3D Systems ProJet 4500 User manual

User Guide

ProJet® 4500

3D Professional Printer

2

3D Systems, Inc.

WHAT’S INSIDE

1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4

2. ABOUT THIS GUIDE .................................................................................................................................................................... 4

3. COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARKS .............................................................................................................................................. 5

4. USEFUL DOCUMENTS ................................................................................................................................................................ 6

5. FEATURES and BENEFITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

6. DESCRIPTIONS and DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 7

7. PACKAGING ................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

8. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Safety Symbols and Denitions ................................................................................................................................................. 8

Safety Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8

General ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Electrical ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

9. PART MATERIAL SAFETY ..........................................................................................................................................................10

ColorJet Printing (CJP) .............................................................................................................................................................10

Disposal ................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Health Hazards / Irritant............................................................................................................................................................... 11

Irritant ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Inhalation .................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Handling Finished Parts .......................................................................................................................................................... 11

Hygienic Practices ................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Material Handling......................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Emergency (MSDS) ................................................................................................................................................................. 12

Packaging Inspection ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

Part Building ............................................................................................................................................................................. 12

Personal Protection Equipment ................................................................................................................................................ 12

Regulatory Information ............................................................................................................................................................. 13

Spilled VisiJet® Material ...........................................................................................................................................................13

Waste Removal ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13

Material Storage ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14

10. SPECIFICATIONS and REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................... 15

Computer and Operating Systems Requirements ....................................................................................................................... 15

Recommended Client Operating System.................................................................................................................................. 15

Electrical Requirements ............................................................................................................................................................ 15

11. SYSTEM COMPONENTS ....................................................................................................................................................16-18

12. FAMILIARIZATION .................................................................................................................................................................... 19

13. USING 3DPRINT .......................................................................................................................................................................20

What’s It For? ............................................................................................................................................................................20

File Formats .............................................................................................................................................................................. 20

Computer System Requirements .............................................................................................................................................. 20

Install Print Platform .................................................................................................................................................................. 20

Install 3DPrint .........................................................................................................................................................................21-23

Locate the 3DPrint Icon ...............................................................................................................................................................23

The 3DPrint Main Window ...........................................................................................................................................................24

The 3DPrint Tool Bars ............................................................................................................................................................ 26-27

Opening and Selecting Files ........................................................................................................................................................28

Part Orientation ............................................................................................................................................................................29

14. PRINTER SET-UP and OPERATION ...................................................................................................................................33-34

Prepare the Build Area .................................................................................................................................................................35

Print the Build .............................................................................................................................................................................. 35

Curing the Part .............................................................................................................................................................................35

Clean the Part ..............................................................................................................................................................................36

Coarse Cleaning .......................................................................................................................................................................36

Fine Cleaning ............................................................................................................................................................................37

Additional Operations ...................................................................................................................................................................38

The Printer Status Report ........................................................................................................................................................... 38

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3D Systems, Inc.

15. MAINTENANCE ...................................................................................................................................................................39

Cleaning the Printer ................................................................................................................................................................39

Routine Cleaning ....................................................................................................................................................................39

Vacuum Excess Core ..............................................................................................................................................................39

Clean the Debris Separator ..............................................................................................................................................40-41

Replacing the Wiper................................................................................................................................................................41

16. SERVICE and SUPPORT.....................................................................................................................................................42

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3D Systems, Inc.

INTRODUCTION

1

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

2

To order material cartridges or parts, please contact your Authorized reseller or contact 3D Systems Customer Support to locate your

nearest Authorized Reseller.

Safety Guidelines: Read and understand all safety guidelines before attempting to operate your printer. These guidelines provide impor-

tant details on how to handle the VisiJet

®

material cartridge properly and also describe how to avoid personal injury and/or damage to the

printer. For more detailed information on material safety, see VisiJet

®

Material Guidelines.

System Requirements: This section provides all the necessary facility requirements for electrical, hardware, dimensional and environ-

mental data.

Familiarization: An overview of the ColorJet Printing process of the ProJet

®

4500.

