Site Selection and Layout
Please consider your final equipment site(s) carefully. Once Carbon installs your M1 or M2 printer, you cannot independently move it to a new location. A Carbon Field Service Engineer must reinstall your Carbon printer after any move from its initial installation site.
Reinstallation is an add-on service and is not covered by your subscription agreement.
Your M3 / M3 Max printer may be moved to a new location and reinstalled (including re-leveling) by your facilities team without requiring a Carbon Field Service Engineer to come onsite.
User preferences, building codes, and equipment configuration will help you determine the total floor area that your printer will need.
NOTE: Carbon suggests that you locate your post-processing equipment in the same room as your printer for optimal workflow efficiency.
Allocate space for the following equipment and required accessories:
| M1/M2 Printer | M3/M3 Max Printer |
|---|---|---|
Dimensions | W: 543 mm (21.4") D: 655 mm (25.8") H: 1733 mm (68.2") | W: 760 mm (30") D: 696 mm (27.5") H: 1762 mm (69.5") |
Minimum Spacing | Side: 480 mm (18.9") Front: 480 mm (18.9") Back: 380 mm (15.0") | Side: 240 mm (9.4")* Front: 561 mm (22.1")* Back: 380 mm (15")* * All facilities connections must have at least 1 m (36") of slack |
Recommended Spacing | - | S: 240 mm (9.4") F: 561 mm (22.1") B: 610 mm (24") |
Area | Accessories & Considerations |
|---|---|
Printer(s) | Site Selection:
NOTE: If using a fume extractor, make sure one of the flexible hoses can be positioned near the M Series printer to remove printer fumes. |
Post-processing Area | Accessories & Peripheral Equipment
|
UV Curing Unit(s) |
|
Resin Dispensing Area |
* Note: The M Series pour stand (released 2023) is compatible with all M series printer cassettes. It is also larger than the legacy pour stand. Please click the link above for more information about the M Series pour stand.
|
Solvents |
|
Hazardous Waste Containers |
Consult with local waste management service for more information. |
Required PPE |
|
Suggested Additional Safety Equipment |
|
See below for layout examples. If you have questions or need assistance in arranging your lab layout, please contact Carbon’s Onboarding Team.
Carbon recommends having the post-processing/part cleaning workstation in the same room as the printer. This will increase productivity and efficiency. Setting up post-processing/part cleaning in a different room will require your lab techs to transport parts with uncured resin which is hazardous. Dust and dirt can stick to the parts.
There are many ways to organize PPE for your lab. Some labs create a PPE workstation in the printer area with all needed supplies (lab coats, gloves, and safety glasses). One possible solution is shown below.
- The PPE workstation should include lab coats, gloves, and safety glasses. Additional baskets can be used at the bottom of the rack to store shoe protectors or provide more storage. Locate it near the door for easy access to proper PPE.
- If space is limited, you can use a simple hook on a wall/door for each lab coat.
- Nitrile gloves should remain in their box until use. It is recommended to have boxes of nitrile gloves at the resin prep and part cleaning workstations.
The diagram below shows the items required at the resin prep workstation. They should be arranged in whatever way best suits your workflow. One example of a resin prep workstation is shown below.
The resin preparation workstation holds equipment for resin dispensing, window cleaning, and waste disposal (liquid resin, solvent, and solid hazmat).
The diagram below shows the items required at the part washing workstation. They should be arranged in whatever way best suits your workflow. One example of a part washing workstation is shown below.
The part washing workstation requires 5 linear feet of bench space to accommodate the cleaning accessories.
A standard 120V AC socket for the orbital shaker and an optional standard 120V AC socket for the lamp is also needed.
Dimensions (W x D x H) 10.8 x 13.6 x 3.93 inches (27.4 x 34.5 x 100 cm)
There are many options for resin storage. Your cabinet needs to handle resin for the volume of production your facility will be doing.
Below is a typical resin storage cabinet.
Store resins in a climate-controlled area that is isolated from any possible source of UV light. We recommend a dark cabinet with locking doors in an area maintained at 17-25° C (64-77° F).
Dimensions (W x D x H): 35 x 18 x 45 in 46 x 89 x 114 cm
Note: Consult with third-party resin manufacturers regarding the specific storage conditions required for third-party resins.
You should assess your own resin consumption rate and adjust your storage capacity accordingly.
The 800 mL bottle of DPR 10 has the following dimensions (W x D x H):
4 x 5 x 10 in 12.6 x 15.7 x 31.4 cm
It is best to keep the resin in the labeled boxes until ready to use. The resin boxes that hold the 3200 mL drainback containers is 5 7/8 x 6 13/16 x 12 1/2 in (14.9 x 17.3 x 31.8 cm).
There are many ways to store and organize solvents. Follow your local, regional, and state regulations, and read the Safety Data Sheets provided. Below is one example that Carbon recommends.
For storing Isopropanol (IPA), Acetone, and DAA choose a flammable solvents cabinet.
- Flammable cabinet needs to be self-closing and self-latching.
- Check with your local jurisdiction for quantities of chemicals requiring special storage.
- A cabinet of this size will fit under a standard bench or can be placed under a resin storage cabinet.
- A larger cabinet may be required depending on your application.
Specification | Measurement (Imperial) |
|---|---|
Flammable cabinet dimensions (W x D x H) | 18 x 23 x 35 in 46 x 58 x 89 cm |
Fluid Capacity | 12 US gallons 45 Liters |
You will need to store your safety and cleaning accessories. Consider utilizing the space above and below your lab benches, keeping in mind that you will need ready access to some items, whereas others can be tucked away in deeper storage until you need to replenish a consumable item.
Some of the accessories that you will need to plan space for in your post-processing area are shown below:
