Wash Optimization
Get the most from your part washer
Wash optimization strategies will help you get the best results from your part washer.
To do so, you must first understand what the part washer is doing in its wash cycles.
The Smart Part Washer cleans liquid resin from parts with a cyclical repetition of four basic steps.
1. Vertically submerging into solvent
- Agitates solvent along vertical features
2. Spin in solvent
- Alternating directions every few spins
- Agitates solvent with centrifugal force along horizontal surfaces
3. Vertical lift from solvent
- Removes resin from vertical features
4. Spin in air
- Alternating directions every few spins
- Removes resin with centrifugal force from horizontal surfaces
The spinning steps in the wash cycle can be both an advantage and a hindrance to achieving the best wash results. Learn how to use spinning to your advantage.
The part washer utilizes centrifugal force, spinning parts both inside and outside of the solvent during the wash cycle.
When laying out parts on the build platform, consider the effects of spinning to achieve consistently clean parts.
Dynamics
- As the part washer spins the platform, parts at the edges of the platform move more quickly than parts at the center.
- Because velocity increases as you move farther from the platform’s center, place parts near the platform edges (as far from the center as possible) to achieve maximum solvent flow speed over your parts.
- Parts placed at or near the center will not be cleaned as well as parts placed further from the center.
Avoid the Center
The only area of the platform that doesn't get the benefit of centrifugal force is the center.
Best wash results avoid the center as can be seen in this layout example.
Take Advantage of Spinning
Features such as blind holes often require touch-up after washing.
Use centrifugal force to your advantage and aim blind holes outwards so the spinning throws resin out for you.
This example aims the blind hole towards the platform edge on both sides.
The diagrams below illustrate the effect of drag on solvent speed as it travels over a part in different orientations. The orientation of the parts will dictate how much drag occurs as they push against the solvent.
Fig. 1: The larger profile impedes solvent movement around the part.
Fig. 2: The smaller profile cuts through the solvent like a knife, allowing more solvent to move quickly over the part.
The larger profile presented in Figure 1 creates a large amount of force on the part, putting the part at risk of detaching from the platform. The much smaller profile presented by rotating the part 90 degrees in Figure 2 generates much less force, slicing through the solvent like a blade as it is spun.
Carbon recommends minimizing the profile of your part in the XZ plane to minimize drag.
The figures below are another illustration of how larger profiles make contact with more solvent, like the sail of a boat catching wind.
Fig 1. Larger profile makes contact with much more solvent, pushing against the part.
Fig 2. Smaller profile pushes against much less solvent.
The layouts below illustrate two different approaches to arranging parts on the platform. Optimized layouts should:
- Arrange parts to minimize drag as the platform spins in the solvent.
- Keep parts away from central area of the platform.
- Central area generates the least shear force resulting in the least amount of solvent flow.
- Parts printed in the red zone are unlikely to be fully clean after washing.
Fig 1: Parts oriented along X-axis
- Not optimized for washing.
- Maximizes parts per build.
- Maximizes drag, inhibiting solvent flow.
- Parts in the central red zone are unlikely to be fully washed.
Fig 2: Parts oriented along Y-axis
- Well optimized for washing.
- Fewer parts per build.
- Y orientation greatly reduces drag as parts are spun.
- Parts removed from central red zone. Remaining parts are highly likely to be completely clean.
Carbon recommends using the following settings when designing DPR 10 dental models for use in the Smart Part Washer with DAA solvent.
Solid Models
- Solid models can be printed and washed in the DAA part washer without modification.
Hollow Models
- Below are the additional 3Shape DME settings for the vent holes (“doors”):
- Shape: CADCylindricalSideDrainHole3x3mm
- Center Height: 0
- Spacing: 10mm
- For non-3Shape designs:
- Create 3 mm diameter half circle and make flush with the base of the part. Space the holes 10 mm apart, around the entire circumference of the part.
The Smart Part Washer provides a few options to choose the best wash for your application.
- Spin intensity
- Number of cycles
- When to use solvent
Total solvent exposure time never exceeds resin protocols.
There are two methods for adjusting the wash. Wash cycles are selected at the Part Washer, and wash profiles are assigned to the project build in Print Controls for special wash conditions.
Wash cycles are chosen at the Part Washer and can override a wash profile assigned to the project.
Smart Part Washers in Production Mode cannot be adjusted at the washer and must make all wash selections during print prep.
The Smart Part Washer has 3 wash cycles: Gentle, Default, and Extreme.
The different wash cycles allow you to choose the spin intensity used during washing.
- Gentle uses the lowest spin intensity and subjects parts to the least amount of force but also provides the least intense cleaning.
- Default uses a moderate spin intensity and works best for most projects.