Operations: Describes functionality and the build process when starting a new or existing design.

Maintenance: Provides detailed information when performing software/hardware/preventative maintenance to the printer.

Other Documents: The Warranty and Maintenance Agreements information, along with the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS).

Support: 3D Systems Customer Support will provide you information on how to obtain software updates; how to order parts and return

parts through 3D Systems’ Return Material Agreement (RMA). Information on how to get system upgrades and updates.

Help: Quick access to answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Welcome to the exciting world of professional 3D printing! 3D Systems’ ProJet

®

4500 Full-color 3D Printer incorporates our proprietary

ColorJet Printing technology and many features that automate and streamline the 3D printing process. The easy-to-use, quiet, ofce-

friendly design combined with our patented high-performance materials, makes the ProJet

®

4500 the only 3D printer in the world capable

of printing true full-color plastic parts.

This manual will give you an introduction to full-color 3D printing and instruct you on how to take care of your ProJet

®

4500. In addition,

you can nd information about 3D printing, its many applications and techniques, as well as product software and rmware updates on

our 3DS Central website at 3dscentral.3dsystems.com. We recommend you register immediately to receive free access to this resource.

Full CMY Color

Durable Plastic Parts

Brilliant Details

Create Parts Faster

Integrated Material Recycling

Build Volume (8” x 10” x 8”)

(203 x 254 x 203 mm)

600 x 600 DPI resolution

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3D Systems, Inc.

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARKS

way without the express written consent of 3D Systems, Inc. The information contained herein is for the use of 3D Systems’ customers,

who are permitted to create brief excerpts for the purposes of training and review. This information may not be copied or incorporated in

any commercial programs, books, databases, or in any kind of software without the consent of 3D Systems, Inc.

3D Systems, ProJet, VisiJet and the 3D Systems logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems Inc.

JPEG Group.

Microsoft Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

3D Systems acknowledges the trademarks of other organizations for their respective products or services mentioned in this documenta-

tion.

FULL WARRANTY STATEMENT

The full warranty statement for 3D Systems products is found on our 3DS Central web site: 3dscentral.3dsystems.com.

FCC Notice

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial

environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with

the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely

to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

NOTE: Changes or modications not expressly approved by 3D Systems could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Limitations of Warranty and Liability

This information is provided by 3D Systems for the convenience of its customers. It is believed to be reliable, but NO REPRESENTA-

TIONS, GUARANTEES, OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE MADE AS TO ITS ACCURACY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE,

OR THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED THEREFROM. The information is based in whole or in large part on laboratory work and does not

necessarily indicate performance in all conditions. Notwithstanding any information provided by 3D Systems or its afliates, the customer

remains fully responsible for determining which federal, state, or local laws or regulations, or industry practices are relevant to activities in

which it engages, as well as assuring that those laws, regulations, or standards are complied with under actual operating conditions, and

3D Systems undertakes no responsibility in these areas.

IN NO EVENT WILL 3D SYSTEMS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE, INCLUDING SPECIAL OR CONSEQUEN-

TIAL DAMAGES, RESULTING FROM THE USE OF OR RELIANCE UPON THIS INFORMATION. THE CUSTOMER ASSUMES ALL

RISK RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION. Customers use of the materials that follow is an acknowledgment of its

agreement to the foregoing. Any customer not wishing to be bound should return this material to 3D Systems. Nothing contained herein

is to be considered as permission, recommendation, nor as an inducement to practice any patented invention without permission of the

patent owner.

3

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3D Systems, Inc.

USEFUL DOCUMENTS

4

The documents listed below are located in 3DS Central and www.3dsystems.com. These documents will help you get the most out of

your system.

Quick Reference Guide: A Quick Reference Guide is included on the 3DPrint Installation media (a USB memory stick) that accompa-

nied your printer. It has pictures and simple, step-by-step instructions to guide you through a print job. Additional copies are available on

our Web site at: 3dscentral.3dsystems.com

Software User Manual: A User Manual for the 3DPrint Software is supplied on the Installation media (a USB memory stick) with the

software. Additional copies are available on our Web Site at: 3dscentral.3dsystems.com.

