Stratasys Fortus 900mc Reference guide

Pull sealing
tape back
Remove the plug
New
thumbwheel
Remove insert
The text in brackets refers to the corresponding user guide
chapter. [Chapter Number]
TIP COMPATIBILITY [2]
IDENTIFYING TIPS [3]
PLATEN VACUUM [4]
Make sure the vacuum indicator on the Operator Touchscreen
is green and showing that a small or large build sheet is in
place on the platen.
USING BUILD SHEETS [4]
Use clear build sheet for ABS-M30, ASA, PC, and PC-ABS.
Use amber build sheet for PPSF and ULTEM.
Use green tinted build sheet for Nylon12.
INSTALLING CANISTERS [4]
Remove the anti-rotation plug from side of canister before
use. Seal hole with sealing tape. Make sure the rubber
shipping insert is removed from the thumbwheel door
before building. Do not remove rubber shipping insert until
the canister is loaded into the canister bay.
Storing Canisters
Always replace the rubber shipping insert when
storing a partially used canister. Store canister
vertically (as if it is installed in a system) or
cross-winding of the lament on the inner
spool may result.
CHANGING TIPS OR MATERIAL TYPE [4]
1. Remove the used build sheet from platen.
2. Clean the oven and tip wipe assembly.
3. Inspect the tip wipe assembly.
4. From the Build Screen, select Material/Tools and then select
Tips/Materials Change. Follow the screen prompts to
change tips.
The Tip Wizard will guide you through the process.
108313-0009_REV_A
The system automatically does the following:
- Unloads model and support
- Waits for oven to stabilize
- Performs Auto Z Zero Calibration
- Performs Auto Tip Calibration
- Loads model and support material*
- Builds a Calibration Job*
* Requires button to be pressed by user and then user
placement to build the calibration box.
7. Select the circle next to the desired tip. A black dot in the
center indicates which tip is selected.
AUTO COOLDOWN FEATURE [4]
This option acts as an energy saver when PC, PC-ABS, ULTEM, or
PPSF materials are being used. It also helps to prevent parts
from cracking when building large, thick parts using PPSF. After
building completes, the oven gradually cools to the standby
temperature. Wait until the PPSF parts are cool before removing
them from the oven. To use this feature go to the Administrator
screen, select System Default and then set Auto Cool Oven to On
or after the job.
STABILIZING OVEN [4]
When changing material type or using Auto Cool-Down, allow
oven temperatures to stabilize before calibration and system
use. Oven stabilization times are as follows:
Table 1-3: Oven Stabilization Times
5. When changing liqueer tips.
Note: Worn tips cause part quality issues and can lead to loss of
extrusion. Always replace tips when prompted (reset
tip odometers).
Make sure
tip is fully
inserted into
block
6. When changing material type:
- Remove the canisters. If removing a partially used
canister, you must remove it immediately (within ten
seconds) after separating drive block from canister; otherwise
the lament is forced into the canister, making it unusable.
- Seal the canisters and store vertically.
- Insert new canisters and turn the thumbwheel to put
the canister in the “Ready”
state (ashing LED).
- If the removed tips are to be
re-used later, record material
type and volume.
- Make sure that you insert the
tip fully into the heater block.
Note: If material type is changed, the tips MUST be changed.
Do not use the same tip for dierent material types.
- Select Review Materials to Load.. and choose materials to load.
- Select Menu to continue.
All unused model and support
tips are interchangeable -
EXCEPT for Soluble
Release (SR) support tips.
Once a tip is used, it is
committed to that material
type and is no longer
interchangeable.
Tip size is imprinted on
the top side of the plate
(T12, T14, T16, T20)
The Soluble Release
support tip is shorter
than standard tips.
Tip size is imprinted on
the top side of the plate
(T12SR20, T12SR30,
T12SR100).
QUICK REFERENCE CARD
Fortus 900mc
ABSi
Oven Stabilization Times (in hours)
ABS-
M30
ABS-
ESD7
Nylon
12
PC-
ABS
PC/
PC-ISO
ULTEM
9085
ABS-M30
Auto
Cooldown
Nylon 12
ASA
ABSi
Room temp.
ABS-ESD7
PC-ABS
PC/ PC-ISO
ULTEM 9085
ULTEM 1010
ASA
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 4 4 6 6 6
PPSF
PPSF
ULTEM
1010
ST130
ST130
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 4 4 6 6 6
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 4 4 6 6 6
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 4 4 6 6 6
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 4 4 6 6 6
4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 4 4
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 --- 4 4
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 --- ---
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 --- ---
4 --- 4 6 6 6
4 4 --- 4 4 4
Nylon 6
Nylon
6
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 4 4 6 6 6
Table 1-2: Slice Height
Model Tip Slice Height
T12 0.007 in. (0.178 mm)
T20 0.013 in. (0.330 mm)
T14 0.010 in. (0.254 mm)
T16 0.010 in. (0.254 mm)
T20B 0.013 in. (0.330 mm)
T40 0.020 in. (0.508 mm)
Table 1-1: Available Tips
Material Model Tip Support Tip
ABSi
ABS-M30
ABS-M30i
ABS-ESD7
T12, T16, T20
T12, T16, T20
T12, T16
T12SR20
T12SR20 /
T12SR30
T12SR30
ASA T12, T16, T20 T12SR30
Nylon 12
PC
PC-ABS
PC
PC-ISO
PPSF
ULTEM 9085
T1, T16, T20
T12, T16
T12, T16, T20
T16, T20
T12
T16
T16, T20
T12SR100
T12SR100
T12SR20
T16
T12
T16
T16
ULTEM 1010 T14, T20 T16
T40 T20B
ST130 T20B T20
T40 T20
Nylon 6 T16, T20 T12SR100

CALIBRATING LIQUEFIER TIPS [5]
Calibration is an automatic step when changing material
type or tips. The user is still required to ne-tune some
steps manually.
