Zortrax M Series User manual

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3D Printers User Guide

M Series

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Table of Contents

Introduction 3 Intended Use of Zortrax Printers 3 General Safety Information 4 Warning and Safety Labels on Zortrax Devices 6 Learn More About Zortrax M Series 8 How does the Zortrax 3D Printer Work? 8 What’s in the Box 9 Main Components 11 Zortrax 3D Printing Technology Glossary 15 First Use Preparations 19 Z-Firmware Installation 27 Navigating through the Zortrax Printer Menu 28 Material Loading 30 Platform Calibration 31 Z-SUITE Installation 33 Starting and Removing a Print 34 Available Materials 39 Basic Maintenance and Service Work 39 Support and Troubleshooting 45 Speciﬁcations 49 Recycling 50

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Introduction

Read this User Guide carefully and thoroughly before operating Zortrax products for the ﬁrst time. The User Guide includes basic information about the 3D printer, safety and protection guidelines as well as advice on preparing the machine for the ﬁrst printing and basic maintenance work. Ignorance and non-compliance with these instructions may result in property damage, injuries, device failures or lower quality of 3D prints. It is also necessary to ensure that every 3D printer user knows, fully understands and follows the instructions provided in this User Guide.

The Manufacturer makes every eﬀort to ensure that Zortrax products are safe in transportation, installation, usage, storage and disposal. However, due to the lack of direct and ad hoc control as well as other conditions influencing the device and those that are beyond the Manufacturer’s knowledge, the Manufacturer is not responsible for damages, injuries, failures and costs resulting from improper transportation, installation, usage, storage and disposal. Furthermore, the users should take into consideration the risk of possible faults of the device resulting from material and production defects.

Intended Use of Zortrax Printers

Zortrax devices 3D print in Layer Plastic Deposition (LPD) technology which allows to apply previously melted material one layer after another on a given surface in order to form a predesigned shape. The extruder is equipped with three heating points which makes it possible for the liquid material to flow through the nozzle onto the heated platform without causing blockages in it. Zortrax 3D printers together with Z-SUITE and dedicated materials guarantee achieving high quality prints. However, the users are responsible for qualifying and determining the intended use of the 3D printed models. The Manufacturer takes no responsibility for any use of the printed objects, especially, when these objects constitute a part of safety equipment or strictly regulated medical, military or space science equipment.

Due to the size and speciﬁcity, Zortrax devices are not intended for use by children under the age of 14 and by people with reduced manual, motor and psychomotor skills. The Manufacturer recommends providing assistance and guidance to people with disabilities and older adults who wish to operate Zortrax printers.

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General Safety Information

This User Guide contains important safety directions that should be followed during installation and operation of Zortrax 3D printers. It also mentions situations which require special attention and includes warnings against negligence and misuse that could cause damages or injuries.

Always read safety data sheets available at: https://zortrax.com/materials/zortrax-m-series/. They are a source of basic information and safety procedures for the equipment you bought. It is essential to up- date the ﬁrmware so as to avoid any kind of failures. Visit our website: https://zortrax.com/ regularly to see the latest news and updates.

Zortrax 3D printers operate at high temperatures and have easily accessible movable components, therefore, you must be particularly careful when handling or operating the devices. While operating the printer, it is extremely important to avoid situations that may lead to burns or interference in proper functioning.

Do not leave the machine unattended during the print job - check it periodically for proper functioning in order to avoid potential accidents or breakdowns. Turn oﬀ the printer once the print job is ﬁnished. Monitor your device for wear and tear regularly. Contact our Support Center at: http://support.zortrax.

com/ for assistance while replacing worn or broken parts.

Keep the printer away from heat sources, ﬁre, flammable materials, humidity as well as water and other liquids. Place the machine away from any equipment emitting radiation. To prevent any inadvertent use, keep the device out of reach of children and animals. It is forbidden to shake or drop the printer as it may cause breakdowns. The equipment is not intended for use in a potentially explosive environment.

Health and Safety at Work

All service and maintenance activities as well as device operation require wearing safety gloves included in the Starter Kit. Wearing safety gloves is also advised while removing the ﬁnished print from the platform.

The vapors released during the printing process are not hazardous, however, it is important to ensure proper ventilation in the print room.

Food and beverages should be kept away from both the 3D printers and 3D printed objects.

While operating Zortrax devices, all measures regarding health and safety provided in this User Guide as well as in separate regulations should be taken into account.

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Electrical Safety

Zortrax M Series 3D printers have been tested for compliance with Low Voltage Directive. In order to ensure the highest safety standards, including protection against short circuit, overload, overvoltage and printer overheating, do not attempt to modify the printer and do not use electronic replacement parts other than those recommended by the Manufacturer.

Replace electronic units according to the instructions and be particularly careful while using the tools supplied with the printer.

Before plugging the power cable into the outlet, make sure that the power supply voltage in the outlet matches the required value provided on the nameplate at the back of the printer. Avoid overloading the outlet with too many devices.

The printer must be well-grounded. Always make sure that the ground complies with local and national regulations.

