XIONEER Vortex EZ User manual
Vortex EZ
3D Printing Support Removal Station
Stützmaterial-Lösestation für den 3D-Druck
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Contents
Introduction...................................................................................... 4
Product description ..................................................................... 4
Device specifications....................................................................5
Safety instructions and warnings.........................................6
Preparation.........................................................................................9
Scope of delivery........................................................................ 9
Set up.............................................................................................. 10
Commissioning and filling................................................ 10
Operation............................................................................................11
Controls...........................................................................................11
Material and temperature recommendations....12
Placing 3D parts.......................................................................13
Removing 3D parts................................................................ 14
Flushing the solvent...............................................................15
Cleaning and maintenance ...................................................16
Propeller maintenance........................................................17
Device disposal ..............................................................................18
Troubleshooting............................................................................18
More information..........................................................................19
Page 4
Introduction
Thank you for choosing a Xioneer product.
Please read these operating instructions carefully. They
provide you with the necessary information for operating
your Vortex EZ support removal station and avoiding
possible dangers.
Note - This icon shows you important tips.
Attention - This symbol draws your attention to
special dangers and protective measures.
Caution –Hot surface or hot steam! Risk of burns
or risk of scalding.
Product description
The Xioneer Vortex EZ is designed to automatically
dissolve 3D printed Xioneer VXL support material and
other soluble support materials used in FFF / FDM 3D
printing. It is intended for personal and professional use if
safety precautions are met.
The device dissolves support materials using water, which
is heated and stirred. To enable the dissolution of VXL
support materials, solution additives such as VXL EX and
VXL SOLVE can be added to the water.
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Device specifications
Connection
230 V AC (±10%), 50 Hz,
EU plug
110 V AC (±10%), 60 Hz
(US Version Only)
Max. Power consumption
Approx. 1360 W
Max. Temperature
85 °C
Fill Volume
38 Liters
Approx. heat-up time
(from 25 to 85 °C at 38 liters)
150 min
Max. Weight
60 kg
Outer Dimensions (WxHxD)
640 x 435 x 370 mm
Basket Dimensions (WxHxD)
450 x 205 x 260 mm
Max. Noise Volume
50 dB
Stirring speed
0 - 150 rpm
Device Materials
Lid: PC, steel V2A
Tank: steel V2A
Basket: steel V4A, other
Propeller: steel V2A,
PTFE, other
Recommended
FFF support materials
Xioneer VXL 70,
Xioneer VXL 90,
Xioneer VXL 111,
Xioneer VXL 130,
PVA/PVOH/BVOH and
similar
Approved dissolving liquids
Water
Recommended
dissolving additives
Xioneer VXL SOLVE,
Xioneer VXL EX
Operating Condition
Up to 2000m ASL,
< 75 % r.H, < 30 °C
Degree of Pollution
2
Mains Voltage Fluctuation
Class 2
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Safety instructions and warnings
The following instructions must be observed when
operating the Vortex EZ:
•For safe electric disconnection, pull the cold
appliance plug on the back of the device.
•The Vortex EZ may only be operated with water
and recommended solution additives. Do not use
aggressive lye solvents.
•Never fill the Vortex EZ with flammable liquids,
liquids that produce flammable gases, or organic
solvents. This increases the risk of an explosion,
leading to injury and even death.
•If you place the device next to a wall, please ensure
to keep a distance of at least 10 cm to the wall.
Make sure that the fan plates on the back of the
device are not blocked.
•Vortex EZ may only be carried when empty.
Carrying with water or washing solution inside is
not permitted. Please empty the tank before each
transport.
•Only place the Vortex EZ on a stable, straight, dry,
heat- and moisture-resistant surface that can
carry the weight of the device including its
contents. Do not place the Vortex EZ on a soft or
unstable surface.
•The Vortex EZ should only be used indoors in a dry
and well-ventilated environment. Make sure that
there is good ventilation in the room where you
operate the device.
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•Only connect the Vortex EZ to a 230 V AC, 50 Hz
power supply (unless specified otherwise on the
device, e.g., 120VAC, 60Hz for US version). Be
careful not to bend the cable or pull on it when
unplugging it. Do not use an extension cord. The
housing of the Vortex EZ is made of metal, so
please use a grounded AC-connection. Only use
power supply cables provided by Xioneer.
•Do not reach into the Vortex EZ tank while it is in
operation.
