General Site Prep Guide

Site Selection and Layout

31min

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Site Selection
Please consider your final equipment site(s) carefully. 
Once Carbon installs your M1, M2 or L1 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.
Space Requirements
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.
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Allocate space for the following equipment and required accessories:
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M1/M2 Printer
M3/M3 Max Printer
L1 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")
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W: 930 mm (37")
D: 1140 mm (45")
H (door closed): 1920 mm (76")
H (door open): 2730 mm (107")
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 3' of slack
﻿M3/M3 Max clearances﻿﻿
Side: 150 mm (6")
Front: 1500 mm (59")
Back: 1000 mm (40")
Recommended Spacing
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S: 240 mm (9.4")
F: 561 mm (22.1")
B: 610 mm (24")
S: 300 mm (12")
F: 2000 mm (79")
B: 1200 mm (47")
Area
Accessories & Considerations
Printer(s)
Site Selection: 
The printer requires a hard, non-porous surface, away from vibrating equipment and excessive dust. 
Each printer requires 1 electrical socket and a dedicated circuit.
Post-processing Area
Accessories & Peripheral Equipment
Solvents
Orbital shaker (requires one electrical socket)
Compressed Air Cleaning Cabinet (requires two electrical sockets)
Cleaning accessories & tools
Aluminum foil
Nitrile gloves
Trays (to transport parts) 
Convection Oven(s) & UV Curing Unit(s)
Depending on the application and resins used, your lab may require more than one convection oven and/or UV curing unit. If you need assistance, please contact your Carbon Sales Director for more information. 
Each convection oven requires one electrical socket on a dedicated circuit.
Each UV curing unit requires one electrical socket (can be a shared circuit).
Resin Dispensing Area
﻿M Series pour stand﻿* (418 x 610 x 570 mm or 16.6 x 24.0 x 22.4 in)
Legacy pour stand* (270 x 360 x 100 mm or 10.8 x 13.6 x 3.93 in)
Resin dispenser (requires one electrical socket per charger)
Spatula
Paper towels
Nitrile gloves
Resin storage cabinet
* 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
Isopropanol & acetone (for cleaning parts and equipment)
Cabinet for solvent storage
Hazardous Waste Containers
Trash can with foot pedal
Liquid hazardous waste drum/container
Consult with local waste management service for more information.
Required PPE
Gloves
Lab coats
Safety glasses
Close-toed shoes
Long pants
Suggested Additional Safety Equipment
Fire extinguisher
Spill kit
Eyewash station
Example Site Layouts
See below for layout examples. If you have questions or need assistance in arranging your lab layout, please contact Carbon’s Onboarding Team. 
﻿Download Carbon's site layout tool to help you design your facility.﻿ 
M1/M2 Printers
1 printer
3 printers
5 printers
10 printers
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M3/M3 Max Printers
1 printer
3 printers
5 printers
10 printers
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L1 Printers
1 printer
3 printers
5 printers
10 printers
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Lab Setup Video
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Workstations & Equipment
PPE/Gowning - Clean zone outside the lab to put on lab coats, gloves and glasses.
Lab coats
Printing - Carbon printer(s) with plenty of space for easy movement.
Resin dispensing - Workstation to dispense resin for printing.
Resin cartridge, resin dispenser, mixing tips, cassette
Dispensing gun uses batteries that require power to charge.
Dispenser batter
Washing Station - Area to remove liquid resin from parts. Requires power.
Orbital shaker, washing container, timer, foam swabs to remove resin from parts, tray with shop towel, IPA squirt bottle
Washing station requires ventilation
Compressed Air Cabinet - Cabinet with air gun for cleaning parts.
Requires power, ventilation and compressed air.
Requires clearance on right side for access to interior.
Part removal - Area to remove parts from the platform. Parts can be removed before or after washing.
Scraper blade. Plastic tray with aluminum foil covering. Dead blow hammer.
Consumables and tools are within reach.
Drying rack - After washing, parts need to air dry before curing.
UV Curing - Area to UV cure parts. Requires power.
Thermal Curing - Cures two-part resins. Requires power and ventilation.
Ensure small vents on right side and top are closed.
Check blast gate on main vent.
Gate must be about 50% closed for proper oven operation.
Completely closed gate prevents proper ventilation.
Completely open gate prevents proper heating of oven.
Remove cured part from lab to avoid contamination with uncured resin.
Salt packing - Packing parts in salt during thermal curing can help prevent part deformation.
Set up container of salt near oven if training with EPX 82, FPU 50 or RPU 70.
CE 221, EPU 40, EPU 41 and SIL 30 are not compatible with salt packing.
Resin reclamation and disposal - Area to clean cassette, reclaim unused one-part resins or dispose of unused two-part resins.
Pour stand. Strainers. Funnels. Soft silicone spatula. 
Hazardous waste container - For safe disposal of liquid waste. Subject to local regulations.
Waste container. Funnel with lid. Secondary container to prevent spills.
Recommendations
Keep consumables and tools within arm's reach.
Swabs. Tools. Wipes. Aluminum foil. Gloves. Shop towels. Isopropyl alcohol and acetone squirt bottles.
Make use of space under workbenches.
Flammable cabinet for solvent storage
Resin storage
Designate clean standing desk for laptop or notebook.
Desk should be clearly labelled to prevent contamination.
NO TOUCH WITH GLOVES. CLEAN SURFACE.
To keep track of parts, use metal tags to label trays during baking.
A sink and eyewash kit in the lab will help keep you clean and safe.
You lab is now ready for familiarization training.