Use only the original power cable supplied with the printer. Do not damage, cut or repair the cable. A damaged cable should be immediately replaced with a new one.

All maintenance and repair work should be carried out while the device is oﬀ and unplugged. Do not expose the device to moisture and liquids. Modiﬁcations such as soldering of electronic subunits are forbidden.

Mechanical Safety

Zortrax 3D printers have movable components, such as the drive belts, Z-axis screw, extruder or platform. Therefore, it is forbidden to reach into the printer or put anything inside the printer when it is running, about to start running or at rest. This may lead to serious injuries or damages.

Tools and accessories from the Starter Kit box should be used with special care for intended purposes only. Improper use may cause serious injuries.

While following post-processing procedures, wear safety gloves and glasses in order to avoid injuries that may be caused by sharp edges and fragile elements.

Removing the prints from the platform should be dealt with very carefully so as to avoid injuries. Moreover, special care should be taken so as not to damage the small connector placed at the edge of the platform with the blade of the spatula.

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Risk of Burns

There is a high risk of burns while operating Zortrax printers as the extruder’s temperature may reach up to 380⁰C [716⁰F]. Do not touch the extruder with bare hands. Be extremely careful during maintenance and repair work of heated units. If it is necessary to touch a heated component, use the pliers which are specially adapted for this purpose. Cooling of components should not take less than 30 minutes.

The platform’s temperature can reach up to 110⁰C [230⁰C], therefore, special care should be taken while operating the printer or while removing the ﬁnished print.

Do not ignore the warning labels placed on the devices.

Moreover, constructional modiﬁcations of the printer’s operating temperature are not permitted as it may cause serious injuries or bring damage to the device.

Warning and Safety Labels on Zortrax Devices

Hot surface. Allow to cool before touching

Due to design characteristics, the screws securing the Z-axis screw nut cannot be fully tightened

Do not attempt to modify or remanufacture the product

Removing the print from the platform should be handled with extreme care

Wear safety gloves

This warning symbol indicates that special care should be taken when repairing the device. Also, it points out an important step to carry out.

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The printer needs to be placed on a flat and stable surface to ensure proper quality of the prints.

Hot surface. Do not touch.

Never reach into moving elements.

Safe Storage and Transport Guidance

Zortrax devices must be stored between 0 and 35 ⁰C. The storage space should be free of moisture and other extreme conditions.

Transport Instructions

When stacking several devices on a pallet, follow the instructions provided on the packaging. One device may weigh more than 20kg [44lbs]. It is therefore advisable to provide safe pallet storage but not higher than 1,7m [5’7”]. It should be noted that the packages must not project beyond the outline of the pallet. Packages stacked on the pallet should be then bound together and wrapped in foil. The pallet prepared as above can be then forwarded to the shipping company.

Pallet stacking and destacking should be carried out by two people. The package with the device should be lifted or moved using special handles. In case of M300, the device should not be carried by one person as it may cause injury or other damage to health.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

Each Zortrax printer complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with this instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

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Learn More About Zortrax M Series

Zortrax M Series includes two 3D printer models – M200 and M300, which together with Z-SUITE and dedicated materials constitute the whole 3D printing ecosystem. Thanks to these devices, it is possible to turn digital projects into three-dimensional objects. Zortrax 3D printers can be used in many industries while designing and prototyping for instance automotive parts, mechanical elements, everyday objects or decorative elements.

How does the Zortrax 3D Printer Work?

Everything begins with preparing a model. The work on the model can be started in any program which creates 3D models and generates .stl, .obj, .3mf or .dxf ﬁles. These are the standard ﬁle formats supported by most 3D modeling software – the model is saved as a set of three-dimensional triangles (triangle mesh).

The next step is to open the .stl ﬁle (or other) in Z-SUITE – the application created speciﬁcally for Zortrax devices. Z-SUITE prepares the model by slicing it into individual layers and saving it as a .zcode. Each layer represents the extruder’s motion (vertical and horizontal) while building the whole object. Z-SUITE also allows to change and adjust the necessary print settings, such as the size of the model, layer thickness, a type of inﬁll or what the support structures will look like. The ﬁle is then ready to be printed.

Once your model is prepared, save the .zcode onto the hard drive and then onto an SD card. In order to transfer the model, insert the SD card into the card reader in the printer.

Next, prepare the material which you are going to use to print your model. The full material oﬀer is available at: https://zortrax.com/materials/zortrax-m-series/.

To start the print, turn on the printer and place the spool with the material on the spool holder at the back of the printer and load the material into the extruder. Turn the knob to select the model to be printed, push it to begin the printing process.

