3D Systems ZPrinter 650 Quick start guide

Brand: 3D Systems

Model: ZPrinter 650

Category: 3D printers

Type: Quick start guide

3D Systems ZPrinter 650 is a full-color, automatic 3D Printer. It produces high-quality parts directly from your digital 3D design files. With its large build volume and fast print speeds, the ZPrinter 650 is ideal for prototyping, manufacturing, and educational applications.

The ZPrinter 650 uses a unique binder jetting technology to create parts. This process involves depositing a liquid binder onto a bed of powder, building the part layer by layer. The binder hardens and bonds the powder particles together, creating a solid object.

The ZPrinter 650 can produce parts in a wide range of colors and materials. This makes it ideal for creating realistic prototypes, models, and other objects. The printer also has a variety of features that make it easy to use, including an intuitive touchscreen interface and automatic powder recycling.

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

4 3dscentral.3dsystems.com

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

3dscentral.3dsystems.com 5

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

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)

3dscentral.3dsystems.com 7

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.

8 3dscentral.3dsystems.com

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.

3dscentral.3dsystems.com 11

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

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.

12 3dscentral.3dsystems.com

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.

3dscentral.3dsystems.com 13

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

16 3dscentral.3dsystems.com

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.

18 3dscentral.3dsystems.com

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

, then POST PROCESS FILTER and TURN

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.

QSG-23

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3D Systems ZPrinter 650 Quick start guide

Brand: 3D Systems

Model: ZPrinter 650

Category: 3D printers

Type: Quick start guide

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3D Systems ZPrinter 650 Quick start guide

3D Systems ZPrinter 650 Quick start guide

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