Operation
The Smart Part Washer offers two modes for washing:
Standard Mode
- Gives operators flexibility to determine the wash cycle after printing.
- Useful for prototyping or other situations where operator input is important.
Production Mode
- Wash cycle is set in the Printer UI before printing.
- Useful for organizations that seek to closely control production conditions and limit unexpected actions that an operator may take.
Operating the Smart Part Washer is a simple process:
- Place platform of newly printed parts in the platform latch.
- Select wash cycle, or use the wash profile attached to the project, and press start.
- Remove washed platform and parts for further post-processing.
Notes
- The part washer automatically chooses the length of the wash cycle based on the resin used.
- Parts may require spot cleaning after part washer cleaning.
- Resin that is washed off the part soils the washer solvent.
- When the soil load in the solvent becomes too great, the soiled solvent must be replaced with clean solvent.
- When the soil level is full, the part washer will cease operation until the soiled solvent is drained and replaced with fresh solvent.
- To prevent unexpected downtime, monitor soil load indicator bar.
Note: If using Production Mode, "More wash options" is not available. See the Production Mode lesson below for more information.
- The Abort wash button is also displayed if you need to stop your wash cycle early.
- In case of an emergency, always use the Emergency stop instead.
- Check the mesh screen filter at the bottom of the wash tank for part fragments and debris. Use a gloved hand or wet/dry vacuum to remove.
- Loose fragments can damage parts during washing.
- Leave the washer lid closed between washes in order to keep debris out of washer.
Wash profiles are assigned to the project build in the Print Controls for special wash conditions.
Default
When no wash profile is selected, the default wash cycle will run as noted next to the start wash button.
When a wash profile is selected for the build, the start wash button will note which profile is in use. This profile will run by default unless a different wash option is selected.
Air Spin Only
Spins the platform without any solvent exposure.
Extreme - 5 Cycles
More intense spinning. Runs 5 times consecutively.
Extreme - Single Cycle
More intense spinning. Runs a single time.
Solvent Submerge Only
Exposes parts to solvent without any motion.
DPM is relatively viscous and remains on the part surface after washing. Because of this, parts washed in DPM must be dunked in IPA after washing to remove the residual solvent.
- After washing is complete, the lid will open.
- Remove platform from platform latch.
- Parts will have an oily sheen.
- Holding the platform securely, dunk flat portion of build platform and parts into a container of IPA 10 times over 10 seconds total with an even cadence.
- Avoid too much agitation which can spill IPA and dislodge parts from platform.
- Parts should be dunked within 5 minutes of washing.
- Avoid submerging entire platform.
- Remove parts from IPA and let air dry for 30 minutes before curing. Carbon recommends drying on platform for convenience. However, parts with trapped volumes can be dried off platform on a grid to enable good airflow around the part.
Note: Change IPA when draining soiled DPM from part washer or when IPA stops removing residual DPM from parts.
A few resins have post-processing protocols specific to DPM washing.
- UMA 90
- Post-IPA dunk, allow UMA 90 parts to sit for 2⎯ 3 hours before UV curing to prevent tackiness.
- All resins
- The Smart Part Washer has specific resin/solvent combination washing scripts. These scripts are automatically applied by the Smart Part Washer, and no extra steps are required by the user. On average, be prepared for slightly longer DPM washing cycles in comparison to VF 1 washing cycles in the Smart Part Washer.
As of Smart Part Washer software version w1.5.0-676.6 customers can activate Production Mode. This limits the washer to running only the wash profile assigned to the project via the printer UI, preventing operators from selecting an unplanned wash cycle.
Production Mode is an optional software feature that will not automatically be deployed to all Smart Part Washers.
To request that a washer be placed into Production Mode, reach out to your Business Development Director or Carbon Support.
Usage
When preparing a printing project via the printer UI, users can select a wash profile that dictates the desired wash cycle(s) for that project.
In Production Mode, the touchscreen will only allow the operator to start the wash profile that was specified in the printer UI.
In Standard Mode, the touchscreen presents the planned wash as the default option, but allows the user to select a different wash plan if desired by selecting More wash options.
Look at the images below to see the difference between Standard Mode and Production Mode.
Touchscreen in Standard Mode - More wash options available.
Touchscreen in Production Mode - More wash options not available.
- If no wash plan was selected while setting up the print project in the printer UI, only the Default wash plan will be available.
- If a basket is used for off-platform washing, the user must first select the correct print from a list of recent prints (as is the case for Standard Mode); this will load the prescribed wash plan.