•Always use the supplied basket for your parts. Only
lift and lower the basket using the handles.
•Place the Vortex EZ out of reach of children. It may
only be operated by adults.
•Do not use the Vortex EZ if you notice any damage
to its parts or if parts are missing.
•Avoid spilling any liquids on the controls of the
device, fan plates, or plugs. Remove excessive
moisture with a soft cloth.
•During operation the surfaces of the Vortex EZ and
the wash solution inside may become very hot.
Never reach into the hot bath with bare hands.
•It is not allowed to prepare or store food inside the
Vortex EZ or with any parts of it. VXL Support
Material, VXL SOLVE, and VXL EX are not suitable
for consumption.
•Only use water as solvent and only use VXL SOLVE,
VXL EX or similar products as solvent additives. Do
not fill more than 38 liters into the container
("MAX"). Observe the recommended dosage when
using VXL SOLVE and VXL EX.
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•VXL SOLVE and VXL EX are classified as irritants.
Therefore, always wear protective clothing
consisting at least of safety goggles and protective
gloves when using the Vortex EZ. Use the basket
when loading and unloading models.
•If your skin comes into contact with the washing
solution or dissolving powder, wash it off
thoroughly with plenty of water. If you get
washing solution or dissolving powder in your
eyes, wash it thoroughly with water for several
minutes and remove any contact lenses
beforehand. If eye or skin irritation persists, please
call emergency.
•If you have inhaled the dissolving powder, move to
a well-ventilated place and ensure unobstructed
breathing. In case of persistent indisposition,
please call emergency.
•If dissolving powder or suds are swallowed, drink
plenty of water in small sips and seek medical
attention. Do not induce vomiting.
•Remove and wash clothing that has been in
contact with dissolving solution or dissolving
powder.
•There is a risk of scalding in case of contact with
the hot wash solution or hot surfaces. In case of
scalding, ensure sufficient cooling of the affected
areas. There is also a risk of scalding when opening
the container due to escaping hot water vapor.
•Do not open the drain valve without the hose
connected.
•There is a danger of crushing and cutting on the
propeller. Do not touch the rotating propeller.
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•Only service or remove the propeller when the unit
is switched off, unplugged, cooled down, and
completely empty.
•Please mind the minimum fill level (MIN). Do not
use Vortex EZ when fill level is lower than “MIN”
marking. Do not power on the Vortex EZ when
tank is empty.
•Improper usage may impair the protection
supported by Vortex EZ.
•Always check Vortex EZ is safe to use after
conducting maintenance.
Preparation
Carefully unpack the Vortex EZ. Please check that all parts
are in the package according to the scope of delivery. If
there is damage to individual components or parts are
missing, do not commission the Vortex EZ and contact
your vendor. Before initial start-up, the Vortex EZ must be
acclimated to the ambient conditions. To do this, leave it
in the intended environment for at least 1 hour.
Scope of delivery
The following components are included in the package:
•1x Vortex EZ support removal station
•1x Basket
•1x filling and drain hose incl. hose clamp
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Set up
Set up the Vortex EZ on a stable, straight, dry, heat-
resistant, and moisture-resistant surface. When setting
up, consider the weight of the tank including the wash
solution of approx. 60 kg. Furthermore, the Vortex EZ
may only be used in a dry and well-ventilated indoor
environment. Ideally, place the container near a sink or
near a water connection. This facilitates filling and
subsequent emptying of the solvent.
Commissioning and filling
Fill the container with tap water up to the "MAX" indicator.
To do this, you can use the hose from the accessories and
mount it on a faucet with a suitable attachment.
Remove any water splashes on the outside of the unit
with a soft cloth.
Plugin the power cord of the Vortex EZ and switch it on.
The power cord must not be under tension.
Turn on the stirrer with the stirrer knob. The stirrer should
now begin to rotate audibly. You can regulate the stirring
speed. Turn the knob all the way to the right for maximum
rotation speed.
Close the lid of the container device. Use the large control
dial to set the desired temperature (maximum 85 °C).
When the desired temperature is reached, the red lamp
next to the temperature control will switch itself off.
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Caution: During operation, hot steam escapes
when the container is opened.
Operation
This section describes the operation of the Vortex EZ and
gives you an indicator for a usable temperature range
depending on the model and support material of your 3D
printed object.
