ALARIS30

• Printing cost estimation/billing: AlarisCharges.xls

• Maintenance Calendar: on google calendar

• Model: Objet Alaris 30
• Serial number: 7408
• Specs: ObjetAlarisspecs.pdf
• MSDS (Material safety data sheet): msds_001.pdf
• PSM local directory: /imager/project/psm/alaris30
• PSM mailing list: alaris-3d@cs.ubc.ca (only for communicating with the vendors. Admins: Wolfgang, Nasa)

• Trained personnel: Nasa (x709), Wolfgang.

How to print

Quickstart

• Model and export a binary STL file
• Copy to the computer with Objet Studio installed
• The two computers are connected via KVM switch. Double-press scroll-lock (it will beep) then press enter (on the black keyboard) to toggle between them
• Ensure control application started on other computer, and press the red button on the application to bring the printer online
• Open new tray in Objet Studio and use drag-and-drop to import your STL files (multiple files ok)
• Press auto-align toolbar button (it will probably fail). Manually drag object around to non-overlapping positions. For each object, click it and adjust rotation to make it lie down flat. Use the transformation dialog in the bottom left, experiment with rotating by +/- 90 in each axis. After getting rotation correct, try auto-aligning again.
• Press the model-check button to see if anything is overlapping. If not, there will be no output.
• Press the material check button. It will display amounts in the status bar at the bottom. Compare these to the levels listed in the main printer application on the other computer.
• Start the print job.

• User guide: DOC-04000_A_UserGuide.pdf
• Operator training guide (basic training): 3_ObjetTrainingForOpertorDOC-04023.pdf

Intro videos

http://www.objet.com/eLearning/eLearning2/menu5.html

File types accepted for printing:

• STL files: from the CAD app.
• SLC files: rasterized
• BMP files: Can be sent only from the printer control app, not from the host.

Resolution

• 28microns in the Z direction, 1200dpi in X,Y.
• Set “angle” low on CAD software for smooth curves
• Keep +/- 8 thou (thousands of an inch) space between parts that fit together.
• wall thickness: .5 mm, place walls along X direction

Preparing the model

1. Create .stl files in CAD app in “binary” format. Ascii format files are sometimes rejected.
2. Load STL file on the object software (on the client or host)
3. Use scale if the model is bigger than what it should be.
4. Start with auto placement. Then use “orientate for minimal support”. Manual placement is possible.
5. “Export your tray as packed job” to objzf format. Take it to the host machine, “import packed job” from file menu.

Printer preparation

1. Reinitiate if shut down for more than 72 hours.
2. Fill the head if not filled.
3. Turn the printer online using the controller application.

Printing

1. From object studio on host, load the tray file, send to print. Job manager will run and start sending the layers as soon as the printer is online.
2. Head nozzles can be clogged, but it is not a problem as long as 7 nozzles are not clogged in a row.
3. If you need to pause printing, it is better to pause it from the host.
4. Use the spatula to pick up the parts.
5. Clean the tray: Scrape off the excess support material from the print tray with the scraper. Spray some water on the tray and wipe off with a lint-free microfiber cloth (supplied).

Finalizing the print

1. Use a water jet (we don't have one installed -- use a knife for now ) for cleaning off the support material. “Lite” support is easy to clean. For some cases, NaOH might be needed (see pdf).
2. Color the model, coloring works well.
3. Try not to use a big drill; gradually increase drill size, otherwise, the model might break.

• Parts postprocessing guide: Postprocessorapplications7-07.pdf
• Painting printed parts: Penetrating_Dye_Letter_Low.pdf
• Cleaning with NaOH: Model_Cleaning_NaOH.pdf (we don't do it)

Hardware

• Alaris30: The 3D printer equipment. Runs Windows XP. Installation disks supplied.
• Host machine:
  • OS: Win XP. Vista printer driver in beta.
  • RAM: 4G

Software

• Control Application: Use to set printer online.
• Objet Studio: Runs on host or clients. Used to place models on the tray, to get estimates in terms of amount of material. From the host machine, sending to print would run the job manager and start printing.
• Job manager: Does the rasterization and sends 8 layers at a time to the printer. It must be running while the printing is being carried out. Closing this application would forfeit the print.
• CAD application: (third party sortware) such as solidworks, used to create/edit models. Save in binary format, high triangulation of models would result in smooth curves. Google SketchUp (last tested with version 8) is freely available and works well for our purposes. It does not output STL files, but the plugin skp_to_dxf.rb will allow for export to ASCII STL file (via the Tools menu in SketchUp). Make sure to clean up the geometry before export, and don't export guide lines. The exported STL file must be converted to binary format for use in Objet Studio. Use the attached stl_ascii2bin.py script to convert it.

Vendor Stuff

Vendor contact

• Mark Mason mmason@maverick-solutions.com (On-site installation person)
• Paul Gascho paulg@maverick-solutions.com
• Resin ordering: supportus@objet.com Phone: 877-489-9449 or 978-495-5509

Dates

• Purchased:
• On-site installation: Oct 21--22, 2010
• Warranty till:

-- MushfiqurRouf - 23 Oct 2010