FEATURES and BENEFITS

5

The ProJet 4500 is our most convenient, easy-to-use, automated full-color 3D Printer to date. We’ve built in the features that custom-

ers most asked for:

• Built-in heat curing – no inltration required

• 600 x 600 DPI Resolution yielding excellent surface nish (X-Y)

• 0.102 mm (0.004 in) layer thickness (Z)

• Integrated core recycling

• Quick-loading binder cartridges

• Fewer consumables to stock and replace

• Ofce-friendly: Active dust and odor control, zero-liquid waste

• Recyclable material cartridges and containers

• Mobile Monitoring with iOS or Android mobile devices

• Intuitive software and machine controls

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3D Systems, Inc.

DESCRIPTION and DEFINITIONS

6

ColorJet Printing™ - The name of 3D Systems’ full-color capable 3D printing technology using a two-part material set to create a

solid, full-color, model – layer by layer.

VisiJet

®

C4 Spectrum™ - The new consumable material set includes two components:

• Binders – Clear, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow colored liquids which are selectively deposited with a piezoelectric inkjet print head

onto core component of the material set. These binders are consumables items needed for printing.

• Core – the granular (or powder) component of the material set which is thinly spread layer-by-layer across a build bed of the

printer. This component of the material set both reacts with the binder to create the solid model(s), as well as supports the

model(s) during the building process. This material is a consumable item needed for printing.

Build Bed – The area in front of the feeder where the 3D part is actually built. The platform of the build bed can be raised or lowered

using the control knob on the control panel. Before each build, the printer lls the build bed with the core material and then smoothes the

nal layer to ensure accurate and precise printing.

Build Platform – The metal plate in the bottom of the build bed which moves vertically during the printing process and part removal. The

vertical motion can be controlled through the control panel during part removal.

Control Panel – The ip-out panel on the front of the machine which contains an LCD display, the control knob, and door release buttons.

LCD Display – The small rectangular display located on the control panel.

Control Knob – The large black button on the control panel.

Door Release Button – The small black button on the control panel for unlocking the build chamber.

Build Chamber – The left-hand interior of the printer which houses the build bed, service station, debris separator, feeder, vacuum hose,

fast-axis assembly, and the binder cartridge pockets.

Cleaning Station – The right-hand interior of the printer which is used to nely clean the nished 3D printed models. This area is simply

a down-draft chamber, with a compressed air wand for cleaning excess core from the parts.

Service Station – The Service Station is the small xture in the back right of the Build Chamber used to clean the print heads during the

printing process. The binder which enters the service station is drained into the waste tray below the build chamber. Keeping this station

clean is critical for successful builds. The wiper within the service stationshould be cleaned before each build.

Waste Tray – This consumable item is used to collect and cure binder waste that is deposited into the service station during the printing

process. This feature is a replaceable unit.

Debris Separator – The removable windowed pocket in the top-right of the build chamber is located just above the vacuum hose. This

pocket is used to catch any small or broken parts from entering the feeder.

Feeder – The location in the printer which contains the core material used for printing. Core is deposited from this feeder for each layer

of the building process.

Vacuum Hose – The hose on the right-hand side of the build chamber which is used to transfer core to the feeder from newly -opened

containers, the build bed, overows, and the cleaning station areas of the printer.

Overows – The trough in the front and rear of the build bed which collects excess core during the printing process. The collected core

in these chambers is emptied periodically during the printing process and returned to the feeder for re-use. The front overow needs to

be cleaned before each build.

Fast-Axis – This assembly is the printer component which houses the carriage and fast axis rails on which the carriage moves. The fast

axis moves on the slow axis rails which are housed beneath the build deck. The fast axis moves in the left-right direction in the printer.

This assembly is a replaceable unit.

Carriage – This assembly houses the print heads used for jetting binder selectively onto the core in the build bed. This carriage is a

replaceable unit.