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What’s in the box

3D Printer

Zortrax M Series

Material

Spool

Side

Covers*

Spool

Holder

Power

Cable

Perforated

Plate

Material

Guide

Pliers

Cutting Knife

& Scalpel

Spatula

& Tweezers

Allen

Keys

Nozzle Key

Nozzle Needle

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Service Grease

Z-SUITE &

Quick Start Guide

* delivered only with Zortrax M300

Safety Gloves

Safety

Glasses

SD Card &

SD Card Reader

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Main Components

Nozzle

Hotend

Extruder

Material

spool

Power Switch

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Side Covers

Extruder Cable

Material Guide

Spool Holder

Motherboard Power Supply Unit

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Stepper Motor

Z Axis Screw

Build Platform

Dial

Display

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Perforated Plate

Heatbed

Heatbed Mount

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Zortrax 3D Printing Technology Glossary

DISPLAY PANEL

a high contrast screen displaying information about the current printing process, the printer’s menu and other information concerning the printer.

EXTRUDER

the mechanism which ensures material feeding, heating and extruding as well as cooling of the print. Its main components include the hotend and the nozzle. The material is melted in the hotend and then pushed through to the nozzle. The melted thermoplastic is deposited layer by layer to form a previously designed shape. Additionally, there are two fans on the extruder which cool the whole mechanism and the print.

EXTRUDER CABLE

a ribbon cable which connects the extruder with the motherboard. It supplies the extruder with electricity and allows to regulate the printing process.

HOTEND

a basic heating system which consists of the aluminium block and the heater & thermocouple. The hotend is responsible for heating and melting the material as well as for providing the proper temperature of the material during the whole printing process.

KNOB

a round, rotating button used to navigate through the printer’s menu and control its basic settings.

LAYER PLASTIC DEPOSITION (LPD)

the technology in which a melted material is deposited on a given surface. This technique involves applying one layer of material after another in order to form a predesigned shape – an accurate representation of a virtual design. This technology is applied by Zortrax devices – the printer starts to print from the bottom and builds the object until it is fully formed. The model and the support structures are created using the same material.

MATERIAL GUIDE

a tube which feeds the material from the spool to the extruder at the proper angle. The material guide in Zortrax printers has to be attached to the extruder cable and the back of the printer with special buckles.

MATERIALS

specially dedicated Zortrax printing materials which maximize the beneﬁts of 3D printing. These thermoplastic materials are in the ﬁlament form wound on a spool. There is a wide choice of materials in the Zortrax product oﬀer which is available at: https://zortrax.com/materials/zortrax-m-series/. Each mate-

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rial has diﬀerent properties, therefore a given material can be easily adopted to a wide range of needs and applications. Moreover, most materials are suitable for mechanical and chemical post-processing.

MODEL LIBRARY

the collection of ready-made models available within Z-SUITE. All models are divided into categories, for instance art. & design, education or robotics. You can ﬁnd many useful and attractive models there that were uploaded by the Zortrax printers’ users. Moreover, there is also one category called Zortrax Parts where you can ﬁnd models of parts useful while printing with Zortrax printers, for example the spool holder or the extruder top cover.

MOTHERBOARD

the main part of every Zortrax printer to which all the necessary components are connected. It is the main printed circuit board that makes it possible for other parts of a printer to communicate with each other. The motherboard is placed under the bottom plate along with the cooling fan and the power supply unit.

NOZZLE

the ﬁnal element of the extruder. It is used to direct the material throughout the entire printing process.

PLATFORM

an integral part of the 3D printer on which the model is created. It consists of two parts: the heatbed and the perforated plate. The heatbed provides proper platform heating, whereas the perforated plate guarantees full adhesion to its surface. The platform can be easily removed from the printer as well as installed back in its place.

PLATFORM CALIBRATION

the procedure which ensures a problem-free printing process. Platform calibration basically involves the procedure of checking the distance between the nozzle and ﬁve points on the platform and tightening/ loosening the calibration screws.

POST-PROCESSING

all procedures of mechanical and chemical treatment that improve the ﬁnal look of the model. Postprocessing techniques include: polishing, sanding, smoothing, painting or gluing two or more parts together.

POWER OUTLET AND MAIN SWITCH

the switch enables turning the printer oﬀ and on. Next to the switch, there is a power outlet where you plug the power cable in.

RAFT

ﬁrst few layers of material which begin the whole printing process. This element is always printed before

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the main object and has a larger area than the target model. Once the printing is done, both need to be removed together from the platform. The RAFT enhances adhesion of the whole print and reduces the risk of warping.

SIDE COVERS

plastic panels that can be easily attached to the casing of the printer. They’ve been designed so as to provide protection from drafts and temperature diﬀerences that can take place in the printing room. Constant temperature inside the printing chamber is very important to avoid cracks on the model and the problem of warping. Therefore, thanks to the use of side covers, the model is being protected during the printing process and at the same time it adheres to the platform more tightly. The set consists of side covers, 1 front cover, magnets and hinges. The front panel is ﬁxed to the casing with two hinges and closed by hidden magnets, whereas the side panels are snap-on. We recommend using the side covers especially for large-sized prints and prints made of materials with high or medium shrinkage level like Z-ABS.

SPOOL HOLDER

an element used to secure the spool of material at the back of the printer.

STARTER KIT

several pieces of equipment that are put together in one set. Apart from the perforated plate, the set contains tools and protective elements. The Starter Kit is what you need to perform your maintenance and repair work of Zortrax printers easier and more eﬃcient. Each printer is delivered with equipment including, for example, a set of nozzle keys or a pair of safety gloves.