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FAQ and Additional Information

Where is the best place to set up the post-processing/part cleaning workstation?
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.
Does Carbon have a recommendation for PPE storage??
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.
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Does Carbon have a recommendation for the layout of the resin prep workstation?
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 prep workstation holds equipment for resin dispensing, window cleaning, and waste disposal (liquid resin, solvent, and solid hazmat).
Approximately 5 linear feet of bench space and 2 standard 120V AC sockets for the two resin dispenser battery chargers are required.
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Does Carbon have any recommendations for setting up the part washing workstation?
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.
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What are the dimensions of the orbital shaker?
Dimensions (W x D x H)
10.8 x 13.6 x 3.93 inches
(274 x 345 x 100 cm)
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What is the recommended Smart Part Washer & custom distiller (if applicable) setup?
The network-connected Smart Part Washer and custom distiller require additional floor space, compressed air, two ventilation drops, and two power sockets. Due to the location of the fill and drain hoses, we strongly recommend positioning the part washer to the right of the custom distiller.
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Specification
Measurements
Smart Part Washer Dimensions (W × D × H)
35 × 26 × 46 in
89 × 66 × 117 cm

Custom Distiller Dimensions (W × D × H)*
23 × 36 × 44 in 
58 × 91 × 112 cm
Ventilation hose diameter
4 in (2 places)
10.2 cm
Power outlet**
(2) US standard 120V outlets:
Smart Part Washer requires (1) NEMA 5-15R on a 10 A circuit breaker.
CBG custom distiller requires (1) NEMA 5-20R on a dedicated 20 A circuit breaker.
Solvent capacity
~7.5 gallons (28.4 L)
*If applicable.
**International customers should contact Carbon for region-specific information.
Does Carbon have any recommendations for the compressed air cleaning cabinet?
A bench is required near the part washing workstation for the benchtop compressed air cleaning cabinet. 
It is helpful but not required to have a bench that is height-adjustable to accommodate different technician’s reach requirements.
The ventilation ducting should connect to the cabinet with 2 feet or more of flexible ducting to accommodate the cabinet positioning.
The ventilation connector tower is not present on international compressed air cleaning cabinets.
Note: Bench is not included with the compressed air cleaning cabinet.
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An adjustable height desk is strongly recommended to support the cleaning cabinet. This allows easy adjustment for operators of differing heights.
Specification
Measurements
Minimum Bench Dimensions 
(W × D)*
48 × 24 in
122 × 61 cm
Compressed Air Cleaning Cabinet Dimensions (W × D × H)
35 × 26 × 40 in
89 × 66 × 102 cm
Ventilation hose diameter
4 in (2 places)
10.2 cm
Power outlet
(US customers only) 2 standard 120V AC sockets (for the light and cleaning cabinet fan)
Air compressor
90-130 psi, 1/4” NPT industrial-shape hose coupling
Does Carbon have any recommendations for curing workstations?
There are many options for curing workstations. The number of convection ovens and UV curing units will depend on the volume of production your facility will be doing.
Below is one type of resin storage cabinet with dimensions:
The curing workstation includes a programmable convection oven and UV curing unit. In place of benches, you could use height-adjustable stands with shelves and three-sided stainless steel tops, which are available from restaurant supply companies. You’ll need about 36 square feet of equipment surface.
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Example of a curing workstation
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An adjustable height desk is strongly recommended.
If you cure parts in salt, we suggest containing the salt in a small downdraft table placed on a stand with three upturned sides. Spilled salt is slippery, so sweep the floor often and use a rubber mat to lower the slip hazard.
For better ergonomics, you may want to place the oven stand below the standard counter height. And if you’re using a tabletop downdraft box, you may want the top of the box to be level with the counter.
It’s convenient to place the UV curing unit on a shelf mounted like a kitchen microwave oven. Just make sure the shelf is low is enough for easy access while still allowing room to work underneath.
Specification
Measurements
Bench Dimensions 
(W × D x H)