Print Heads – The piezo-electric inkjet units in the carriage which are used to selectively jet binders onto layers of core through hundreds

of individual nozzles. The print heads are cleaned in the service station periodically throughout the printing process to ensure proper

printing.

Slow-Axis – The back-to-front axis of motion in the printer. The slow-axis contains both the roller and fast-axis assembly.

Roller – The rotating cylindrical tube on the slow-axis which is used to evenly spread thin layers of core across the build bed.

Build Deck – The metal area surrounding the build bed which protects critical printer components from binder and core. The service

station is located on the build deck.

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3D Systems, Inc.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

SAFETY SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS

SAFETY GUIDELINES

Before using the printer, your company should have a safety program in place. The safety program should:

8

Electrical Shock Hazard: High voltage electricity is accessible in the vicinity of this sign or behind the access panel.

High voltage can cause severe burns or death. Access panels are for service only and should be opened only by

certied service personnel or trained maintenance personnel.

Hot Surface Hazard: A hot surface is accessible in the vicinity of this sign or behind the access panel. Avoid contact.

Hot surfaces can cause severe burns. Access panels are for servicing only and should be opened only by certied

service personnel or trained maintenance personnel.

Caution: Indicates something may happen that could cause loss of data, damage to equipment, or personal injury.

Wear gloves for any interaction with consumables. Wear sleeves whenever handling powder.

PACKAGING

7

NOTE: Do not damage or discard any packaging materials or carton(s). If the printer needs to be returned to the manufacturer, it should

be shipped in its original packaging. If other packaging is used, the customer will be responsible for any shipping damages that may occur

Only Certied/Qualied Service Personnel can install the 3D printer.

• Label and point out hazardous equipment, materials, and procedures.

• Explain what to do in case of an emergency.

• Provide information about hazards of equipment and materials in the form of Material Safety Data Sheets

(MSDSs). The MSDSs are provided with all materials supplied by 3D Systems. The Visijet C4 Spectrum

MSDS is also available on 3DSYSTEMS.COM

Wear eye protection for any interaction with consumables.

[NOTE: Wear respiratory protection if you decide to sand any parts.]

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3D Systems, Inc.

GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES

The printer is designed with built-in safety features, improper use and malfunctions can cause injury to personnel. To prevent unsafe

operation, the printer will automatically shut down if unsafe conditions are detected.

Follow these safety guidelines when operating the printer:

• Do not ignore warning signs posted during printer service operations.

• To prevent potential skin-irritation and sensitization due to contact with material, follow all guidelines within Build Material Safety.

• To prevent pinch and crush injuries to the hand, use caution when replacing platform inside the build chamber.

• Use caution when touching the top of the printer as the curing lamp can cause the top of the printer to become hot.

DANGER: Hazardous voltage exists inside the printer. Injury or death from electrical shock can result if you remove the

printer’s external panels. Panels should only be removed for service by trained and certied 3D Systems Technical Support

personnel or your certied service reseller.

To prevent electrical shock, the printer will not operate unless external panels are installed. Check the facility’s electrical ser-

vice rating before you connect power to the printer.

ELECTRICAL GUIDELINES

• Read and follow all printer instructions.

• Follow all safety rules and heed all cautions and warnings in this guide.

• Do not attempt to open chamber door while build in progress.

• Do not use any material without reviewing the Material Safety Data Sheets/Safety Data Sheets (MSDS/SDS).

• Dress power and communication cables behind printer to prevent tripping.

• Do not attempt to access, service, or adjust printer components. Do not attempt to perform any maintenance procedures unless

specically trained to do so.

• Operators should be trained to operate system and perform all necessary tasks to create a part.

• Certied service personnel are those who completed the 3D Systems service training package and certied to perform service

tasks. Certication may occur at different levels, and service providers should only perform tasks they are authorized and certied

to complete.

• Do not ignore warning signs posted during printer service operations.

• If an error message appears on the printer’s LCD refer to “Error Messages” within this guide before resuming operation.

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3D Systems, Inc.