STEPPER MOTOR

a type of electric motor in which the power supply does not cause full rotation of the motor shaft, but instead, a series of steps. There are four stepper motors in each Zortrax printer: two that are responsible for the extruder’s motion, one which allows the platform’s vertical motion and one which enables material loading.

SUPPORT STRUCTURES

if your model has any overhanging or protruding parts, they have to be supported with special structures so that they don’t fall down. Without these structures, the model may lose its predesigned shape. The support is printed with the same material as the model. Once the printing is done, it is necessary to carefully remove the support by hand or using pliers.

Z-AXIS SCREW

the screw which is responsible for platform’s vertical motion. It is driven by a stepper motor placed under the bottom plate. The Z-axis screw constitutes an integral part of the platform moving system.

ZCODE

the type of ﬁle which contains a model prepared for 3D printing with previously selected print settings

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(such as layer thickness, inﬁll type, etc.). All print settings can be managed in Z-SUITE before generating the .zcode. The .zcode format can only be created by saving an .stl / .dxf / .obj / .3mf ﬁle in Z-SUITE.

Z-FIRMWARE

the software programmed into the Zortrax printers which controls and monitors all the data in the device. It also gives the possibility to enable/disable the printer’s options. Whenever there is a technical issue, the ﬁrmware immediately informs you about it by displaying an error message on the screen. The whole list of ﬁrmware error messages along with the possible causes and solutions is available in this user guide. We systematically update our ﬁrmware. The latest update is available in the Downloads section at:

http://support.zortrax.com/downloads/. Simply download the ﬁle, upload it on the SD card, insert the

card into the slot in the printer and turn on the printer. The ﬁrmware will be automatically installed.

Z-SUITE

the application created speciﬁcally for Zortrax devices. Z-SUITE prepares a model for 3D printing by generating a project and saving it in the .zcode format. Z-SUITE allows changing and adjusting the print settings, such as the size of the model, layer thickness, a type of inﬁll or how many support structures will be generated. Once the .zcode ﬁle is generated, the print settings cannot be changed. The last step is to save the .zcode onto an SD card and then the model is ready to be printed.

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First Use Preparations

1. Open the box and remove the cushioning material.

2. Take the 3D printer out of the box*.

When lifting or moving the printer, do not grab:

a. the belts, b. the shipping clips, c. the extruder.

* Bearing in mind the printer’s weight (30kg/66lbs), Zortrax M300 should be taken out of the box or moved by two people.

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3. Remove the foil and ﬁllers.

4. Remove the shipping clips.

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5. Remove the foams/boxes with accessories.

6. Lower the heatbed mount by pressing the places marked in the picture.

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7. Install the platform onto the bolts marked in the picture.

NOTE! REMEMBER THAT THE PLATFORM SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN YOUR DEVICE WITH THE

PERFORATED PLATE AND ITS FIVE SILVER CALIBRATION SQUARES DIRECTED UP.

8. Plug the heatbed cable in.

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9. Attach the extruder cable clamps at the back of the printer and place the cable in them.

10. Plug the extruder cable in.

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11. Attach the spool holder at the back of the printer. Using the buckles, attach the material guide to

the extruder cable.

12. Place the material spool onto the holder so that the marking on the spool is visible. The spool

should rotate anti-clockwise. Next, feed the material into the extruder through the material guide.

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13. Place the printer on a flat and stable surface.

14. Plug the power cable in.

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15. To calibrate the platform, from the menu select “Maintenance” and then “Autocalibration.”

Follow the instructions displayed on the screen.

16. Install the side covers*.

*Delivered only with Zortrax M300

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Z-Firmware Installation

17. Download the latest Z-Firmware update from: http://support.zortrax.com/downloads/. To

install the ﬁrmware in your printer, upload the Update.bin on an SD card. Next, insert the card into the slot in the printer and turn it on. The program will be installed automatically.

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Navigating through the Zortrax Printer Menu

The printer’s functions can be activated or deactivated through the main menu.

The menu, current processes and all relevant information are shown on the display panel situated in the bottom right corner of the printer. Navigating through the menu and adjusting the basic settings is possible with the use of a knob. To select a given function, turn the knob, to conﬁrm, press it.

Main menu is divided into 5 main submenus: models, maintenance, material, settings, information. Each category is discussed in detail below.

Models: This menu includes all models saved on the SD card. You can store all of your ﬁles in one or several folders.

Maintenance: this menu lists all functions useful when taking actions connected with keeping the printer in good condition.

Autocalibration - the function which activates the procedure of autocalibration.

Heat the extruder – the function which heats up the extruder to operating temperatures. It is very useful while replacing the nozzle and performing other extruder maintenance activities.

Move the platform up/down – this function allows to change the position of the platform. Move up the platform if you want to access the bottom plate in order to clean it.

Material: this menu contains two options that are particularly helpful during the printing process.

Unload the material – choose this option to change the material for a diﬀerent color or type.