Calibration Job
After the system builds the Calibration Job, follow these steps:
1. View the relationship between the support calibration toolpath
and the alignment indicators to determine the X and Y
axis calibration.
- Use a magnifying glass.
- Hold the build sheet up to the light, a light-colored wall, or
a light-colored piece of paper.
2. Determine where on each axis the support toolpath is most
centered between the X-Y alignment path. For example, if
most centered between indicators below the “4” on the “-Y”
side of calibration box, tip oset value for -Y is 0.004.
3. Slide the arrow on the screen to match where the support
is most centered. Only move arrows on two of the four sides
of the calibration part.
4. Press OK. A pop-up will be displayed asking if you want to
apply these values, press OK.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 until the support toolpath is centered
between all X and Y zero indicators. After adjustments are
made, a new calibration box can be run from this menu
by pressing Build Calibration Box.
6. Peel the Z box support layer from the last Calibration Job
and measure its thickness using a caliper or micrometer.
Z thickness should measure within +/-0.0005 in. (0.01 mm)
of the installed model tip’s slice height.
Note: Do not measure for Z adjustment until the Calibration
Model shows the XY Oset to be less than 0.002 inch
(0.05 mm) for the X and Y axis.
7. If Z thickness is not within specication, enter the value
read from the caliper/micrometer into the Support
Thickness eld using the up/down arrows.
8. Continue to check for Z Calibration until the support layer
matches the model tip slice height +/-0.0005 in. (0.01 mm).
MAINTAINING TIP WIPE ASSEMBLY [6]
1. Open the oven door.
2. Using safety gloves and sleeves, remove the purge bucket.
3. Remove the purge ledge assembly.
4. Remove the brush/icker assemblies.
5. Clean the purge bucket.
6. Clean purge ledge and brush/icker assemblies and
surrounding area.
7. Inspect the Kapton tape around the top of the purge bucket.
8. Inspect the purge ledge assembly.
9. Inspect the brush/icker assemblies.
- Empty canister (zero volume).
Replace the canister.
- Filament stuck in canister.
Remove the canister from the bay. Pull about
8 feet (2 meters) of material out, making sure the
lament pulls out freely.
- Canister drive block not fully lowered onto canister.
Re-seat the drive block onto canister.
- Wrong tip size selected on operator display.
Verify correct tip size is displayed. See Tip Compatibility.
- Canister smartspool circuit failed.
View lament status from the operator display. If the status
reads None or is blank, replace the canister.
- Broken or bent pogo pin.
Remove the canister from the bay and check the pogo pins
on the underside of the canister drive block. Replace any
bent or broken pogo pins.
- Filament does not reach head (load time-out).
Change the canister. If this fails, contact Customer Support.
Auto-Changeover Failure
Filament not unloaded into empty canister.
Perform a manual unload.
Note: All scenarios from Canister Will Not Load section may apply
in an Auto-Changeover Failure.
Loss of Extrusion
- Filament stuck in canister.
Remove the canister from the bay and pull about 8 feet
(2 meters) of material out, making sure the lament pulls
out freely.
- Canister drive too slow.
Verify that load time from the canister to the head switch
is less than 2.5 minutes.
- Material not extruding on rst two layers or model base.
Verify that material purges by performing a load.
•Verify that the size of tip matches tip size indicated on
the operator display. See Tip Compatibility.
•Verify that tip life has not exceeded the maximum
tip odometer.
•Verify that the tips were installed correctly.
•Verify that material purges by performing a load.
•Replace the tip (if necessary).
- System not calibrated.
Verify that material purges by performing a load. Perform
the Auto Z Stage Zero and Auto Tip Calibration.
- Low vacuum caused build sheet to shift and may have
plugged tip.
See Low Vacuum.
Low Vacuum
Note: System will not build until the vacuum level is adequate.
- Misalignment.
Check the alignment of the build sheet making sure it is
properly paced on the platen.
- Bubble in build sheet.
Ensure that the build sheet is laying at on the platen.
- Filament debris on the platen.
Clean the platen surface.
- Plugged platen inlet screens.
Clean the inlet screens.
Low Air Pressure
Contact Customer Support for assistance.
10. Replace parts as necessary.
11. Re-install parts in reverse order of disassembly.
EMPTYING THE PURGE BUCKET [6]
1. Open the oven door.
2. Lift the purge bucket straight up from the purge bucket bracket
and remove from the oven bay.
3. Empty the purge bucket by dumping the contents or using the
waste door at the bottom of the bucket.
4. Re-install the purge bucket.
HEALTH MONITOR [4]
The light pole reects the overall state given by the Health
Monitoring system.
- Green = Good - warnings acknowledged
- Yellow = Unacknowledged warnings - could require
further user intervention
- Red = Error - requires immediate attention by operator.
HEADQUARTERS
7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
[phone] (US Toll Free)
[phone] (Intl)
[phone] (Fax)
2 Holtzman St., Science Park, PO Box 2496
Rehovot 76124, Israel
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)
E [e-mail] / S T R AT A S YS . C O M
THE 3D PRINTING SOLUTIONS COMPANY™
TROUBLESHOOTING [8]
Canister Will Not Load
- Anti-rotation plug not removed from canister.
Remove the plug.
- Rubber thumbwheel insert not removed from
thumbwheel door.
Remove the insert.