PART MATERIAL SAFETY

9

• Disposal of fully-cured parts produced are not subject to regulations of any known agency worldwide.

• Waste Trays contain components which cause the binder to solidify. At this point, cured waste can then be disposed of as any cured

part. Always check with local regulations before disposing of any trash.

• To nd out facility disposal requirements, contact a local waste disposal provider. (Local environmental regulatory agency should

have a list of qualied providers.) You will need to give your disposal service provider a copy of the part material MSDS / SDS, and

possibly other forms included in the Appendix of your VisiJet

®

Material Handling Guide, such as Waste Prole Worksheet and SNUR

(Signicant New Use Regulation - U.S. only). A report will be provided, indicating disposal requirements, as well as a quotation for

regularly scheduled pickups.

Users of the printer should be informed of potential hazards of part material prior to working with a printer, or performing duties which may

result in exposure to uncured binder, such as removal of material waste pan and empty material cartridges.

The VisiJet

®

C4 Spectrum

™

contains two components:

DISPOSAL

• granular core component (safe to handle with proper protection)

• binder liquid (In the event of a spill, use gloves, protective eye wear, and sleeves and follow standard procedure as indicated in the

VisiJet® C4 Spectrum Post Processing User Guide).

ColorJet Printing (CJP)

ColorJet Printing (CJP) involves two major components: core and binder. Core material is spread in thin layers over the build platform

with a roller. After each layer of core material is spread, color binder is selectively jetted from inkjet print heads over the core layer, caus-

ing the core to solidify. The build platform lowers with each subsequent layer and the process is repeated until the build is complete.

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3D Systems, Inc.

Health Hazards / Irritant

• Uncured VisiJet

®

C4 Spectrum binder is a sensitizer. Skin or eye irritation could occur when exposed to the chemical composition

of the material.

• Any chemical may exert harmful effects if it contacts or enters the body. The binder is a sensitizer and irritant.

• Skin Sensitization

• Uncured material is a sensitizer, and can cause allergic reactions if it comes into contact with skin without protective gloves and pro-

tective sleeves. Refer to personal protection equipment for more information. To avoid sensitization, do not allow uncured material to

contact skin. Consult the MSDS for specic information about the sensitization potential.

INHALATION

• Under normal operation, inhalation of materials is not an expected route of entry. Wear a particulate dusk mask if concerned about

inhalation.

• Ingestion

• Uncured VisiJet

®

C4 Spectrum Binder is toxic if ingested.

• Uncured material is toxic if ingested. Uncured material must not be present where food and drink are stored, prepared, or consumed

and not ingested. After handling materials, wash hands with soap and water before consuming or preparing food.

HANDLING FINISHED PARTS

• Finished (cured) parts can be handled or disposed of the same as standard household plastic products. VisiJet

®

parts are not recy-

clable. VisiJet

®

materials are not intended for and cannot be used for medical implantation, or food or drink handling applications.

• Uncured parts must be handled with gloves and eye protection.

HYGIENIC PRACTICES

• Appropriate hygienic practices should be followed, including washing with soap and water before meals, breaks, smoking, applying

cosmetics, using toilet facilities, and after work.

• Employees should be alerted to the need to clean and rinse off any contacted surface promptly in order to prevent further contamina-

tion. Ensure a convenient washroom location is provided with access to soap, water, and disposable paper towels.

IRRITANT

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3D Systems, Inc.

MATERIAL HANDLING

EMERGENCY (MSDS)

• Chemtrec USA (800) 424-9300; Europe +1-703-527-3887

Part Building

• If uncured binder is observed on the part or platform after build, this is an abnormal condition, and is an indication that the printer

requires servicing by 3D Systems or a certied servicing reseller. Assume any liquid or paste-like material is part material. Do not

directly touch uncured part material without protective gloves. Discontinue use of the printer pending service by a 3D Systems Tech-

nical Support Representative.

• Flammability and Combustibility

• Do not expose materials to heat at or above 230°F (110°C), ames, sparks, or any source of ignition. (Though the U.S. Department

of Transportation does not consider VisiJet materials a “ammability hazard,” they do classify them “combustible” based on ash

points.) For more information on VisiJet material ash points and combustibility, see VisiJet C4 Spectrum

®

Post-Processing Guide.

