Printers
L1 Printer

Operation

8min

Per Print Process

1

Inspect Cassette

A damaged or unclean window can negatively impact part quality and accuracy.

Begin with a clean cassette: If the cassette is not already clean, clean it following the guidelines in Cassette Care.

Inspect cassette for damage

  1. Inspect the cassette.
  2. Evaluate any window damage according to L1 Cassette Damage Evaluation.

If damage is found:

  1. Remove the cassette from production.
  2. Follow instructions for returning a damaged cassette.
Inspect the cassette from above and below
Inspect the cassette from above and below




2

Dispense Resin

When possible, use a secondary container to pour resin into the cassette.
When possible, use a secondary container to pour resin into the cassette.


The cassette must be filled with the appropriate amount of resin for your print. Depending on the type of resin you are using, follow standard dispensing procedures as outlined in Resin Mixing and Dispensing:

Minimum resin amount: The L1 printer requires at least 1 cartridge to be fully dispensed to print. This is the minimum amount required to cover the build window.

Secondary container: For 2 part resins, dispensing into a secondary container is recommended. Dispensing directly into the cassette can be challenging due to the height difference between the cassette mounted on the cart (approximately 122 cm /48 in) and a standard bench (89 cm/35 in). Dispensing into a secondary container gives much more flexibility in selecting a size, shape and weight that matches your use case.

3

Install Cassette


  1. Use the cassette cart to place cassette in printer.
    • Resin may be pre-dispensed into cassette while mounted on cart (parked over a workbench).
  2. Cassette seated when indicator light comes on.
  3. Park cassette cart in a safe location.
4

Inspect Platform

Burrs, dents or other platform damage can affect print quality and may cause damage to the cassette window. Small or seemingly minor damage on the platform can damage the cassette. Check the platform before every print to maximize print success.

1. Gather Materials and Equipment

  • 14 inch taping knife or similar item to inspect the build surface
  • acetone and blue towels
    • or acetone wipes
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2. Check First Corner

Slowly run the taping knife from the center of the build platform to one corner.

  • Hold the taping knife at a 45-degree angle to the platform.
  • If knife catches on burrs or damage to platform, remove build platform from production and replace with undamaged build platform.

The metal knife is for inspection purposes only. It is not meant to remove or repair damage.

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3. Repeat for Remaining 3 Corners

Repeat inspection for the remaining 3 corners, moving from the center of the platform to each corner.

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4. Platform Damage

If the taping knife catches on any burrs or protrusions, the platform may damage the cassette. Remove the platform from production and contact Carbon Support.

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5. Wipe with Acetone

When inspection is complete, clean top and sides of platform with acetone to remove any residue or debris.

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5

Install Platform

Load the platform after you have installed the cassette to keep dust and debris from falling onto the spill window above the light engine.

  1. Holding the platform by the side grips, lift the platform so that flat build surface of the platform is pointing down.
  2. Slide the platform onto the guide rails on the build arm, pushing straight back until the platform stops.
  3. The platform indicator light turns on to indicate successful installation.

  • Slide platform into build arm until it stops.
  • Indicator light will activate when platform is installed.
6

Start the Print

Now the cassette and platform are loaded, you may start your print.

  1. Check that the correct project is queued on the printer.
  2. Start the print with the start button or the foot switch.

Start Button


  1. Push the green Start button to begin your print.
  2. Door will close and printing will begin.
  3. Your print has now started.

Foot Switch


  1. Put foot under foot switch and lift up to start print.
  2. Door will close and printing will begin.
  3. Your print has now started.
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⚠️ Pinch hazard

Keep clear of the moving door and printer arm.



7

Resin Level Detection

Resin level detection is only available for aligner model customers using the Gen2 Aligner Model Production Solution and software v1.45 or later.

L1 printers now check the resin level before printing begins. This feature will abort a print and alert the user if there is too little resin in the cassette for the print, or if there is too much resin to proceed safely.

See Cassette Care for more information.

8

Debris Detection

Debris detection is currenly only available for aligner model customers using the Gen2 Aligner Model Production Solution and software v1.44 or later.

The printer will abort a print and alert the user if solid debris is detected in the resin at the start of a print.

See Cassette Care for more information.

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9

Remove Platform

When printing is complete, remove the platform from the printer.


  1. Touch door sensor on either side of printer to open door.
  2. Grasp side grips on platform and pull platform.
  3. Carefully rotate the platform so parts point up.
  4. Place platform on stable work surface.
  5. You can now remove parts from the platform.



Notes

Increased weight: The weight of the platform may have increased if printing large and/or latticed parts that may have trapped a large amount of liquid resin. Use caution when moving the platform to avoid damaging the parts or the platform.

Liquid resin: Use care when handling the platform as the parts and platform may spread uncured resin.

Clean build area: After removing the platform, use blue towels and IPA to clean up any spills, drips or smears of resin on the deck or printer interior.

Clean guide rails: It is especially important to clean the guide rails on the underside of the platform. Over time, resin can build up and affect platform alignment.

10

Washing & Curing Parts

Follow the recommendations as outlined in the standard process courses in Carbon Academy:

Notes

Smart Part Washer: The L1 platform is not compatible with the Smart Part Washer. Instead, remove parts from the platform and use the Smart Part Washer basket.

Wash parts off platform: Due to the size and weight of the L1 platform, parts cannot be washed on the platform.

Use caution when removing parts from platform: Compared to M series parts, more force may be required to remove larger parts from the platform due to greater adhesion strength and larger/more supports.

