Maintenance
Overview
Like all equipment, the M1/M2 Printer needs regular maintenance to remain in good working condition. Use the following recommendations to keep your printer running smoothly.
The sections of this course are organized by the frequency of the maintenance tasks.
Daily
Perform the following tasks once per day.
Clean the Platform
After parts have been removed from the platform, it must be cleaned for reuse.
Note: Failure to properly clean the platform may cause adhesion issues during printing.
- Remove any cured remnants of the part with a scraper.
- Wipe down the entire platform with Isopropanol (IPA).
- Apply acetone to a blue towel and give platform a final cleaning.
- Inspect and clean resin off the kinematic ball mounts.
- Check to make sure the whole platform is matte and free of shiny spots.
- Repeat cleaning with acetone until all shiny spots are removed.
Clean the Cassette
Proper cleaning of the cassette is critical to ensure print success. An improperly cleaned cassette will adversely affect print quality.
Inspect the Cassette
Notes
- Reference the C5 Cassette for more information about the C5 cassette.
- Never wipe the window without solvent on a blue towel.
- Do not squirt acetone or IPA directly onto the underside of the cassette.
Clean the Deck
Extra care must be taken when cleaning the deck glass. Abrasions or scratches in the glass will distort light coming from the light engine, causing part defects.
- Remove the cassette from deck and place it on a safe surface.
- Squirt 99.5% IPA onto a blue towel and wipe the deck to remove any resin.
- Remove stubborn, partially-cured resin on the deck with acetone and blue towels.
- Check for smudges on the deck glass by shining a light across it at an angle.
- If the deck glass is dirty, wipe with acetone sprayed blue towel in a single, slow and gentle pass, applying even pressure.
Workstations
Clean workstations
- Clean up any spills.
- Change workbench coverings if necessary.
- Remove any debris.
Weekly
Printer Door
Cleaning the door weekly is important to ensure the door retains anti-static properties by using an anti-static acrylic cleaner. In addition, cleaning removes dust, fingerprints, and small amounts of resin.
Never use a dry cloth or alternative cleaners to wipe the door.
Using a dry cloth or unapproved cleaners can create a static electric charge on the door, which can pull liquid resin dripping from completed parts onto the inside of the door. This can cause resin to reach prohibited areas.
To clean the printer door:
- Dampen a lint-free polishing cloth with Brillianize (anti-static acrylic cleaner) outside of the printer.
- Wipe the outside of the yellow door with the moistened cloth
- Open the door with the footswitch
- Wipe the inside of the yellow door with the moistened cloth
- Adjust the door to partially opened positions as needed to access all areas.
- To partially open the door, use the footswitch twice: once to move it, once to stop it.
The yellow door is made of acrylic and should never be exposed to chemical cleaners, Acetone, or scouring compounds. Acetone will permanently damage the door.
Clean Kinematic Balls on Platform
Use a blue towel lightly moistened with acetone to clean the kinematic balls of the platform where they contact the platform latch and remove any residual resin.
General Lab
Weekly lab maintenance should include the following tasks.
Clean working surfaces
- Use IPA and/or acetone to clean benchtops.
- If used, change bench coverings.
- Clean floor to remove debris and resin spills/smears/drips.
Check inventory of lab supplies
- Make sure there are enough consumable supplies available. If not, order more. These are examples of important supplies:
- IPA
- Acetone
- Gloves
- Shop towels
- Wipes
Monthly
Clean & Lubricate Printer Platform Latch
Lubricate the kinematic pin mounts in the platform latch:
- Clean the kinematic pin mounts with a blue towel or swab lightly moistened with acetone to remove any residual resin mixed with remaining grease.
- Apply a small amount of Krytox GPL 205 (McMaster-Carr part number 10195K19) grease to each pin pair using a swab (three locations).
- Insert platform into the platform latch, then remove it.
- Wipe off any excess grease from the platform kinematic balls with a blue towel.
- Replace your gloves to avoid getting grease on other surfaces.
Clean & Lubricate Cassette Kinematic Pin Mounts
- Clean the 3 kinematic ball mounts on the printer deck with a blue towel or swab lightly moistened with acetone to remove old grease.
- Apply a small amount of Krytox GPL 205 grease to the underside cassette pins using a swab.
- Replace your gloves to avoid getting grease on other surfaces.
Backup Important Projects
Carbon does not store or archive projects. This information is stored on the printer’s onboard server, and cannot be recovered if the server is replaced, reset, or otherwise compromised.
To prevent data loss, we recommend backing up critical projects at least once a month and when swapping printers. Depending on your usage and requirements, more frequent backups may be necessary.
For each printer:
In the printer projects UI, open the project you wish to backup.
In the project UI, click on the project name at the top of the screen to open the Project Settings.
Click Export Carbon File and save the file in the location of your choice.
Repeat Steps 1 - 3 for each project you wish to save.
General Lab
Clean and/or replace any soiled PPE items.
- Check lab coats, glasses, and any other reusable personal protective items for contamination.
- Wash or replace soiled items.
Quarterly
Inspect fan filters
- Find the intake fan ports located on the back of the M1 printer.
- Pull the black plastic fan filter cover off with your hands. If necessary, you may use a flat-edged tool to aid in removal, taking care not to scratch the paint.
- Inspect the filter. If it is discolored, change the filter.
- A. Clean filter
- B. Discolored filter. Replace.
- C. Severely discolored filter. Needs more frequent replacement.
- Discard the dirty filter in the regular waste bin.
- Insert new filter. There is no designated front or back side, so either orientation is sufficient.
- Gently snap the fan filter cover back in place.
Reference Accessories & Supplies for purchasing link.
As Needed
Cleaning Resin off Printer Door
If resin gets on the door, it should be cleaned off.
Follow the instructions for cleaning the printer door above .
Printer Door Scratches
If scratches develop on the printer door:
- Ensure that cleaning protocols follow Carbon's instructions to use only Brillianize (acrylic cleaner) and a lint-free polishing cloth to prevent scratches.
- To repair a scratched door or window, Carbon recommends using the Novus polishing kit (acrylic polishing kit).
Cleaning Behind Elevator
Cleaning behind the elevator requires faulting the door by blocking it with your hand. The door can then be manually moved to make clearance to reach the honeycomb.
- Use a clean micro-fiber towel to wipe away dust and debris
- Cleaning the left side requires reaching around the elevator
- Check deck for any particles that fell during cleaning, clean as necessary
- When cleaning is complete, activate the foot switch and the door will reset to the open position.
Cleaning White Panels and Top of Printer
- Dampen a lint-free polishing cloth with Brillianize (anti-static acrylic cleaner).
- Wipe the white outside panels or the top to remove dust.
Never use acetone to clean white panels.