Controls
The following picture shows the controls of the Vortex EZ.
Description:
1. Propeller speed control. You can use it to reduce
the rotation speed of the propeller to prevent the
liquid from foaming. Turn the knob all the way to
the left to turn the propeller off completely.
2. Heater indicator lamp. (ON when heating, OFF
when not heating.
1
2
3
4
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3. Large rotary control for setting the temperature
(up to 85 °C)
4. Main switch for switching the device on and off.
Material and temperature
recommendations
The table below lists recommended VXL support/model-
material combinations together with dissolution
temperatures. Please refer to latest updates on
recommended materials and temperatures on our
website.
Regularly check the temperature and the fill level of the
wash solution to prevent damage to your 3D parts. Ask
the manufacturer of the model material about the
maximum dissolving temperatures. As a general
guideline, you can set 20 - 30 °C less than the glass
transition temperature (Tg) of your model material. If you
know the heat deflection temperature (HDT) of the
material, you can use it as a reference too. If you set the
temperature too high, your model may be irreparably
damaged, as your model may be deformed by the
residual stresses created during 3D printing. If you do not
receive any recommendation from the material
manufacturer, test the materials before dissolving them
for the first time. To do this, you can print a reference bar,
and test it for deformation in the solvent bath.
Support
Material
VXL 70
VXL 90
VXL 111
VXL 130
Model
Material
TPU
TPU
TPU,
PET(G),
ABS, ASA
HIPS,
TPU, PA,
TPU,
PET(G),
ABS, ASA
HIPS, TPU,
PA, PC,
PET(G)
PET(G)
ABS
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ASA
PC,
PEEK,
PPS
PEEK,
PPS
Bath
Temperature
Min. 40°C
Min. 55°C
Min. 65°C
Min. 80°C
Placing 3D parts
Use protective equipment (goggles and gloves) when
loading the parts to avoid scalding and irritation. Before
loading the parts, switch off the Vortex EZ, open the lid
and lift the basket out of the basin. Place the basket on
the stand on top of the device frame.
Open the lid of the basket and carefully place the parts in
the basket. Close the lid of the basket. Carefully lower the
basket back into the tank. Close the lid, and turn on the
power of the Vortex EZ.
Note: To accelerate the dissolving process, you
can mechanically remove support material that
is easy to reach before putting it into the basket.
When doing so, make sure that you do not
damage filigree areas of the print object.
Caution: When mechanically removing parts of
the support structure, always wear the enclosed,
tight-fitting protective goggles. Splintering parts
of the support structure can damage the eyes or
cause cuts. Wear suitable protective gloves for
this purpose.
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Removing 3D parts
Attention: When removing objects during the
dissolving process, it is essential to wear
protective equipment (safety goggles and
protective gloves). Before opening the lid, the
Vortex EZ should be switched off.
Caution: Hot steam may escape when opening
the lid.
The duration of the dissolving process is strongly
dependent on the geometry of the part, the model
material, the support material and the bath temperature.
The model material determines the maximum dissolving
bath temperature.
To reduce the dissolution time, set the temperature of the
washing solution as high as tolerable by your 3D part
material (maximum 85 °C). The thicker and more difficult
a support structure is to reach, the longer the process will
take. The dissolution time can range from less than an
hour to several hours.
Note: As soon as a ratio of approx. 1:1 of VXL
support material to VXL EX dissolving powder is
reached, the dissolving time increases
significantly. Use a fresh wash solution from this
point on.
After removing the parts, they must be cleaned from the
washing solution on all sides for a few minutes under
warm, fresh water. You can do this by submerging your
parts in clean water or by placing them under running
water.
After the cleaning process, the damp parts should be
dried (e.g. by placing them on a paper towel), as washing
solution may still escape from parts. Make sure to turn the
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part to opposite sides every few minutes to let the liquid
drain from all sides. The time required for the part to dry
depends strongly on its geometry and the material used,
and can take from a few hours to a few days.
You can dissolve up to 1 kg of support material VXL with
one filling of the Vortex EZ. So you do not have to renew
the dissolving bath after each part.
Flushing the solvent
The dissolving solution will become depleted once you
dissolve 1 kg of VXL in 1 kg of VXL EX, and will become
ineffective at dissolving further support material.
Note: Make notes on the amount of support
material dissolved in order to renew the wash
solution in time.
