand to clean the
Post-Processing Unit of
any remaining powder, including the backside of the top
cover.
4. Push the Control Knob once to turn the air compressor off.
Return the Air Wand to its clip.
5. Allow the part to dry longer in the Post-Processing Unit while
you perform the Routine Cleaning described in Section 6.
Then proceed with Post-Processing the part (Section 7).
6. To supplement the drying process with heat, first lower the
post-processing tray. Then select
POST PROCESS
MENU
on the LCD, then select POST PROCESS
HEATER
. The Heater will start and run for 90 minutes, then
automatically shut off. To stop the heater, select
TURN
OFF
on the LCD menu.
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6. Routine Cleaning After Every Build
After every build, it is important to clean your printer following
the steps below.
A clean, well-maintained printer produces better parts,
has less downtime, and needs fewer service calls.
These tasks take only a few minutes to complete. They can eas-
ily be completed while the part continues drying in the Post-Pro-
cessing Unit.
And - they are the best investment you can make to keep your
printer running smoothly and producing great parts.
Routine cleaning includes:
• Vacuuming up excess powder.
• Emptying the Debris Separator.
• Cleaning the Parking Caps.
• Cleaning the Rails and Printhead Carriage.
• Cleaning the Service Station.
6.1 Vacuum Up Excess Powder
Vacuum the Build Bed, the Fast Axis, and the Deck.
1. Press the Control Knob once, then select
VACUUM on the
LCD menu.
2. Open the printer top cover and remove the vacuum hose
from its stand.
3. Vacuum all powder from
the Build Bed (but not the
Feeder side), and from the
deck around the Build Bed.
Be sure to remove the
powder between the Build
Bed and the Service Sta-
tion.
Note: Be careful not to vacuum the service station itself.
4. Vacuum the top of the Fast
Axis, and reach inside to
vacuum the Rails and the
Printhead Carriage.
5. Press the Control Knob
once to turn off the vac-
uum.
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6.2 Empty The Debris Separator
The purpose of the Debris Separator is to keep any large parti-
cles from going back into the Feeder during vacuuming.
1. Pull the Debris Separator out
of its holder on the printer.
2. Empty the contents into a
trash receptacle.
3. Use the soft brush found in the
Accessory Kit to brush caked
on powder from the screen.
4. Return the empty Debris Sepa-
rator to its holder. Be sure to
push the Separator flat against
the panel for a secure fit.
6.3 Clean the Parking Caps
The Parking Caps keep the print heads from drying out between
print jobs. Cleaning the Parking Caps after every build results in
longer lasting print heads and precise accuracy during printing.
The Parking Caps are located on the right end of the Fast Axis.
Before you begin:
• Get several dry paper towels.
• Get the squirt bottle included in your Accessories Kit.
• Fill the squirt bottle with distilled water.
• Wear disposable gloves.
1. Pull the Fast Axis toward you and slide the Printhead Car-
riage to the left to expose the Parking Caps.
2. Lay paper towels
on the Build Bed
under and around
the Parking Caps.
Be sure to cover
the Front Over-
flow with paper
towels to keep
water out.
Parking Caps
(5 total)
14 3dscentral.3dsystems.com
3.Squirt the dis-
tilled water onto
the Caps. The
water should
drain out through
the Spittoon
under the Caps.
4. Use a dry paper towel to
wipe the caps clean.
5. Remove the paper towels
from the Deck and wipe up
any water on the Fast Axis
or Deck.
6. Remove the paper towels
from the front overflow and
dry it thoroughly.
7. Be sure the Parking Caps are completely dry before starting
your next build.
Note: If the Caps are very dirty, or if washing them as above is
not sufficient, then remove the Caps from the printer and wash
them under running water. Dry them thoroughly before reinstall-
ing them in the Fast Axis.
Service
Station
Carriage Paper
Towels
Parking
Caps
Parking
Caps
3dscentral.3dsystems.com 15
6.4 Clean The Rails and Carriage
Keeping the Rails and Carriage clean will keep the Carriage mov-
ing smoothly and thus optimize printing accuracy.
1. Pull the Fast Axis toward you.
2.Wipe the top
and bottom
Rails with a
paper towel
dampened
with distilled
water to
remove any
powder. Move
the Carriage
back and forth
as needed to
clean the
entire length
of both rails.
3. Using a clean, dry paper towel, thoroughly dry both rails.
4. Using a fresh paper towel, wipe the Carriage to remove any
powder.
5. Wipe or vacuum the Build Bed and Deck as needed to
remove any powder dislodged from the Rails and Carriage.
Important: Never vacuum up water - it will clog the vac-
uum system.
Parking Caps
Top Ra il
Bottom Rail
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6.5 Clean The Service Station
Clean the Service Station after every build to remove residue
buildup and to ensure the printer runs optimally for your next
print job. Before you begin:
• Get several dry paper towels and a cotton swab.
• Get the squirt bottle filled with distilled water.
• Wear disposable gloves.
• Get the Pick and Syringe from the Accessories Kit.
