03. Build Preparation

Attach the build plate to the base plate using (4) 4mm screws

Build plate grain direction must be perpendicular to recoater direction of travel. (Vertical to front of machine)

Clean build plate and base using IPA

Place build plate in open SAS

After opening the SAS to the machine, gently place the build plate and base on the build platform

The inscribed FRONT should be facing you and the gear teeth should easily slot into place

Select CLAMPING to activate the suction cup

The build plate will not sit evenly if there is powder in the gear teeth which will be evident in the preparation layer

Navigate to the Preparation Menu and touch Loading to start the process

We do not currently mark the plate number so just touch Validate

Touch Zero Sintering Search to start the leveling process

Touch Validate

Touch NO because we do not use a 12mm plate

Touch Setpoint to set the height for the top of the build plate

Change the drop down menu to Absolute

Set the value to 98 mm

Touch GO to move the sintering piston

You have to touch the back arrow to exit this menu

Touch Validate to initiate the automatic zero sintering process

The machine will run through the zero sintering procedure to level the build plate for the preparation layer

The process takes a few minutes

The powder supply should be at an even height with the build platform

If it isn't, raise the piston until it is level

Touch Preparation Sequence to start the powder layering process

Make sure the Layer Thickness is set to 10 um and then touch Validate

You will repeat the preparation layering steps if the first layer of powder is uneven or has weird patterns

You are looking for an evenly distributed thin layer of powder

Touch SUPPLY and raise the powder supply up 2 mm using Relative motion

Touch GO to move the piston

Each time you touch GO the powder supply will move an additional distance

You must select the back arrow to exit the menu

Go through the Preparation Sequence again

You are finished once the powder layer looks even

Find the build file from the build menu and then touch LOAD FILE

Touch BUILD LAYERS after confirming all associated files are present

Support structures are considered as their own objects

Open up the machine using the square key for the (2) locks

The water level should be between the marked levels

Add DI water if necessary

This will take ~2 hours

Close all valves by touching EXTERNAL VACUUM VALVES

Manually lock the arm holes and make sure to turn the Argon on

Set oxygen to DIRECT

Change the O2 setpoint to 1000 ppm

Touch INERTING CYCLE and set to ON

Open and close the lens trap when the oxygen value is at 2000 ppm for about 3 seconds

This will cause a small spike in oxygen, but will go back down to 1000 ppm

The preparation layer is layer 0. Turn off all LAUNCHING commands except Sintering. Then touch PLAY to Sinter 0

Touch +1 to move to the next layer. Turn on Layering and turn off Sintering

Touch PLAY to Layer 1

Turn off Layering and turn on Sintering. Now Sinter 1

Repeat 3-5 times until it looks good

Select build to end and sinter to end

All Launching commands should be selected

Touch PLAY to run the build