Load the material – choose this option before starting the print or after changing the material.

Settings: this menu allows to adapt the printer’s operation to individual requirements.

Light – the function which enables switching on the dynamic light – a diﬀerent color of light for a diﬀerent mode (heating mode, sleep mode, stand-by mode), the white light for all modes or disabling the light at all.

Buzzer – the function which enables/disables the sounds in the device.

Sleep mode – the function activating the sleep mode which reduces power consumption and noises. It also turns oﬀ the heating, motors and fans.

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Language – this option can be used to change the language of the menu and printer messages.

Models sorting – the function which allows to organize models saved in folders by the date and time of saving or the ﬁle size.

Information: this tab provides all information about the device and its current state.

Firmware version – the tab which displays currently installed Z-ﬁrmware version.

Printer information – the tab containing information which identiﬁes the printer model, its hardware version, serial number and total printing time.

Help - the section providing Customer Support contact details.

The menu in Zortrax devices allows to activate the pause option during the printing process. In order to pause the printing, press the knob for 10 seconds. The display will show the options related to the pause mode: Resume the print (the function which continues the printing process), Change the material (the function which allows to unload the material and load a diﬀerent one) or Stop the print (the function which ﬁnishes the printing process).

Modes and Signal Tones of Zortrax Devices

Zortrax printer indicates its current mode by the LED lights as well as informative and alert sounds. When the printer enters a given mode, the color of LED lights changes into a diﬀerent one. Also, while changing to some modes, the device may emit a sound. Therefore, working with Zortrax devices becomes easier and more convenient because there is no need to read the printer’s present mode from the display.

Heating Mode

When the light turns red, it is a sign that the platform or the extruder is heating up.

Sleep Mode

Purple light indicates the sleep mode.

This mode turns oﬀ the heating, motors and fans every time the printer is not used for 15 minutes. The sleep mode has been introduced so as to save power consumption and reduce noises.

Other Modes

White light signiﬁes other modes: printing mode, autocalibration mode and stand-by mode.

While working with Zortrax printer, you can hear two types of sounds: long and short ones.

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All activities that involve preparing the device for printing, such as heating the extruder or loading and unloading the material, begin with a short sound. The printing process is initiated with a short sound and it ends with a double short sound.

A long sound indicates malfunctions, failures or the user’s negligence. Also, the long sound points out the need to update the ﬁrmware.

Material Loading

18. From the main menu select “Material” and then “Load the material.” At this point the printer will

begin to heat up the extruder.

WARNING! The extruder will be hot. Don’t touch it. Wear safety gloves.

Once the extruder heating is done, insert the material into the extruder and push the knob to continue.

When the material is loaded, the device is ready to begin the printing process. Remove the excess material using the tweezers.

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Platform Calibration

19. Platform calibration involves the procedure of checking the distance between the nozzle and ﬁve

silver points on the platform and tightening/loosening the calibration screws.

From the main menu select “Maintenance” and then “Autocalibration.” At this point the printer will begin to heat up the extruder.

WARNING! The extruder will be hot during the autocalibration. Don’t touch it. Wear safety gloves.

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20. Once the extruder heating is done, push the knob to continue.

Follow the instructions displayed on the screen.

At this moment the printer will lift up the platform and check the distance between the nozzle and the center point of the platform. Next, the display will show a message indicating that the three calibration screws placed under the platform need to be tightened. Once you’ve tightened the screws, push the knob to continue.

The printer will begin to check the distance between the nozzle and ﬁve silver points on the platform: two points at the front of the platform, two points at the back and the center point.

If the printer detects an incorrect distance in any of these points, the display will show instructions on what adjustments should be made. Follow the instructions and tighten or loosen the screw indicated in the message. Turn the screw slightly, only by a few degrees. Once you ﬁnish, push the knob and the printer will recheck a given point on the platform.

If the distance between the nozzle and ﬁve points is set within the acceptable limits, the printer will ﬁnish the calibration procedure. Additionally, the display will show the calibration results.

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Z-SUITE Installation

21. Download the latest Z-SUITE update from: http://support.zortrax.com/downloads/. In order to

download and install Z-SUITE on your computer, you need to enter the serial number of your device. The serial number can be found in the printer’s menu in “Information” section and on the nameplate on the back of the printer.

Z-SUITE is a program created speciﬁcally for Zortrax devices. Thanks to this application it is possible to prepare a 3D model for printing by generating a project and saving it in a .zcode format. The program allows changing and adjusting the print settings, such as the size of the model, the layer thickness, a type of inﬁll or how much support structure should be generated.

Remember to update Z-SUITE regularly. All updates are available at: http://support.zortrax.com/down-

loads/.

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Starting and Removing a Print

Once your model has been prepared for 3D printing in Z-SUITE, you need to save it on your hard drive and then on an SD card. Next, insert the card into the card reader in the printer.

Use the “Models” option from the main menu to choose the model you want to print. From all the models saved on the SD card select the one to be printed by turning the knob and press it.

At this point the printer begins to heat up the extruder.

WARNING! The extruder will be hot. Don’t touch it. Wear safety gloves.