Personal Protection Equipment

• Exposure to uncured binder may occur when removing and disposing of the waste pan. To prevent con-

tact, wear chemically resistant protective gloves - nitrile or neoprene gloves are recommended. Do not

use Latex gloves. Wear gloves at all stages of handling consumables.

• In the event of a leak or spill of uncured part material, wear safety glasses with side shields to provide eye

protection. Wear eye protection at all stages of handling consumables.

• Because of the printer’s built-in engineering controls, respiratory protection is not necessary during normal

operation. A NIOSH-approved (or equivalent) dust mask is recommended during depowdering.

• Sleeve protectors are required during depowdering.

Packaging Inspection

The VisiJet

®

binder cartridge are pa

ckaged in shipping cartons. Upon receipt of material shipments, inspect cardboard carton exterior

for signs of damage and leakage. If leakage is observed, DO NOT open carton, and contact 3D Systems’s Technical Support Hotline. If

no leakage is observed, keep the material cartridge in their cartons and store until material is used.

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3D Systems, Inc.

Regulatory Information

In the U.S., uncured material is subject to special EPA disposal regulations and record-keeping requirements. “Uncured VisiJet

®

material”

includes any part material cartridge (empty or full).

In the U.S., you must keep the following disposal records for ve (5) years after the date of disposal:

• The quantity of part material received (new or “virgin”).

• The name and address of the shipping location (the “responsible party” - generally your waste disposal service provider).

• The quantity of part material shipped (disposed). For further information, see your VisiJet C4 Spectrum

®

Post-Processing Guide.

• For assistance, contact 3D Systems Technical Support.

Spilled VisiJet

®

Binder

• Spills of material are HIGHLY UNLIKELY, and should NOT occur in normal operation of the printer. If a leak occurs, it is an

indication of a serious printer malfunction.

• The rst priority is to protect users from inadvertently touching material. Handling uncured part material requires use of

gloves and other personnel protective equipment to ensure no direct contact with uncured part material. If you don’t know

which material it is, assume it to be uncured part material, and handle accordingly - with the recommended personal pro-

tective equipment.

• Promptly remove spilled material, dispose of waste material, and cleanup materials per local regulatory requirements.

Discontinue use of the printer, and contact 3D Systems Technical Support for a service visit to determine and repair the

source of leakage.

• Small spills of uncured liquid part material can be cleaned up using disposable towels, non-reusable rags, or absorbing

materials such as sawdust, clay, diatomaceous earth, or activated charcoal. If spilled material is hot (liquid), wait until it

cools and gels before wiping up. After cleaning the spill, wipe surface with denatured or isopropyl alcohol and clean thor-

oughly with soap and water.

• Consider avoiding placement of the printer over carpeting, or consider use of barriers to avoid the possibility of carpet

damage if spills were to occur.

• Advise service provider of the spilled material, and provide MSDS and other material information prior to contact with the

material. Also advise of disposal requirements for part material and clean-up products if part material (uncured) is the

spilled material. Use of heat above 65°C (149°F) may prove helpful in removing spilled part material from carpet.

• Tools contaminated with part material should be cleaned prior to reuse. Solvents such as denatured alcohol or Isopropyl

Alcohol (IPA), are normally required to clean equipment and tools. Wash with soap and water to remove any traces of ex-

cess part material or solvent. Contact solvent suppliers for information on proper handling of solvents if used for clean-up.

Waste Removal

CAUTION: Uncured binder material is a sensitizer. Skin or eye irritation could occur when exposed to the

chemical composition of the material

• If there is spilled material around the cover of the waste tray, wipe with a paper towel before dispensing in trash.

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3D Systems, Inc.

