User Guide - FDM Vantage

FDM Vantage ™
User Guide
Version 1.7
Notice FDM Vantage User Guide
Notice
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. This User Guide
is published for informational purposes only and the information so provided should
not be considered as all-inclusive or covering all contingencies. If further information is
required, Stratasys Inc. should be consulted.
STRATASYS INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS
MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Stratasys Inc.
shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
This document is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this document
may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated into another language without the prior
written consent of Stratasys Inc. Printed in the USA.
Trademarks
• FDM Vantage™, WaterWorks™, Insight™, and Smart Canister™ are all trademarks
of Stratasys Inc.
• FDM® and Stratasys® are registered trademarks of Stratasys Inc.
• Krytox® , Ultem® , Lexan® , TriGEL® , Windows NT® , and Windows 2000® are
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
© Copyright 2005
Stratasys Incorporated
14950 Martin Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344 USA
Tel: 1.800.937.3010 (US toll free)
952.937.3000 (local)
Fax: 952.937.0070
www.stratasys.com
Publication Number: 104503-0008
Publication Date: November, 2006
ii
FDM Vantage User Guide Notice
About the FDM Vantage

Welcome to the FDM Vantage™. Built on the proven T-class high performance
platform, the Vantage systems allow you to configure your system based on the
materials you want. See the table below for system/material compatibility.
This system incorporates the latest in innovative technologies to provide you with
precise prototypes from a CAD design. Stratasys’ Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
technology provides prototype parts, including internal features, that can be used to
field-test form, fit, and function. The Vantage features a servo/belt driven XY gantry
with multiple high temperature modeling material capability.
The Vantage comes in four varieties. System highlights are:
Vantage i Vantage X Vantage S Vantage SE

(initial) (Xa and Xp) (speed) (speed + envelope)
Envelope 14 x 10 x 10 in 14 x 10 x 10 in 14 x 10 x 10 in 16 x 14 x 16 in
Size 355 x 254 x 254 mm 355 x 254 x 254 mm 355 x 254 x 254 mm 406 x 355 x 406 mm
Model ABS or PC Xa: ABS, ABSi, & ABS, ABSi, ABS, ABSi,
Materials PC-ABS PC-ABS, PC & PC-ABS, PC &
Xp: PC-ABS, PC & PC-ISO PC-ISO
PC-ISO
Material 1 model 1 model 1 model 2 model
Bays 1 support 1 support 1 support 2 support
Build Non-TI* Non-TI* TI* TI*
Speed
Available For ALL materials: T12/.007” (.178 mm) & T16/.010” (.254 mm)
Tips (Slice plus
Heights) - For ABS, ABSi &
all systems PC-ABS: T10/.005” (.127 mm)
plus
For ABS & ABSi T20/.013” (.330 mm)
*TI = Throughput Improvement
The Vantage S and SE models come with TI speed. The TI speed can range as high
as 125 percent faster than non-TI speed, but the exact speed improvement depends
on factors such as material type, layer thickness, model geometry, model size, and
support style. On average, the speed-up is over 50 percent. Not every combination of
factors will result in significant speed improvement.
Vantage SE’s expanded build envelope (or build chamber) has 150 percent more
volume, allowing bigger prototypes. The extra canister bays, to build with an additional
model and support canister, allow you to leave the machine unattended for longer
time periods.
Vantage Xp, S and SE users also benefit from PC-ISO material. PC-ISO meets both
ISO 10993-1 and USP Class VI standards. Class VI is the most stringent of the six
USP ratings.
iii
Notice FDM Vantage User Guide
There are five major components that make up the Vantage Modeling System:
• Insight Slicing Software
• A Computer Workstation (not sold by Stratasys)
• The FDM Vantage Modeling Machine
• Modeling Material
• Support Material
About This Guide

This guide is your introduction to building prototypes using a Stratasys rapid prototype
system. Typically learning about a high-tech machine can be a long, difficult process.
But with this guide, you can make that learning process much easier. This guide was
designed as a learning and reference tool that explains system operation in an easy to
understand, step-by-step, process. This guide is specifically written for controller
software version 2.4.0. Screen descriptions may be different for other versions.
How to Use This Guide

This guide is divided into easy-to-follow chapters. The tabs allow you to quickly and
easily find the information you want. You can read this user guide chapter by chapter
or use the tabs, Table of Contents, and Index when you need to quickly find specific
information. Keeping this user guide close to your system will efficiently allow you to
troubleshoot and maintain the system.
Conventions Used in This Guide

