Introduction

At this point, your printer should be installed and registered according to the Unboxing and Initial Setup Guide. Before anything, it's important to get familiar with these common procedures:

• Unlocking / Locking the Z-Axis
• Operating the Pump
• Running a Clean Job
• Aligning the Build Plate

Video Overview

Instructions

Step 1 | Unlocking / Locking the Z-Axis

• Go to the Z-Axis subsection of the Dashboard on the touchscreen
• The screen displays the state of the z-axis (Free / Locked)
• Depending on the state, there will be a Lock or Unlock button

• If the status is Locked, press the Unlock button 
• Wait 5 seconds for the motor to calibrate to the weight. You should be able to move the arms freely by hand afterwards.
• Press the Lock button. You shouldn't be able to move the arms without using excessive force. 

• If you have a build plate inside the arms, the motor will calibrate to its weight and you will not be able to move it easily.
• Instead, place your hand under the build plate handle and gently support its weight (do not pull up). 
• Press Unlock and support the build plate for the 5 seconds. You will then be able to move the arms easily afterwards. 

Step 2 | Operating the Pump

While you may not use the pump immediately, it is important to understand the components and become familiar with the behavior. The system uses a peristaltic pump that is located in the lower compartment of the printer. 

• Go to the Resin Vat subsection of the Dashboard on the touchscreen
• In this subsection, the display  indicates if the pump is currently On or Off.
• The two buttons on the right side of the subsection will allow you Fill or Drain the vat. Press Drain.

• You should hear the pump kick on in a few seconds. 
• Open the lower compartment door. The pump will stop operating because the door interlock switch is no longer pressed in.
• Press it in with your finger
• You should see the motor spinning clockwise. 

If the motor is not spinning, it is likely that the hose is not broken in or positioned well within the pump. You will have to pull it out of the motor, flex it and reseat it.

• Pull the right lever down on the pump. This should expose the hose.
• Pull the top and bottom sliders to the right with one hand and use the other hand to pull the hose out.
• Flex the hose and reseat it back in the pump. Close the pump and try running it again. 

Step 3 | Run a Clean Job

The clean job is a specific file that will expose the entire light engine in order to cure a thin layer that you can then peel off by hand. Cured resin and other debris will stick to this thin layer so you can clean the vat in one quick step. Let's run the clean job with no resin to get a better idea of what it looks like. 

• Go to the Cleaning Tool subsection of the System tab on the touchscreen
• You have options for times (10s, 20s and 40s). Press 20s.
• Ensure that the window and lower compartment doors are closed. Press Start Clean. 

• You should hear the fans ramp up and in a few seconds, the light engine will turn on.
• It should look like this image. It is a full area exposure with masked rounded corners to make the cured layer easier to pull off.

If you see any defects in the screen at this stage, please contact us immediately. It should be a full area exposure with rounded corners as shown. For a video and guide on how the clean job is used in practice, follow this guide.

Step 4 | Align your Build Plate

The build plate must be aligned parallel to the surface of the light engine in order to get good first layer adhesion. Otherwise, your parts may not stick to the plate in certain areas of the plate. It is recommended you do this with your new printer as it can become misaligned during shipping. 

• Go to our Align the Build Plate Guide for more in-depth instructions and a video.

What's Next

Now that you're familiar with the basic functions of the printer, let's create our first print file using NexaX before returning to the printer and getting it started. If any of the basic functions above did not work, please contact our support team immediately for assistance. 

Updated July 21, 2023 16:37