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Hallelujah! The sun is out, the AC is on full blast, and your students may or may not be getting a little rowdy in anticipation of summer…
That means it’s time to start planning how you’ll take care of the material in your 3D printer if it will be left unused for a couple weeks or more at a time.
Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind whether you have a FDM or PolyJet printer.
For FDM printers…
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1. Unload your material and keep it in a cool, dry place.
If you’re not planning on using your machine for a few weeks, be sure to unload your material and store it in a temperature controlled environment with low humidity. When stored properly material can last for several years, but improper storage conditions will shorten the life of your material.
2. Double check storage conditions for all of your material.
Oftentimes buildings will adjust temperature settings when schools close for summer break. To maximize the shelf life of all of your materials, make sure storage conditions are up to snuff despite any planned changes within your school’s facilities while students are away.
3. Take a material “age” inventory.
The end of the school year is a good time to look at your remaining stock of material, check the age of each package, and set out a plan to use your oldest material first in the Fall. Although your material doesn’t have a hard expiration date, it does have a shelf life that varies depending on storage conditions so it’s always best to use your oldest material first.
For PolyJet printers…
1. Wipe the print heads clean with a lint free cloth after each print job – and more importantly after the final print job before you shut down the machine for summer break.
Apply Isopropyl Alcohol to the cloth and wipe the head evenly from back to front. Use the Print Head Cleaning wizard to guarantee the best results.
2. Properly shut down your machine.
- Use the Shutdown Wizard if you do not plan to use the printer for 5-7 days. The Shutdown Wizard will assist you in making sure all of the proper maintenance steps are taken and clears the print head of materials before shutdown.
- Use the Material Flush/Fill Wizard if you do not plan to use the printer for a period longer than 10 days. The Material Flush/Fill Wizard will purge the system of any existing resin and fill the system with cleaning solution. The cleaning solution was provided with your printer. Do not allow your system to sit idle longer than 10 days or significant damage can be done.
3. Take a material “age” inventory.
Just as with FDM printers, the end of the school year is a good time to look at your remaining stock of material, check the manufacture date of each package, and set out a plan to use your oldest material first in the Fall. That way you can be sure you use all of your material before any of it expires.
So there you have it – just a few simple things to do before it’s time to kick back and enjoy a relaxing summer break.