- A Smart Part Washer in Standard Mode has the ability to function offline via pre-loaded wash programs. However, a washer in Production Mode must be able to contact Carbon’s cloud-based services to supply wash plan information for the relevant print. Thus, a washer that is in Production Mode will not function when it is unable to connect to Carbon’s cloud-based systems (eg, if it is offline) .
Remove the parts from the platform
- Remove the build platform from the printer.
- Using a scraper, remove any parts to be washed in the basket from the build platform.
- The maximum total part weight for the basket is 2 kg.
Load the basket
Loading external pockets
Each pocket has a dimension of 4.5” x 4.5” x 0.75”.
Place small parts in the external pockets on the basket. Ensure parts are evenly distributed across the pockets to maintain an equal weight distribution.
Close magnetic snaps on all pockets, including those that do not contain any parts.
Loading internal cavity
- Place any part(s) that do not fit in the external pockets into the inner cavity. The inner cavity is 11.25” tall by 7.5” diameter, with an opening of 6.5”.
- Fully open the inner cinch.
- Place the part(s) into the cavity.
- Tighten the cinch such that the part can not come out during the wash cycle.
Close the basket
- Close the Lid.
- Place the lid on the basket and engage all three slide latches by pushing them towards the outside of the basket.
- Ensure they are securely latched.
Load basket into Smart Part Washer
- Load the basket into the Part Washer the same way you would load an M2 platform.
Notes: Because parts are being removed from their respective platforms before being placed in the basket, there is a disconnect in the NFC tag information tracking. You will have to self select which print is being washed in the basket. If multiple prints were put in the same basket, choose the print with the largest soil load.
Multiple builds can be washed in the basket at the same time. However, Carbon does not guarantee the material properties of parts washed concurrently with those made from a different material due to varying resin wash profiles and solvent exposure times.
Carbon does not recommend washing multiple builds of different colors at the same time due to potential color transfer between parts.
Select the print
- Once the basket is secured in the washer, the screen will display recent prints from the past 24 hrs.
- Use the ⏶ Up and ⏷ Down arrows to navigate to the print that you loaded into the basket. If multiple prints were put in the same basket, choose the print with the largest soil load.
- Select your print.
- The UI should now be the same as using a standard platform. Change the wash profile or start the wash.
The wash profile cannot by changed if the Smart Part Washer is using Production Mode.
Wash cycle completion
- When the wash cycle has completed, remove the basket from the part washer.
- If using a solvent such as DPM that requires a post dunk and your post dunk container is large enough to accommodate the basket, then the parts may remain in the basket for the post dunk process.
- If not, remove the parts from the basket before dunking them in IPA.
- Use a tray when removing the basket from the IPA dunk to prevent dripping on the floor.
Remove parts from the basket
- Remove your parts from the basket by disengaging the three slide latches on the lid and removing the lid from the basket. Remove any parts from the internal cavity and external pockets.
The basket should be cleaned at least once daily when in use and in between washes of different colored resins.
Do not use acetone to clean the part washer basket. Acetone will damage the basket's fabric.
Between washes of different colored resins:
- Use a blue shop towel or Kimwipe to wipe down all surfaces of the basket, removing any visible resin or solvent residue.
At the end of the work day:
- Use a blue shop towel or Kimwipe to wipe down all surfaces of the basket, removing any visible pieces of resin.
- Use an Isopropanol (IPA) soaked towel to remove any resin and solvent residue and to prevent any material buildup.
- Ensure that the inside and outside of the basket, including all pockets, are wiped down.
- Ensure that all the metal surfaces of the basket are wiped down.
- Check to make sure the whole basket is matte and free of shiny spots.
If you have any concerns about your basket or basket washing, please contact Carbon Support.
Carbon offers a dental specific solvent.
- Only dental models printed with DPR 10 may be washed with DAA solvent.
- No other dental materials are validated for use with the Smart Part Washer.
- VF 1 and DPM are not validated for use with dental models.
Before placing platform in the Smart Part Washer
- Remove platform from the printer with parts still attached.
- Drain platform and parts for 5⎯ 10 minutes into a container so that residual uncured resin drips off.
- Carbon recommends mounting platform in a fixture.
- This step is necessary to ensure that parts are properly cleaned during the washing process.
- Every 4 hours filter the collected resin and pour back into DPR 10 bottle using the pour stand.
- This process will protect your resin from prolonged exposure to ambient light.
Washing
- Default is the only wash cycle validated for use with dental models.
Drying
- After washing is complete, remove platform from part washer.
- Remove models from the platform.
- Dental models may appear wet and feel slippery. This is normal.
- Place models upside down (hollow surface facing up) under a snorkel to dry for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Ensure snorkel is placed close to models and rests flatly on the table surface.
- Check parts. If they are still wet or slippery, continue drying until surface is matte and free of residual solvent.