The printing process will start automatically.

Removing the print needs to be dealt with very carefully because there are some elements of the printer that can get damaged in the process. The following instructions show the correct procedure of removing the print from the platform.

1. Turn oﬀ the platform and unplug the power cable.

WARNING! WAIT 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE PLATFORM AND THE PRINT COOL DOWN.

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2. Open the front cover.

3. Unplug the heatbed cable from the platform. Both the big and small connector need to be unplug-

ged.

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4. Remove the platform from the printer.

5. Use the spatula to remove the print.

WARNING! REMOVE THE PRINT VERY CAREFULLY. WEAR SAFETY GLOVES. DO NOT POINT THE

BLADE OF THE SPATULA TOWARDS THE PLATFORM CONNECTORS.

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6. Put the platform back in the printer.

7. Plug the heatbed cable in. Both the big and small connectors need to be plugged in.

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8. Close the front cover and plug the power cable in.

NOTE! ONCE THE PRINTING PROCESS IS FINISHED, UNLOAD THE MATERIAL AND TAKE THE SPO-

OL OFF OF THE SPOOL HOLDER, SECURE THE END OF THE MATERIAL AS IT IS SHOWN IN THE

PICTURE TO AVOID HAVING TANGLED THREADS OF MATERIAL ON THE SPOOL.

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Available Materials

Zortrax certiﬁed materials increase the beneﬁts of 3D printing with Zortrax devices. The complete oﬀer of diﬀerent materials is available at: https://zortrax.com/materials/zortrax-m-series/. There is a wide choice of colors to choose from. Technical and safety data sheets are available on the same website.

When 3D printing with Zortrax devices, it is recommended to use Zortrax certiﬁed materials so as to acquire the best possible quality of the prints.

Basic Maintenance and Service Work

Maintenance work should be regular in order to keep the printer in good condition and achieve high quality prints every time. Some parts require maintenance before each print and some every few hundred working hours. All maintenance activities do not take much time and they are not complicated. Before commencing any repair it is extremely important to turn oﬀ the printer and let it cool down. Remember to always wear safety gloves and glasses.

The printer is delivered with a full set of tools needed to carry out maintenance and service work.

The following tables present maintenance and repair guidelines connected with each section of Zortrax 3D printer, together with speciﬁc check points, necessary activities and their frequency.

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1. Main

Activity Frequency Solution to problems Necessary accessories

Cleaning the machine, its interior and surroundings, especially the bottom plate under the platform

Lack of proper care of the machine can cause inevident damage or improper operation of the drive units.

Before each printing The user is responsible for

keeping the machine clean. To remove material remains from the interior of the device, use a vacuum cleaner or compressed air

Vacuum cleaner, cleaning products with a high evaporation

rate

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2. Hotend

Activity Frequency

Checking if the hotend and the nozzle are not clogged and if they are clean from material residues

Cleaning the nozzle After ﬁnishing one spool of material

Checking if the screws securing the heater and thermocouple are tightened

Lack of proper care of the machine can cause inevident damage or improper operation of the drive units.

Before each printing

Every 300 working hours

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3. Platform

Activity Frequency Solution to problems Necessary accessories

Cleaning the perforated plate

Checking the perforated plate for deformation

Autocalibration Every 200 working

Cleaning the heatbed and the underside of the perforated plate

Before each printing To remove material remains

Before each printing - -

hours

Every 300 working hours

from the surface of the perforated plate, use a spatula

If the platform autocalibration fails, move on to the next step

Unscrew the screws securing the perforated plate and remove the residues from the underside of

the plate using a spatula. The heatbed needs to be

cleaned with a piece of cloth damped in acetone

Spatula

Spatula, piece of cloth, acetone

While cleaning the perforated plate, be careful not to damage the small connector placed at the edge of

the platform.

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4. X/Y axes; extruder guide rails

Activity Frequency Solution to problems

Checking if the axes and the extruder guide rails are clean from material remains and dust

Checking the tension of the drive belts on the X/Y axes

Checking the tension of the drive belts between the motors and the X/Y axes

Checking if the screws on the X/Y axes and the motors pulleys are tightened

Before each printing

Every 300 working hours

It is possible to feel slight resistance while checking if the extruder moves freely on the guide rails. In such case you should check if the X/Y axes and the extruder guide rails are covered with black grime. The axes and

guide rails should be cleaned with a cloth damped in acetone and then lubricated with grease supplied in the Starter Kit

In order to check the tension of the drive belts on the X/Y axes, move the extruder to the central point and gently tug the belts. If the belts are loosened, tighten the screws placed on the top part of the X/Y axes blocks

- -

Necessary

accessories

Checking if the extruder moves freely when the printer is oﬀ

Lubricating the X/Y axes and the extruder guide rails

Lack of proper maintenance of the X/Y axes can influence the ﬁnal look of the print and cause the eﬀect of shifted layers. Cleaning and lubricating the axes can help you save the material used for 3D printing as well as the time for

preparing the device for printing.