Material Storage

SHELF LIFE

• 1 year from date of manufacture

CLIMATE

• A cool, dry area with adequate ventilation

TEMPERATURE RANGE

• 40°F (4°C) to 80°F (27°C)

MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RANGE

• 95°F (35°C)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• No direct sunlight, heat, ames, or UV energy

BINDER

SHELF LIFE

• 1 year from date of manufacture

CLIMATE

• A cool, dry area with adequate ventilation

TEMPERATURE RANGE

• 40°F (4°C) to 80°F (27°C)

MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RANGE

• 95°F (35°C)

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Avoid direct sunlight, heat, ames, or UV energy

CORE

VisiJet

®

C4 Spectrum

™

Core

VisiJet

®

C4 Spectrum

™

Clear & Color Binders

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3D Systems, Inc.

SPECIFICATIONS and REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR PROJET 4500

10

COMPUTER AND OPERATING SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS

Software: 3DPrint 1.04 or later

RECOMMENDED OPERATING SYSTEM

Windows

®

7 & 8 and Windows

®

Vista

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

Electrical Requirements

Compliance

ETL, CB Scheme, approvals to UL 60950 Information Technology Equipment. RoHS and WEEE

compliant.

Voltage input RMS 100/115/230VAC (autoscene) 15/15/9.5A 50/60Hz

Current AC 90-132 (15A) / AC 216 - 264 (11 - 9.5A)

Consumption =< 1800W (80% x 2250) W typical, normal operation, including post processing

WEIGHT

• Crated - 750 lbs (340 kg)

• Uncrated - 600 lbs (272 kg)

DIMENSIONS (WxDxH)

• Crated 75 x 68 x 48 in. (190 x 172 x 122 cm)

• Uncrated 64 x 60 x 31.5 in. (162 x 152 x 80 cm)

NETWORK CONNECTIVITY

• TCP/IP 100/10 Base T

MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

• Processor: Multi-core processor - 2 GHz or faster per core

• System RAM: 2 GB

• Screen Resolution: 1024x768

COLOR REPRODUCTION

• Full CMY Color

ETL APPROVAL

• Meets CE and UL standards

MATERIALS

• VisiJet C4 Spectrum Clear Binder

• VisiJet C4 Spectrum Cyan Binder

• VisiJet C4 Spectrum Magenta Binder

• VisiJet C4 Spectrum Yellow Binder

• VisiJet C4 Spectrum Core

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

• Maximum Temp. Range: 50-85° F (10-29.4° C)

• Recommended Temp. Range: 55-75° F (13-24° C)

OPERATING HUMIDITY RANGE

• 20-55% - non-cond.

BUILD VOLUME

• 8” x 10” x 8” (203 x 254 x 203 mm)

640 cubic inches

LAYER THICKNESS

• .004 (.102mm)

XY RESOLUTION

• 600 x 600 dpi

NOISE LEVELS

• During Printing = 67dB

• Clearing Overows w/ cover closed: 79dB

• Vacuuming out bed/removing parts: 88dB

• Depowdering: 86dB

POWER REQUIREMENTS

• 100/115/230 VAC 15/15/9.5 A 50/60 Hz

PRINT HEAD LIQUID WASTE SYSTEM

• Piezo x 2

• Disposable absorbent waste tray (no liquid to spill)

SUPPORTED INPUT DATA FORMATS

• .STL, .VRML, .PLY, .ZPR

PRINT3D App

• Remote monitoring and control from tablet, computers

and smartphones

16

3D Systems, Inc.

YOUR PROJET

®

4500 AT A GLANCE

11

A

B

C

D

E

Color Binder Pockets (C/M/Y)

Feeder

Fast Axis

Print Head Cartridge

Waste Tray

H

I

J

Vacuum Hose

Fine Cleaning Wand

Control Panel

Printer Components

F

G

Clear Binder Pocket

Debris Separator Housing

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

17

3D Systems, Inc.

A

B

C

D

E

Color Binder Cartridges (C/M/Y)

IGUS Chain

Fast Axis Assembly

Build Chamber

H

I

J

Vacuum Hose

Service Station

Carriage (contains print heads)

F

G

Clear Binder Cartridge

Debris Separator

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Internal Components

18

3D Systems, Inc.