- Extreme uses the highest spin intensity and puts parts at greater risk of detaching from the platform but provides the most intense cleaning.
Gentle uses the lowest spin intensity which subjects parts to the least amount of washing force.
This cycle is best for the parts types pictured below.
Tall, thin parts with small cross sections at the platform
- Tall, thin parts are more susceptible to part drag and centrifugal forces .
- Small contact area with platform means weaker adhesion.
- Parts likely to detach from the platform with faster spinning.
Thin strut lattices printed in elastomers
- Thin struts of lattices are prone to tearing during washes at higher speeds.
- Examples 1 and 2 are likely fine to wash on Default.
- Example 3 is thin and best suited to Gentle. The struts are thin enough to have noticeable swelling with solvent exposure.
SIL 30 parts
- Release film provides lower adhesion strength than the platform. This makes parts more susceptible to detaching from the platform during washing cycle.
Default is the standard washing cycle and works for the broadest range of part geometries.
The Default cycle is best for:
- First time washing a new set of parts. If you are unsure about which washing cycle to use, try Default.
- Platforms with a variety of different parts.
Extreme is the most intense washing cycle. This cycle is best for:
Large cross section on platform
- This creates strong adhesion to the platform so the part does not detach when spinning at a higher speed.
Dense bed of supports
- Dense supports provide robust attachment of part to platform.
Short parts
- These parts will not create large amounts of drag during spinning and are less likely to detach from the platform.
Blind holes or interior cavities
- These features are more difficult to clean requiring greater speed.
Extreme wash has a higher rotational speed that may put parts at risk of detaching from platform. Ensure parts have a strong platform connection.
Unlike the wash cycles controlled on the part washer display, wash profiles are assigned to the project build in Print Controls during print preparation.
Wash profiles cannot be selected at the Smart Part Washer.
The Smart Part Washer has 4 wash profiles plus the standard wash cycles: Gentle, Default, and Extreme.
- Air Spin Only
- Extreme
- Extreme - 5 cycles
- Extreme - Single Cycle
- Gentle
- Solvent Submerge Only
- Default
Wash profiles are available in software v1.36 and above and are compatible with all platforms and accessories compatible with the Smart Part Washer. This includes
- M1 and M2 platforms
- M3 platform + adapter
- Part Washer Basket
Air Spin Only spins parts without solvent exposure.
The Air Spin Only profile is best suited for parts that
- Are very sensitive to solvent exposure - EPU resins
- Have a large amount of surface area - lattices
Use the Air Spin Only profile as a pre and/or post wash cycle with a solvent wash.
- Assign the Air Spin Only profile to the project
- The wash profile will be the default wash
- Override the wash profile by selecting one of the wash cycles (gentle, default, or extreme) at the part washer to run a solvent wash before and/or after air spin
The Smart Part Washer is not designed to be used to only run Air Spin cycles, as this could result in a build-up of liquid resin on interior washer walls.
Alternate Air Spin Only cycles with solvent-based cycles for washer health.
If you have an application that may be a candidate for solventless cleaning, contact Carbon Support to discuss alternate cleaning solutions.
Extreme - 5 Cycles is similar to the extreme wash cycle but uses five shorter cycles instead of three longer ones. Additionally, this profile uses increased wash torque and a longer final spin. The total solvent exposure time is the same in both cases.
If the extreme wash cycle does not provide adequate results, Extreme - 5 Cycles may provide the intensity you need.
This profile is best suited for parts that
- Have small features and/or holes
- Small areas facing the platform
- Vertically oriented features that will benefit from more dunking cycles
Connectors are a prime example that meets this criteria.
Extreme wash has a higher rotational speed that may put parts at risk of detaching from platform. Ensure parts have a strong platform connection.
Extreme - Single Cycle is similar to the extreme wash cycle but only uses one cycle instead of three. The total solvent exposure time is the same in both cases. The single cycle results in the fastest wash time.
This profile is best suited for parts with very short print times, which is usually a tiny part.
This example prints in about the same amount of time as the wash cycle.
To keep production moving, the print and wash times need to be in sync.
As the name implies, the Solvent Submerge Only profile washes with the vertical dunking motion only, without spinning.
If the gentle wash cycle does not provide adequate results, this profile may provide the best wash.
The Solvent Submerge Only profile is best suited for
- Tall, thin parts with small cross-section at the platform
- SIL 30 parts
The Default wash cycle will run as normal.
Note that when a wash profile is selected for a project, that profile becomes the Start wash - cycle unless More wash options is selected to run a standard wash cycle instead.
Start wash - Default when no wash profile is chosen
Start wash - [wash profile name] when a wash profile is selected