The following conventions are used in this guide.
• When you see text in italic, it indicates that this is a menu item that can be
selected from the Operator Panel Screen. For example, select Build Last Job.
• If you see text in BOLD CAPS it indicates that this is a key located on the
Operator Panel keypad. For example, From the Main Menu select Build Job and
press ENTER.
• If you see boxed blue text, it indicates that this information is being shown on the
Operator Panel Screen. For example:
Build Job.. |*Tips: Model T16

>Operator Control.. |* Support T16
Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
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FDM Vantage User Guide
Table of Contents
Notice
Service & Support

FDM Vantage Service ................................................................................................ 1 - 1
Software Support ....................................................................................................... 1 - 1
Consumable Orders................................................................................................... 1 - 1
Safety Instructions ..................................................................................................... 1 - 2
Hazard Classifications ............................................................................................1 - 2
Product Safety Signs ..............................................................................................1 - 2
Specific Safety Practices ........................................................................................1 - 3
Guard Door Interlocks.............................................................................................1 - 4
General Safety Practices ........................................................................................1 - 4
Setup & Installation

Preparing Your Facility for Installation ....................................................................... 2 - 1
Identifying Your Machine............................................................................................ 2 - 1
Making the Network Connection................................................................................ 2 - 1

Making the Power Cable Connection ........................................................................ 2 - 2
Using the Main Circuit Breaker .................................................................................. 2 - 2
Using the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) ......................................................... 2 - 2
Thermal Cut-Out Fuses ............................................................................................. 2 - 3
Initial Network Configuration (IP Address) ................................................................. 2 - 4
Upgrading Software or Downloading a Code.................................................................. 5
Moving the Machine................................................................................................... 2 - 8
Machine Components
Accessing Machine Components .............................................................................. 3 - 1
Opening the Hood...................................................................................................... 3 - 4
i
XY Gantry Assembly .............................................................................................. 3 - 4
Head Assembly.............................................................................................................. 5
Liquefier Tips and Slice Heights............................................................................. 3 - 5
Head Buttons for Unplugging Tips ......................................................................... 3 - 8
Z Stage & Oven Components .................................................................................... 3 - 9
Opening the Oven Door ......................................................................................... 3 - 9
Oven Lights .......................................................................................................... 3 - 10
The Platen 11
Moving the Head and Z Stage using “Move Relative”...........................................3 - 11
Lowering the Z Stage ........................................................................................... 3 - 13
Material & Canisters

Materials Used in the Vantage ................................................................................... 4 - 1
Material Compatibility............................................................................................. 4 - 1
Accessing the Canister Bays ..................................................................................... 4 - 2
Canister Bay Components ......................................................................................... 4 - 2
Canister Bays......................................................................................................... 4 - 2
Canister Drive Levers............................................................................................. 4 - 3
Interpreting the LED Indicators .............................................................................. 4 - 3
Canister Auto Changeover (For Vantage SE only) ................................................ 4 - 4
Smart Canister 5
Storing Canisters........................................................................................................ 4 - 5
Changing Canisters ................................................................................................... 4 - 6
Installing a Canister................................................................................................ 4 - 6
Removing an Empty Canister .............................................................................. 4 - 10
Removing a Partially Used Canister .................................................................... 4 - 10
Loading Material Filament to the Liquefiers ..............................................................4 - 11
Unloading Material Filament from the Liquefiers ..................................................... 4 - 12
Purging Blue Material from Liquefier.................................................................... 4 - 13
Changing Material Type or Tips ............................................................................... 4 - 13
Recovering From a Head Plug................................................................................. 4 - 19
Moving the Head to the Head Service Bracket (Service Location) .......................... 4 - 20
ii
Operating the Machine

Using the Operator Control Panel.............................................................................. 5 - 1
Keypad Button Descriptions....................................................................................5 - 2
Screen Symbols......................................................................................................5 - 3
Powering Up the Machine.......................................................................................... 5 - 3
Powering Down the Machine ..................................................................................... 5 - 4
Building a Job ............................................................................................................ 5 - 5
Before Building a Job..............................................................................................5 - 5
Selecting a Job to Build ..........................................................................................5 - 6
Warnings Before Job is Built...................................................................................5 - 7
Information Available While Building.......................................................................5 - 7
Information Available If a Job Fails While Building .................................................5 - 7
Pausing or Aborting a Job ......................................................................................5 - 8
After Building a Job.................................................................................................5 - 8
Manually Removing Support Material........................................................................ 5 - 9
Removing WaterWorks Support Material................................................................... 5 - 9
Working with the Job Queues .................................................................................. 5 - 10
Using the Maintenance Menu ...................................................................................5 - 11
Changing the Modeler Default Values .................................................................. 5 - 11
User Placement on Platen ....................................................................................5 - 12
Displaying Machine Status....................................................................................... 5 - 13