Every 300 working hours

Every 200 working hours

- Teflon or graphite grease

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5. Extruder

Activity Frequency

Checking if the screws securing the hotend are not loose and, if necessary, tightening them

Removing the material remains and lumps from the extruder

Checking if the fans are working Every 300 working hours

Lack of proper care of the machine can cause inevident damage or improper operation of the drive units.

Every 300 working hours

Page 45

6. Z axis

Activity Frequency

Checking if the Z-axis screw and rails are clean from material remains

Checking if the screws and nuts are properly secured NOTE: Due to design characteristics, the screws securing the Z-axis screw nut cannot be fully tightened

Lubricating the Z axis and rails Every 200 working hours

Lack of proper care of the machine can cause inevident damage or improper operation of the drive units.

Before each printing

Every 300 working hours

Support and Troubleshooting

In order to ensure safety of every 3D printer’s user, the Manufacturer provides various support while identifying and solving technical problems independently.

In case of diﬃculties with operating Zortrax 3D printer, at ﬁrst you should seek guidance in this User Guide, check the manuals available at: http://support.zortrax.com/ or consult our technical specialists

Page 46

through the Support Form available at: http://support.zortrax.com/support-form/.

The most common problems are listed below along with the list of possible solutions.

The printer does not load the material into the extruder or the material is not extruded from the nozzle:

1. Make sure that the material has not run out. If so, use a new spool and restart the printing process.

2. Check if the material is not tangled on the spool or blocked near the inlet of the material guide. If so,

unload the material using options from the menu. Cut oﬀ the tangled or blocked fragment of the material. Reload the material and restart the printing process.

3. Check if the spool is properly secured on the spool holder. The spool may be impossible to rotate if it has been incorrectly installed.

4. Make sure that the material is not faulty or irregular, that is, it does not have swells on its surface. If so, unload the material using options from the menu. Use a diﬀerent spool.

5. Make sure that the extruder and hotend are clean from material remains. Especially check the extruder motor rack and the nozzle. Remove the material remains from the nozzle using the supplied tools.

6. Make sure that the end of the material loaded into the extruder has been cut at a right angle. Cut the end of the material at an acute angle to make material loading easier.

7. For further help, visit our Support Center at: http://support.zortrax.com/.

The print cracks and does not adhere to the platform (it warps):

1. If the print does not adhere to the platform: a. carry out platform calibration again, b. make sure that the side covers are installed, c. make sure that the model is correctly designed and arranged in the workspace, d. try adjusting the print settings diﬀerently by changing the level of inﬁll and the model’s arrangement in the workspace, e. provide proper temperature in the printing room, f. before starting the printing process, make sure that the platform is suﬃciently clean.

2. If the print cracks: a. make sure that the side covers are installed, b. make sure that the model is correctly designed and arranged in the workspace, c. try adjusting the print settings diﬀerently by changing the level of inﬁll and the model’s arrangement in the workspace, d. provide proper temperature in the printing room.

3. For further help, visit our Support Center at: http://support.zortrax.com/.

Whenever there is a technical issue caused by a hardware failure, negligence or inappropriate use of Zortrax printers, the ﬁrmware immediately displays an error message on the screen. The following list explains all error messages and provides potential causes and suggested solutions.

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Error Message Potential Cause Suggested Solution

Error #002 SD card reading error The SD card is unreadable or da-

maged

Error #003 File error. Please prepare your model again

Error #004 Print stopped due to SD card timeout. Check SD card contacts or format/replace your card

Error #101 No models on SD card The card is unreadable or dama-

Error #010 Extruder heating error The thermocouple cannot detect

Error #011 Extruder temperature is too high

Error #012 Heatbed temperature is too high

Error #013 Unexpected extruder temperature drop

Error #014 Heatbed thermistor error

The ﬁle cannot be read or the SD card is damaged

The SD card is unreadable or damaged

ged; There are no models on the SD card

an increase in temperature

The thermocouple has detected too high extruder temperature

The heatbed thermistor has detected too high heatbed temperature

The thermocouple has detected a decrease in temperature during

the printing process

No signal coming from the heatbed thermistor

-Save the ﬁle again on the SD card

-Safely remove the card and use another one

-Save the ﬁle again on the SD card

-Safely remove the card and use another one

-Save the ﬁle again on the SD card

-Safely remove the card and use another one

-Save the ﬁle again on the SD card

-Safely remove the card and use another one

-Extruder cable / heater and thermocouple / extruder PCB replacement

-Heatbed / heatbed cable replacement

-Make sure that the heater and thermocouple haven’t been disconnected from the hotend

-Extruder cable / heater and thermocouple / extruder PCB replacement

-Heatbed / heatbed cable replacement

Error #030 Check build platform small connector and restart the printer

Error #031 Check the platform large connector and restart the printer

Error #032 Check the main extruder cable and restart the printer

Error #033 Check the perforated plate contacts and restart the printer

No connection / short circuit between the perforated plate and the heatbed

No connection / short circuit between the heatbed and the heatbed cable

No connection / short circuit between the extruder cable and the extruder

No connection between the perforated plate and the heatbed or short circuit on the perforated plate (on calibration points)