Powder
Binder, ink
Powder
Clean Squeegee
Clean Spit Plate
Clean Housing Clean Deck and Bed
3dscentral.3dsystems.com 17
1. Place paper towels
around the Service Sta-
tion, and between the
Service Station and the
Build Bed.
2. Cover the front overflow
with paper towels.
3. Position the squirt bottle
close to the station and
squirt water on and
around the squeegee.
4.Use the cotton swabs
or a paper towel and
wipe the front and back
of the squeegee. Use
the Pick to scrape
excess powder out of
any corners.
5. Remove the spit plate
from the Service Station
and clean it with a paper
towel. Replace the spit
plate, using the edge tabs
for correct alignment.
6.Install a needle onto the
small syringe. Gently push
the tip of the needle
through each of the six
Wash Holes to clear them.
7.Wipe off any water or
wash fluid on the Wash
Holes. Thoroughly wipe
the Service Station clean.
8.Wipe up any water that
may have spilled onto the
Deck or Build Bed.
9. Remove the paper towels from the Front Overflow and dry it
thoroughly.
10. Close the printer top cover.
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7. Post-Processing With Z-Bond
This section describes post-processing a part using Z-Bond™
infiltrant. The infiltrant soaks into the newly-printed part and
bonds the printed powder together. This both strengthens the
part and creates more vibrant colors.
Z-Bond is available in larger bottles
for use in the dipping method. For
parts with delicate features, smaller
bottles of Z-Bond are available for
drizzling onto a part.
Please visit our the Materials section
of our Web site at
3dscentral.3dsystems.com for
complete information regarding post-
processing materials, techniques,
Best Practices, and material storage
guidelines. While you’re there, visit
our 3DS Shop online store for all your 3D printing supplies.
7.1 Preparation
We recommend using the Post-Processing Unit to infiltrate your
part. Before you begin infiltrating your part, make sure the part
is completely free of powder. See “Fine Powder Removal” on
page 11. Follow these preparation guidelines:
• Ensure the part is completely dry before applying Z-
Bond.
• Wear a lab coat or smock, safety glasses, and a pair of
high quality gloves (supplied with the Z-Bond Dipping
Kit) or 2 pairs of lightweight disposable gloves (supplied
with the Starter Kit).
• Place a piece of wax paper over the metal Post-Process-
ing Tray to keep it clean.
• Use a dipping container large enough to fully submerge
your part.
• Have paper towels ready for absorbing excess fluid.
In addition, if you are not using the Post-Processing Unit, we rec-
ommend the following:
• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• Place a piece of cardboard down in your work area and
place a piece of wax paper over the cardboard for the
part to dry on.
3D Systems also offers a Z-Bond Dipping Kit, which contains
all the supplies needed for post-processing. The Kit provides a
convenient and cost-effective way to get everything you need.
Please visit our Web site at 3dscentral.3dsystems.com for
more information or to purchase your supplies through our 3DS
Shop online store.
7.2 Using the Post-Processing Unit
The Post-Processing Unit provides a convenient way to infiltrate
parts without having to move the part to a separate work area.
3dscentral.3dsystems.com 19
Follow the steps below to set up the Post-Processing Unit for
infiltration.
WARNING
The Post-Processing Unit is for use with Z-Bond only.
Do not use with any other Infiltrant. Do not use with
spray paint of any kind, or with any flammable spray.
1. Pull down the Accessory
Tray Arm.
2.Slide the Accessory Tray onto
the Arm.
3.Place the part on the Accessory
Tray.
4. Unlatch the metal tray from inside the top of the Post-Pro-
cessing Unit.
5. Lower the metal tray to the
bottom of the Post-Pro-
cessing Unit and press
down to snap it in place.
6. Turn on the carbon air filter to capture any fumes from the
infiltration. On the LCD Menu, select
POST PROCESS
MENU
, then POST PROCESS FILTER and TURN
ON
.
20 3dscentral.3dsystems.com
7.3 Post-Processing Using the Dipping
Method
Most parts can be infiltrated simply by dipping briefly in the Z-
Bond, then allowing the part to dry. Be sure the part is dry
and completely free of loose powder before infiltrating.
1.Place the wax paper
near the container and
pour enough Z-Bond into
the container to com-
pletely submerge the
part.
2.Gently submerge your
part into the liquid.
• Look for bubbles rising. If you don’t see any, let the part
sit submerged for about 10 seconds and then remove it
from the liquid.
• If you see bubbles rising, wait until the bubbles stop
and then remove the part.
3. Keep the part moving in your hands so it does not stick to
your gloves.
Note: The part will get very warm and may emit visible
vapor. These are normal by-products of the curing process.
4. Quickly and thoroughly wipe any excess liquid off the part
with paper towels and place the part on the wax paper.
• Do not let excess liquid pool on the part as this may
cause its texture to change.
• Move the part frequently for the first few minutes. This
prevents pooling of Z-Bond under the part and the part
adhering to the paper.
5. Let the part dry and cool at least 30 minutes before han-
dling.
6. Return any unused Z-Bond to its bottle for reuse.
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