User manual

Z406 System User Manual Z Corporation
www.zcorp-users.com
97
9.1 USING ZCAST POWDER
9.1.1 GENERAL INFORMATION
ZCast
501 powder is a plaster-ceramic composition that allows you to print sand casting-like
molds and/or cores with your Z Corp. printer. Once printed, depowdered and baked, you have the
ability to immediately pour molten metal, yielding a cast metal part. Arguably, the ZCast
process
is the fastest and most direct way to obtain a metal part from digital data. ZCast
501 has been
optimized for non-ferrous materials ranging from zinc to brass, including aluminum and
magnesium.
You will find a detailed document entitled ‘ZCast Direct Metal Casting - Design Guide’ located in
the appendix of this manual for additional information. Please review the guide along with safety
issues before continuing with this product. Upon review, contact Z Corporation Applications Team
for information about a free online training session by sending an email entitled “ZCAST
ONLINE TRAINING SEMINAR” to [e-mail]
. Be sure to include preferred meeting
times. The session is approximately one hour.
9.1.2 USING ZCAST ON YOUR Z406 3D PRINTER
Temporary Scraper Blade Removal
When using ZCast powder on the Z406 3D Printer, the scraper blade should be removed.
Failure to remove the scraper blade when running ZCast powder will result in excessive wear on
the scraper blade and require replacement. Remember to reinstall the scraper blade when
printing with a different Z Corporation powder system.
Remove the roller scraper blade as described below:
Remove scraper assembly if you are changing over to ZCast powder. Use the 3/32 hex key
tool that accompanied the Z406 ZCast Kit. (Reattach scraper assembly if using plaster or
starch material.) Replace the scraper roller cover.
WARNING: Do not pour magnesium without first contacting a Z Corporation technical
representative. NEVER ATTEMPT TO POUR FERROUS METALS IN ZCAST MOLDS.