72 × 36 x 34 in
183 × 91 x 86 cm
Convection Oven Dimensions 
(W × D × H)

25.7 × 27.9 × 34.2 in
65 × 71 × 87 cm

APM LED UV-Cube II and III Dimensions 
(W × D × H)

14.3 × 13.6 × 17.8 in
36 × 35 × 45 cm

Ventilation hose diameter
4 in (2 places)
10.2 cm
Power outlet
US customers only: 2 standard 120V AC sockets (for the convection oven and the UV curing system)
Does Carbon have any recommendations for resin storage cabinets?
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.
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You should assess your own resin consumption rate and adjust your storage capacity accordingly. See the table below for the dimensions of the resin containers.
Specification
Vol (mL)
Dimensions
One-part resins 
(W × D × H)
800
4 × 5 × 10 in
10.2 × 12.7 × 25.4 cm
Two-part 10:1 resins 
(W × D × H)
400
3.5 × 2.75 × 9 in
8.9 × 7.0 × 22.9 cm
Two-part 1:1 resins 
(W × D × H)
375
3.5 × 1.75 × 9 in
8.9 × 4.4 × 22.9 cm
 Best practice dictates that our resins are stored in the labeled box until ready for use. The resin boxes that hold the containers are the following sizes:
Specification
Dimensions
3200 mL drainback
5.9 × 6.8 × 12.5 in
14.9 × 17.3 × 31.8 cm
Boxes of two 375 and 400 mL cartridges
4 × 10 × 13 in
10.2 × 25.4 × 33.0 cm
What is the best practice for storing resin?
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).
Do you have any recommendations on solvent storage?
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.
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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
What types of accessories do I need to plan space for?
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:
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What is the required clearance for service access for the M1/M2, M3 / M3 Max, or L1 Printers and the Smart Part Washer?
M1/M2 Printer clearances:
480 mm (19”) on the sides and front;
380 mm (15”) behind. 
M3 / M3 Max Printer clearances (required/recommended): 
240 mm (9.4")/305 mm (12") on the sides; 
561 mm (22")/561 mm (22") on the front;
380 mm (15”)/610 mm (24") behind. 
L1 Printer clearances (required/recommended): 
150 mm (6")/300 mm (12") on the sides; 
1500 mm (59")/2000 mm (79") on the front;
1000 mm (40”)/1200 mm (47") behind. 
Smart Part Washer requires 380 mm (15”) of clearance on all sides.
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How many benches/workstations do we recommend for the printer workflow?
We recommend having 5 workstations:
resin prep
part washing
dompressed air cleaning cabinet
Smart Part Washer
curing
How many cabinets are recommended and what are the cabinets for?
Two cabinets – flammable solvent cabinet and dark (enclosed) cabinet for resin storage.

	M1/M2 Printer	M3/M3 Max Printer	L1 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")	W: 930 mm (37") D: 1140 mm (45") H (door closed): 1920 mm (76") H (door open): 2730 mm (107")
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 3' of slack M3/M3 Max clearances	Side: 150 mm (6") Front: 1500 mm (59") Back: 1000 mm (40")
Recommended Spacing	-	S: 240 mm (9.4") F: 561 mm (22.1") B: 610 mm (24")	S: 300 mm (12") F: 2000 mm (79") B: 1200 mm (47")