Finding the Temperature Status ............................................................................5 - 13
Finding the Odometer Status ................................................................................5 - 13
Finding the Material Status ...................................................................................5 - 14
Finding Your Machine’s Software Version.............................................................5 - 15
Finding the Sensor, System, or UPS Status .........................................................5 - 15
Checking Air Pressure and Vacuum ........................................................................ 5 - 16
Changing the Build Sheet ........................................................................................ 5 - 16
Setting the Oven Temperature................................................................................. 5 - 17
Operating Insight
Starting Insight ........................................................................................................... 6 - 1
iii
Opening a .STL File in Insight.................................................................................... 6 - 1
Selecting Modeler Setup Settings.................................................................................. 2
Configure Your Modeler ......................................................................................... 6 - 2
Part Build Parameters ............................................................................................ 6 - 4
Orientating the Part in the Build Envelope ..................................................................... 5
Slicing the Part........................................................................................................... 6 - 5
Building Supports and a Base for the Part ................................................................. 6 - 6
Saving the Job File .................................................................................................... 6 - 6
Creating Toolpaths ..................................................................................................... 6 - 6
Saving the Toolpath (.CMB file).................................................................................. 6 - 6
Flag Button Shortcut .................................................................................................. 6 - 7
Sending the Part to the Machine................................................................................ 6 - 7
Insight Status ............................................................................................................. 6 - 8
Managing Parts in the Job Queue.......................................................................... 6 - 8
Monitoring the Part Build........................................................................................ 6 - 9
Viewing Information about Built Parts ...................................................................... 6 - 10
Setting up Remote Notification .................................................................................6 - 11
Calibrating Liquefier Tips

Automatic Calibration................................................................................................. 7 - 1
Manual Calibration ..................................................................................................... 7 - 5
Maintaining the Machine

Maintenance Schedule .............................................................................................. 8 - 1
Daily Maintenance Tasks ........................................................................................... 8 - 2
Cleaning the Platen................................................................................................ 8 - 2
Emptying the Purge Bucket.................................................................................... 8 - 2
Weekly Maintenance Tasks........................................................................................ 8 - 3
Vacuuming the Build Envelope .............................................................................. 8 - 3
Monthly Maintenance Tasks....................................................................................... 8 - 3
Inspecting & Replacing the Tip Wipe Brushes ....................................................... 8 - 3
Replacing the Silicone Wiper ................................................................................. 8 - 3
iv
Inspecting the Purge Ledge ....................................................................................8 - 4
Lubricating the XY Guide Rods ..............................................................................8 - 4
Lubricating the Z stage Lead Screws and Guide Rods...........................................8 - 4
Quarterly Maintenance Tasks .................................................................................... 8 - 5
Cleaning the Vacuum System In-Line Filter and Jar...............................................8 - 5
Cleaning the Cone Sensor......................................................................................8 - 6
As Needed Maintenance Tasks ................................................................................. 8 - 6
Platen Flatness Diagnostic .....................................................................................8 - 6
Replacing the Entire Tip Wipe Assembly................................................................8 - 6
Cleaning Exterior Machine Surfaces.......................................................................8 - 7
Cleaning the Head Tray ..........................................................................................8 - 7
Cleaning the Liquefier Tips .....................................................................................8 - 7
Cleaning the Oven Door Removable Glass ............................................................8 - 7
Replacing an Interior Lamp.....................................................................................8 - 8
Troubleshooting
Getting Help............................................................................................................... 9 - 1
Finding a Remedy...................................................................................................... 9 - 2
Index
Appendix
v
vi
FDM Vantage User Guide Service & Support
Chapter 1
Service & Support
FDM Vantage Service

If you have a problem with your FDM Vantage that is not covered in this user guide,
please contact Stratasys Customer Support:
• Call (800) 801-6491 (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. C.T.)
• E-mail us at support@stratasys.com
When calling in for service, always have your machine’s software version (see
“Finding Your Machine’s Software Version” on page 5-15), and hardware serial
number available (see “Identifying Your Machine” on page 2-1). You may also need
access to your Insight workstation to provide a diagnostic file from your hardware.
Software Support
If you have a software problem that is not covered in this user guide, please contact
Stratasys Customer Support:
• Call (800) 801-6491 (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. C.T.)
• E-mail us at support@stratasys.com
When calling for support, please have your system’s serial number and software
version available.
Consumable Orders
If you need to order consumables for your FDM hardware, contact Stratasys
Consumable Orders by using one of the following methods:
• Call (800) 801-6491 (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. C.T.)
• Email us at consumables@stratasys.com
• Fax a copy of your request to Consumable Orders: +1.952.906.2727
When ordering consumables, always have your system’s serial number and software
version number available.
1-1
Service & Support FDM Vantage User Guide
Safety Instructions
Hazard Classifications
Stratasys recommends that all services be performed by qualified personnel. All
personnel working on or around this machine should be knowledgeable of what the
following hazard classifications mean throughout this guide.
CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not

avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not

avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
DANGER: Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not

avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
Product Safety Signs

We make every effort to ensure that our machines are safe and reliable at all times.
However, there will be times when you must access areas of the machine where
potentially high voltages, hot temperatures, and/or moving mechanical components
could cause severe injury.
Note: Always read and adhere to safety statements, and be aware of the
following safety signs when you see them on the machine.
Personal Injury Sign. The personal injury sign indicates that you are
near moving mechanical parts, and severe personal injury is possible.
Always use extra care. Do not wear ties, loose clothing, or dangling
jewelry. Keep long hair tied up and away from any moving parts.
High Voltage Sign. The high voltage sign indicates the presence of
high voltages. Always stay away from any exposed electrical circuitry. It
is recommended that all jewelry be removed.
1-2
FDM Vantage User Guide Service & Support
Hot Surface Sign. The hot surface sign indicates the presence of
devices with high temperatures. Always use extra care when working
around heated components. Always wear the safety gloves and safety
sleeves provided in the Vantage Startup Kit.
Note: Head temperatures in this machine can exceed 350° C (662° F).
Gloves & Sleeves–Required Sign. The gloves sign indicates that if

you enter the area specified by the symbol you must wear safety gloves
and sleeves approved for high temperatures provided in the Startup Kit.
Sharp–Object Sign. The sharp object sign indicates the presence of

sharp objects. Do not touch sharp objects as they may cause a loss of
body parts.
Crushed–Hand Sign. The crushed hand sign indicates that a hazard

exists where you could get your hand crushed between two objects.
One or more objects move in the area that you are working.
Specific Safety Practices

The following components and areas of the machine are highlighted as potential
safety hazards that may cause machine failure or reliability problems if proper safety
procedures are not followed.
Oven............... The oven temperature is extremely hot and controlled by a safety

thermal breaker that shuts the machine off when temperatures
reach 170° C (338° F).
Note: When you open the oven door, the heaters turn off.
WARNING: Always wear safety gloves and sleeves when working

inside the oven. Components are very HOT!
XY Gantry......... Beneath the top lid of the machine is the XY Gantry. This area
houses the mechanical drive components of the X and Y axes.
Use extreme caution whenever accessing this area of the
machine. The servo drive system, including the motors, pulleys
and belts are extremely powerful, and care must be taken.
1-3
Service & Support FDM Vantage User Guide
WARNING: Never wear a tie, loose clothing, or dangling jewelry. You

risk the possibility of severe injury.
The XY pinch hazard between the timing belts and pulleys is

minimized by locking the hood while building and disabling the
motors when the hood is open.
Z Stage............. The drive belt, pulleys and Z stage servo motor can cause
severe injury. The Z stage crushing hazard is minimized by
locking the door during Z stage moves and disabling the Z motor
when the door is open.
Note: These servo motors are disabled when the hood door and/or hood lid is
opened.
DANGER: High voltage is present in the machine even if the system is

Off and the power cord is unplugged. This is due to the
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
Guard Door Interlocks

The state of the oven door and hood can be detected by the interlock switches. For
safety reasons, the hood door and lid, and the oven door must be closed when the X,
Y and Z motors are moving. The only exception to this is during the Z Stage Zero with
Shim Calibration procedure, shown on page 7-5. During this calibration, the oven door
must be open while the tip is shimmed to the build sheet. Only movements of less
than 0.10 inches (2.45 mm) are allowed to minimize the safety hazard.
General Safety Practices

Abide by these general safety practices when working with this machine.
DANGER: Only use an OSHA or CE approved step stool when

accessing the area under the hood located at the top of the
machine.
WARNING: Always wear safety gloves and sleeves when working in

the oven or with the head or liquefier tips. These
components are very hot.
CAUTION: Always level the machine prior to operation. Improper

leveling could cause the door to swing closed while you
are working in the oven.
1-4
FDM Vantage User Guide Setup & Installation
Chapter 2
Setup & Installation
Preparing Your Facility for Installation

Follow the T-Class Site Preparation Guide to ensure that your facility is effectively and
safely prepared for the system to be installed.
Identifying Your Machine