-Check the connection between the perforated plate and the heatbed cable

-Perforated plate / heatbed cable replacement

-Check the connection between the heatbed and the heatbed cable

-Heatbed / heatbed cable replacement

-Check the connection between the extruder and the extruder cable and restart the printer

-Extruder cable / extruder PCB replacement

-Check the heatbed cable for proper connection

-Perforated plate / heatbed cable replacement

Page 48

Error #034 Check the endstops and restart the printer

Error #040 Please, update the Firmware to print

Error #075 Please prepare the ﬁle using a newer Z-SUITE version

No signal from the endstops when the extruder moves into the „home” position (front left corner)

Z-SUITE blocks the printing process for previous versions of ﬁrmware due to safety reasons,

Z-SUITE is not up to date -Update the Z-SUITE to the latest

-Check the endstops for proper connection

-Carry out X/Y axes maintenance

-Update the ﬁrmware

version and prepare the ﬁle again

Error #076 This zcode ﬁle was exported for a diﬀerent printer mo-

del

If the device begins to operate in an unidentiﬁed way, safely unplug the printer from the power supply and immediately contact the Support Center specialists via the support form at:

http://support.zortrax.com/support-form/.

While shipping the device to the Manufacturer’s technical service, it is extremely important to pack the printer properly. Use the original packaging. Detailed instructions on how to pack the device are available at: M200 http://support.zortrax.com/packing-m200/, M300 http://support.zortrax.com/m300-packing/.

The model has been prepared for a diﬀerent printer model

-Choose the proper printer model while exporting the ﬁle in Z-SUITE

More manuals and tips & tricks articles are available at our Support Center.

www.zortrax.com

Page 49

Speciﬁcations

Weight and Physical Dimensions

M200 M300

Without a Spool 345 x 360 x 430mm

[13.6 x 14 x 17 in]

With a Spool 345 x 430 x 430mm

[13.6 x 17 x 17 in]

Shipping Box 460 x 470 x 570mm

[18 x 18.5 22.4 in] Shipping Weight 25kg [55 lbs] 56kg [124 lbs] Net Weight 16kg [35 lbs] 30kg [66 lbs]

Printing

Printing Technology LPD (Eng. Layer Plastic Deposition) Layer Resolution 90-400 microns 140-300 microns Wall Thickness Optimal: 800 microns Positioning Precision X/Y 1,5 microns Z Single Step 1,25 microns Dimensional Accuracy +/- 0,2%* Angle Accuracy +/- 0,2%**

3D Printer

Workspace 200 x 200 x 180mm

[7.87 x 7.87 x 7.086 in]

Material Container Spool Material Diameter 1,75mm [0.069 in] Nozzle Diameter 0,4mm [0.015 in] Support Structures Removed mechanically – printed with the same

material as the model Extruder Single Connectivity SD card [included] Available Materials Full oﬀer is available at: https://zortrax.com/ma-

terials/zortrax-m-series/

Additional Information each delivered print-

er may have worked

up to 50 hours during

the quality control test

prints

Temperature

490 x 490 x 590mm

490 x 560 x 590mm

576 x 576 x 842mm

300 x 300 x 300mm

[11.81 x 11.81 x 11.81 in]

each delivered printer may have worked up to 90 hours during the quality control test prints

Extruder Maximum Temperature 380˚ C [716˚ F]

Platform Heated

Platform Maximum Temperature 110˚C [230˚ F]

Ambient Operating Temperature 20˚ - 35˚C [68° - 95° F]

Storage Temperature 0˚ - 35˚C [32 - 95° F]

Page 50

Electrical

AC Input 110/240V ~ 2 A 50/60Hz

Power Requirements 24 V DC @ 11 A

Power Consumption max 300W max 500W

Software

Software Package Z-SUITE®

Supported File Formats .stl, .obj, .dxf, .3mf

Supported Operating Systems Mac OS X / Windows 7 and newer versions

*It should be noted that the model’s dimensions strongly depend on the technical condition of the printer as well as the shape,

form and size of a print, the material used and the printing process conditions. The accuracy in Z axis does not include a tole-

rance of +/- one layer. Bear in mind errors of measurement and measuring equipment.

**measurements were taken with an angle of 90˚

Recycling

Disposal of paper and plastic packaging

In order to protect the environment, it is recommended to place used paper and plastic packaging in specially designated containers, according to your local recycling guidelines.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment

This symbol placed on the device indicates that it is electrical and electronic equipment which must not be disposed of with household waste. Substances contained in the equipment may be harmful to the natural environment. Waste electrical and electronic equipment cannot be disposed of in landﬁlls and must be recycled. For information on where to dispose of waste equipment, contact the seller, the Manufacturer or the importer of the product. Disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment along with other waste is prohibited by the EU Directive 2012/19/UE.

Certiﬁcation

The Manufacturer ensures that the equipment complies with all relevant standards. In case of questions and problems contact the Manufacturer through the support form: http://support.zortrax.com/

support-form/.