More solvent, bigger washing containers: The L1's large build volume enables larger/more parts. This requires more solvent and bigger washing containers compared to M series printers. Plan ahead to make sure you have enough solvent on hand and washing containers that are large enough to hold large parts and the amount of solvent necessary to clean them.

Curing: Please keep the size of your UV and thermal curing equipment in mind. Fewer large parts will fit in curing chambers and ovens. For especially large parts, you may need to purchase equipment with larger curing volumes, like the Dreve PCU 90.

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11

Clean Platform

1. Clean Platform


  1. Use towels and IPA to remove resin residue from the platform.
  2. Clean all surfaces thoroughly until there are no shiny spots.
  3. Use acetone for the last pass or two.
  4. Clean guide rails on underside of platform.
  5. The platform is now clean.

2. Remove Debris

  • Remove any debris from the cavities on the underside of the platform.
  • Vacuuming may be necessary.
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3. Clean Platform Schunks

  1. Remove the platform from the printer.
  2. Place platform on clean workbench resting on the build surface of platform.
  3. Apply IPA to a lint-free towel and clean the mating surface of each schunk. The schunks should be clean and free of dust or debris when finished.
  4. Do not apply IPA directly to the schunk.
Underside of platform with schunks clearly visible
Underside of platform with schunks clearly visible


Per Shift Process

For prototyping or low production labs that run 1 shift per day, these tasks will need to be performed daily.

For high volume production customers that run multiple shifts per day, these tasks will need to be performed once per shift.

Perform the following tasks once per shift.



1

Reclaim or Discard Resin

One-part resins can be filtered and reclaimed.

Two-part resins at the end of their pot life should be discarded into a hazardous waste container according to local regulations.

2

Clean the Cassette

The cassette requires a more thorough cleaning once every 24 hours. Carbon recommends doing this after the last print of every day.

Wipe cassette fully with acetone to ensure there are no glossy areas or streaks of resin.

  1. Full cleaning can only occur outside of the printer to enable access to all surfaces of the cassette.
  2. Do not dig into the seam between the window and the frame to remove resin residue. This will break the seal between these features and damage your cassette.
  3. This wipe down is in addition to regular cleaning,
Wipe down with acetone | Do not dig into seam
Wipe down with acetone | Do not dig into seam


Video - Cleaning the Cassette in the Printer

Video contains no audio


3

Inspect the Cassette

Inspect the cassette for any damage that will affect print performance or cause additional damage to hardware.

  1. Go to Cassette Care for more information about the different types of cassette damage.
  2. If damage is found:
    1. Remove the cassette from production
    2. Follow instructions for returning a damaged cassette.



Example of window damage
Example of window damage

4

Clean Printer Deck and Build Area

Clean the top of the build arm

  1. Remove cassette from the printer.
  2. Place tray over projection volume to keep dust and debris from falling onto the light engine spill window.
  3. Use a damp shop towel to remove dust and debris from the top of the build arm.
Keep the top of the build arm clean.
Keep the top of the build arm clean.


Clean build area surfaces

  1. Place tray, aluminum foil or other covering over projection volume to keep dust and debris from falling onto the light engine spill window.
  2. Use IPA and shop towels to remove resin from:
    1. The ledge (the portion of the deck in front of the cassette
    2. The deck area between the schunks
    3. The vertical interior walls of the build area, particularly the lower areas.
  3. Remove projection volume covering when cleaning is complete.
The ledge is susceptible to spills and drips. Keep it clean.
The ledge is susceptible to spills and drips. Keep it clean.


Clean the top surfaces of the printer

Use a vacuum and/or damp cloth to remove dust and debris from:

  1. Top of the printer
  2. Top of the door
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5

Lab Workstations

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Clean workstations

  1. Clean up any spills.
  2. Change workbench coverings if necessary.
  3. Remove any debris.

Emergency Stop

If you see smoke, fire, imminent danger to a user or any obstruction in the build area, you should press the Emergency Stop button. This will immediately terminate printing.



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  • When pressed, the Emergency Stop button will immediately vent the pneumatic system and stop power to all actuating mechanisms. Only the computer within the printer will remain powered.
  • Emergency Stop should only be used in the case of an emergency as it may cause permanent data loss.
  • Your in-progress print will be lost if the Emergency Stop button is pushed. Any partially printed parts will need to be discarded and reprinted.
  • The platform will not be able to be removed until power is properly restored and the platform is at the home position.

In non-emergency situations, use the Abort button.

Recovering from Emergency Stop

Emergency Stop activation immediately halts all printer motion and deactivates many key systems. Because of this, simply pulling out the Emergency Stop button will not reactivate your printer.

Follow these steps to get your L1 back up and running.

1. Turn the Emergency Stop button

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Turn the button clockwise until it pops back out.

2. Push the reset button

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  1. Go to the back of the printer.
  2. Push the silver reset button. This will return power to the display.

3. Power cycling

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If pushing the reset button does not return power to the display, it will be necessary to power cycle the printer.

  1. On the back of the L1, turn off the power switch.
  2. After 30 seconds, turn the power switch on.
  3. Next, push the silver reset button. This will return power to the display.

4. Remove the platform

The display will show “Remove platform”, but to do so the platform needs to be in the home position.

  1. On the display, press the X button next to “Need Help?”
  2. Press the ✓ button on the display to return the platform to the home position.
  3. If the platform isn’t at the top, press the labeled button to raise the platform.
    • If indicated, follow additional instructions as displayed.
  4. Press the X button next to “Raise Platform”. Once pressed, the display will show “Raising platform”.
  5. When the display shows “Remove platform” do so and proceed with cleaning the platform.

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Updated 07 Feb 2025
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