External Components

A

B

Upper Real Panel

Lower Rear Panel

(Power Supply)

B

A

B

C

D

E

Front Left Door

Side Panel

Printer Door

Cleaning Station

B

C

A

D

Control Panel

E

19

3D Systems, Inc.

12

FAMILIARIZATION

Support Material Part Material

The ColorJet Printing (CJP) technology was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was commercialized by ZCorpo-

ration. With the acquisition of ZCorporation by 3DS Systems, CJP technology is now one of several professional 3D printing technologies

under the ProJet® brand. The CJP process involves:

• Importing a solid 3D model le into the latest version of 3DPrint™ software

• Setting up and positioning your 3D le(s) into the virtual build volume in the 3DPrint software.

• Printing the part(s)

• Curing the part(s) in the build bed

• Gross removal of excess core material from the build area with the vacuum hose

• Fine cleaning of excess core from the part(s) in the cleaning station

• Cleaning and servicing the printer as needed

To start, the 3DPrint

®

software takes a three-dimensional design le and converts it into 0.102 mm (0.004 in.) cross-sections, or layers.

Before printing, 3DPrint evaluates the part geometry and checks if there are enough consumable materials in the printer to print the num-

ber of layers required to complete the part. If there are, the printer then prints each layer in order, one after the other, from the bottom

of the part to the top. If there is not enough, 3DPrint will then alert you to add the appropriate consumables before starting a print job.

During printing, binder is applied to the edges of the part to create a strong “shell” for the part exterior. At the same time, color can be

applied to that same shell to obtain a full-color model. When printing the interior of the part, a latticed infrastructure is created to support

and stabilize the shell and to maintain accurate part geometries.

When the part is nished printing, heaters surrounding the walls and above the build chamber turn on to “cure” the part(s). This heat cure

cycle is required to develop the strength of the part, and allow the user to handle the parts safely. This cycle is automatically started at

the end of the printing process.

IMPORTANT: After curing, the user empties the build bed of most excess core material around and above the part(s) by vacuuming with

the integrated vacuum system. This vacuumed core material is ltered through the debris separator, and then returns directly to the

feeder for reuse in future builds. After coarse cleaning, the part can be transferred to the cleaning station on the right-hand side of the

printer, and any additional core material can be removed with the compressed air integrated into the printer. Brushing the part may help

remove stuck particles on the surface of the part(s).

Once clean, the part is complete. There is NO need for an inltration step as with previous generations of CJP printers to increase

strength.

Additional steps may be taken to improve the color of the models. Please refer to the VisiJet C4 Spectrum Post-Processing Guide.

1. Import Part

Into

3DPrint

2. Position

Part

3. Check the

Printer

4. Press

“Build”

5. Print

6. Cure Part

7. Empty Build

Bed

8. Coarse Core

Removal

9. Fine Core

Removal

10. Clean the

Printer

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3D Systems, Inc.

13

USING 3DPRINT

®

File Formats You Can Import and Print with 3DPrint

®

Current le types supported are listed below:

NOTE: The quality of data read through each of these le types is highly variable due to the way the source programs treat their data.

Computer System Requirements

Computer operating systems and hardware change frequently. Please check out the latest recommendations on our 3DS Central Web

site, in the Products section under your printer model, under Software: 3dscentral.3dsystems.com.

WHAT’S IT FOR?

3DPrint

®

is a Windows-based software program designed to easily and quickly manipulate, annotate, and preview 3D modeling data

before printing it in a 3D Systems 3D printer.

• .zbd les are build les created by the 3DPrint

®

Software (can open but not import)

• .zpr les are part les created by a number of software packages from other companies. 3DPrint

®

supports versions 1, 2, & 3.

• .stl les are monochrome 3D model les exported by several 3D CAD packages.

• .wrl (also known as VRML) les are color les that are exported by many 3D CAD packages.

• .ply les are 3D color model les exported by several 3D CAD packages.

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3D Systems ProJet 4500 User manual

3D Systems ProJet 4500 User manual

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