User manual

Z Corporation Z406 System User Manual
10 Z Corporation Service [phone]/(877)88-ZCORP
The Z406 3D Printer employs several techniques to quickly build parts. First, binder solution is
applied in a higher concentration around the edges of the part, creating a strong “shell” around the
exterior of the part. Within parts, the Z406 3D Printer builds an infrastructure by printing strong
scaffolding within part walls with a higher concentration of binder solution. The remaining interior
areas are printed with a lower saturation, which gives them stability, but prevents over-saturation,
which can lead to part distortion of the part.
Figure 2: The Z406 3D Printer Shelling and Infrastructure Features
After printing, the part is removed from the powder bed, depowdered and dried. The part can then be
infiltrated with wax, epoxy, or other materials to increase strength and durability. More information on
different infiltrants can be found in Section 4.4, Infiltrating the Part. You will have the part in your
hands and can start improving your design within the same day—usually within hours.
Because the powder layers support the structures being printed above, the printer creates parts
without support structures and can print parts with complex geometries that are impossible for other
systems.
There are several important characteristics of the Z406 3D Printer that will help you print the best
parts for your intended purpose.
Part Placement. The software will place the parts within the build box to maximize build speed, the
most important criteria for the majority of our users. The software positions the parts with the
smallest dimension in the z (vertical) axis. For more information, refer to the ZPrint Software User
Manual. In addition to part placement, the following other characteristics should be considered.
Strength. The ultimate strength of the part will be somewhat affected by its orientation within the
print box. The part will be strongest along the y-axis and the x-axis and less strong along the z-axis.
This is because the cross sections are printed in continuous strips along the y or the “fast” axis (the
print heads direction of travel), bands across the x or the “slow” axis (the gantry direction of travel)
and laminated layers along the z-axis. (See figure 3). This discussion only applies to untreated
parts; once parts are infiltrated, they uniformly take on the strength characteristics of the infiltrating
material.
Exterior walls
printed at higher
saturation
Interior infrastructure
printed at a higher
saturation
Other interior areas
printed at lower
saturation