Caution: Wear protective equipment (safety
goggles and gloves) when emptying the tank.
Caution: Never empty washing solution while it is
still hot. Always wait until the wash solution has
cooled down.
When emptying the tank, make sure to follow these
steps:
1. Switch off the Vortex EZ and disconnect the power
plug. Allow the wash solution to cool down.
2. Have another container ready if you do not have a
drain nearby. We recommend using a household
drain or a graywater container.
3. Never carry the Vortex EZ with the dissolving
solution inside!
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4. Connect a hose to the valve on the left side of the
Vortex EZ. Make sure the hose is secured with the
clamps. Tighten the valve if needed.
5. Place the other end of the hose into a drain or gray
water container with a minimum capacity of 36
liters and secure the hose from falling out.
6. Now slowly open the valve. Check whether the
wash solution flows into the prepared container
and no spillage or dripping occurs outside.
7. When the Vortex EZ is almost empty, tilt it slightly
to allow the wash solution to drain off completely.
8. Rinse the Vortex EZ with fresh water.
Note: The washing solution can be disposed of
down the drain. When doing so, please make
sure that you comply with wastewater disposal
regulations in your country/state/area.
Cleaning and maintenance
To increase the lifespan of the Vortex EZ, we recommend
cleaning it after each emptying.
Caution: Be sure to disconnect the Vortex EZ
from the power supply before cleaning. Avoid
splashing water on the operating elements or
the power plug. Do not use abrasive or
aggressive cleaning agents for cleaning. Wear
protective goggles and gloves.
To clean your device, follow these steps:
1. Follow the steps for disposing the solvent as
described before.
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2. Open the lid and remove the basket. Rinse the
basket with water.
3. The device can be cleaned using a soft brush, soft
cloth or sponge. Use water and a household
cleaning agent. Rinse the device with clear water
afterward. Remains of support material can be
disposed of in the household plastic waste.
4. To remove persistent deposits and scale, fill the
Vortex EZ with 38 liters of water. Add about 50 g of
household citric acid. Turn on the device, let it heat
up to 60 °C. Allow the citric acid to remove the
deposits for a few hours. Empty the basin and rinse
it well with water.
Caution: Make sure that there is no more citric acid
in the tank the next time you use it. The acid
neutralizes the dissolving powder and could lead
to further accumulation of deposits.
Propeller maintenance
The propeller and tank are equipped with strong
magnets. Pay attention to your surroundings
(credit cards, and especially pacemakers)!
To remove deposits underneath the propeller, you can
remove the propeller. To do this, open the mounting
screw in the center of the propeller and lift the propeller
with the screw. After cleaning, mount the propeller back
onto the shaft. Tighten the screw ("hand-tight").
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Device disposal
To protect the environment, resources and your health,
we ask that you recycle the Vortex EZ responsibly.
Troubleshooting
The Vortex EZ does not have automatic fault detection.
There is a self-resetting heater fuse to prevent the unit
from overheating. Always make sure that there is always
enough liquid in the tank of the Vortex EZ.
If you cannot detect any flow in the dissolving bath, make
sure that the propeller is turning. Empty the basin and set
the temperature controller to 0.
Fill about 10 liters of fresh water into the basin and switch
on the unit. Slowly turn up the speed control knob. If there
is no rotation, turn off the unit, disconnect the power plug
and drain the water. Remove the propeller as described in
the "Maintenance" section and clean the area under and
around the propeller. Reinstall the propeller. Test again as
described above. If no rotation can be detected, please
contact customer service.
If you notice a leak in the container, switch off the device
and empty the container according to the steps
described in the sections before. Please contact the
customer service.
If needed, you can obtain replacement baskets and
propellers from customer service.
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More information
For further information, please contact us at
BellandTechnology AG
Kühlenfelser Str. 47
91278 Pottenstein
Germany
Website: www.xioneer.com
Email: wecanhelp@xioneer.com
Phone: +49 (0) 171 220 006 7
Disclaimer
The material in this manual is for informational purposes only. The
products it describes are subject to change without prior notice, due to
the manufacturer’s continuous development program.
BellandTechnology AG or its subsidiaries make no representations or
warranties with respect to this manual or with respect to the products
described herein.
BellandTechnolgy AG or its subsidiaries shall not be liable for any direct,
indirect, or incidental damages, costs or expenses arising out of or in
connection with the use of this material or the products described
herein.
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