Area	Accessories & Considerations
Printer(s)	Site Selection: The printer requires a hard, non-porous surface, away from vibrating equipment and excessive dust. Each printer requires 1 electrical socket and a dedicated circuit.
Post-processing Area	Accessories & Peripheral Equipment Solvents Orbital shaker (requires one electrical socket) Compressed Air Cleaning Cabinet (requires two electrical sockets) Cleaning accessories & tools Aluminum foil Nitrile gloves Trays (to transport parts)
Convection Oven(s) & UV Curing Unit(s)	Depending on the application and resins used, your lab may require more than one convection oven and/or UV curing unit. If you need assistance, please contact your Carbon Sales Director for more information. Each convection oven requires one electrical socket on a dedicated circuit. Each UV curing unit requires one electrical socket (can be a shared circuit).
Resin Dispensing Area	M Series pour stand* (418 x 610 x 570 mm or 16.6 x 24.0 x 22.4 in) Legacy pour stand* (270 x 360 x 100 mm or 10.8 x 13.6 x 3.93 in) Resin dispenser (requires one electrical socket per charger) Spatula Paper towels Nitrile gloves Resin storage cabinet * 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	Isopropanol & acetone (for cleaning parts and equipment) Cabinet for solvent storage
Hazardous Waste Containers	Trash can with foot pedal Liquid hazardous waste drum/container Consult with local waste management service for more information.
Required PPE	Gloves Lab coats Safety glasses Close-toed shoes Long pants
Suggested Additional Safety Equipment	Fire extinguisher Spill kit Eyewash station

Specification	Measurements
Smart Part Washer Dimensions (W × D × H)	35 × 26 × 46 in 89 × 66 × 117 cm
Custom Distiller Dimensions (W × D × H)*	23 × 36 × 44 in 58 × 91 × 112 cm
Ventilation hose diameter	4 in (2 places) 10.2 cm
Power outlet**	(2) US standard 120V outlets: Smart Part Washer requires (1) NEMA 5-15R on a 10 A circuit breaker. CBG custom distiller requires (1) NEMA 5-20R on a dedicated 20 A circuit breaker.
Solvent capacity	~7.5 gallons (28.4 L)

Specification	Measurements
Minimum Bench Dimensions (W × D)*	48 × 24 in 122 × 61 cm
Compressed Air Cleaning Cabinet Dimensions (W × D × H)	35 × 26 × 40 in 89 × 66 × 102 cm
Ventilation hose diameter	4 in (2 places) 10.2 cm
Power outlet	(US customers only) 2 standard 120V AC sockets (for the light and cleaning cabinet fan)
Air compressor	90-130 psi, 1/4” NPT industrial-shape hose coupling

Specification	Measurements
Bench Dimensions (W × D x H)	72 × 36 x 34 in 183 × 91 x 86 cm
Convection Oven Dimensions (W × D × H)	25.7 × 27.9 × 34.2 in 65 × 71 × 87 cm
APM LED UV-Cube II and III Dimensions (W × D × H)	14.3 × 13.6 × 17.8 in 36 × 35 × 45 cm
Ventilation hose diameter	4 in (2 places) 10.2 cm
Power outlet	US customers only: 2 standard 120V AC sockets (for the convection oven and the UV curing system)

Specification	Vol (mL)	Dimensions
One-part resins (W × D × H)	800	4 × 5 × 10 in 10.2 × 12.7 × 25.4 cm
Two-part 10:1 resins (W × D × H)	400	3.5 × 2.75 × 9 in 8.9 × 7.0 × 22.9 cm
Two-part 1:1 resins (W × D × H)	375	3.5 × 1.75 × 9 in 8.9 × 4.4 × 22.9 cm

Specification	Dimensions
3200 mL drainback	5.9 × 6.8 × 12.5 in 14.9 × 17.3 × 31.8 cm
Boxes of two 375 and 400 mL cartridges	4 × 10 × 13 in 10.2 × 25.4 × 33.0 cm

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

Hazardous Waste and Lab Safety

Equipment & Accessories

Site Selection and Layout

Site Selection

Space Requirements

Example Site Layouts

M1/M2 Printers

M3/M3 Max Printers

L1 Printers

Lab Setup Video

FAQ and Additional Information

Where is the best place to set up the post-processing/part cleaning workstation?

Does Carbon have a recommendation for the layout of the resin prep workstation?

Does Carbon have any recommendations for setting up the part washing workstation?

What are the dimensions of the orbital shaker?

What is the recommended Smart Part Washer & custom distiller (if applicable) setup?

Does Carbon have any recommendations for the compressed air cleaning cabinet?

Does Carbon have any recommendations for curing workstations?

Does Carbon have any recommendations for resin storage cabinets?

What is the best practice for storing resin?

Do you have any recommendations on solvent storage?

What types of accessories do I need to plan space for?

What is the required clearance for service access for the M1/M2, M3 / M3 Max, or L1 Printers and the Smart Part Washer?

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How many benches/workstations do we recommend for the printer workflow?

How many cabinets are recommended and what are the cabinets for?