Use the following two tags to identify your machine:
• Serial Number Tag. Refer to Serial Tag Model Tag
this number when requesting
service.
• Model Tag. The model number,
the power requirements, and the
company’s address and phone
number are given on the tag. All
patent numbers associated with
the machine are listed on the
lower left part of the tag.
Both of these tags are located on the
back side of the machine near the
bottom. They are typically placed
near the machine’s power connection. Use the information on these tags when
identifying your machine.
Making the Network Connection

Processed job files are transferred to the FDM modeler
through your facility’s Ethernet network. An RJ45 network RJ45
connector is located in the lower left corner of the back Connector
panel for the network connection.
2-1
Setup & Installation FDM Vantage User Guide
Making the Power Cable Connection

This machine requires a high voltage connection, which is made behind the machine
near the bottom. High voltage is applied to the machine via a Delta connection.
Stratasys recommends that the power cable connection be made by a licensed
electrician. The main breaker must be off until a Stratasys Service Technician has
verified the connection. This machine is only provided with a Delta connection.
High Voltage Power Cable Connection

Main Circuit UPS Switch
Breaker
High Voltage
Power Cable
Connection
Using the Main Circuit Breaker

If the machine encounters a high current surge, the main circuit breaker trips,
protecting the machine’s electrical and electronic components. The circuit breaker is
located behind the machine in the bottom right corner. To place the machine back into
operation, you must reset the circuit breaker. This is done by pushing the circuit
breaker handle all the way down and then back up.
Using the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

The UPS unit is a battery standby system that supplies AC voltage to the processor
and cooling fans in the event of an AC voltage power loss. It does not run the entire
machine. You can access it from the back of the machine. In the event of an
overcurrent condition, the UPS is protected by a combination on/off switch and circuit
breaker located directly above the main breaker.
• It shuts itself off if power is not restored to the machine.
• If power is lost to the machine you may need to manually power the unit back up.
However, this should not be necessary unless the UPS has been manually turned
off. To regain power, hold the “On” button on the front of the UPS unit until a beep
is heard and/or LED lights appear.
2-2
• The LED display shows the UPS status.
On/Off
(Hold in for 2 seconds to activate)
Mode Indicator Lights Load Level Indicators
On Button
Off Button
Reset Button
UPS 5125
The UPS also has the purpose of cooling the

system when power is lost or turned off. The UPS
UPS keeps the blowers running to carry the heat Switch
away from the heating elements. If the heating
elements are not sufficiently cooled at power-off,
the thermal protection circuits may open. In
addition to the thermal protection circuits failing,
the machine may be damaged by high
concentrations of thermal energy.
WARNING: High voltage is present in the machine even if the power

cord is unplugged. This is due to the UPS.
Note: See “Powering Up the Machine” on page 5-3 for more information.
Thermal Cut-Out Fuses

There are two thermal cut-outs installed on the machine. When a cut-out reaches its
set temperature, it opens, and power to the machine is removed. This is to prevent
damage to the machine and facility in case of an overheating condition. Contact
Customer Support if a thermal cut-out opens.
Note: Allow the machine to cool down before unplugging the power cable to
prevent the oven cut-out from opening. If the cut-out opens, call
Customer Support.
2-3
Initial Network Configuration (IP Address)

Before operating the machine, you must enter the IP, Netmask, and Gateway
addresses.
1. Power up the machine, as shown on page 5-3.
2. From the Ready screen, select Maintenance and press ENTER.
Build Job.. | *Tips: Model T16

Operator Control.. | * Support T16
Modeler Status..
>Maintenance..
3. Select Administration and press ENTER.
Modeler Default..
>Administration..
Reboot Machine..
4. Select Network Configuration and press ENTER.
>Network Configuration..
Receive Software Upgrade or Code..<E>
Field Service.. password:
5. Select IP and enter the address using the keypad. Press ENTER. You can use the
DEL key to erase incorrect entries.
6. Select MASK (Netmask) and enter the address. Press ENTER.
7. Select GW (Gateway) and enter the address. Press ENTER.
>IP : [172.16.70.10]
MASK: (.none found)
GW : [172.16.100.1]
Note: See your system administrator if you do not know the IP, Netmask, or
Gateway address.
2-4
Upgrading Software or Downloading a Code

The system’s software and unique code can be downloaded from an Insight
workstation. Only Insight v4.0 and later supports the code download process.
1. Verify that the machine is idle.
2. Place the machine in the Upgrade mode.
• From the Main Menu select Maintenance and press ENTER.

Operator Control.. | * Support T16
Modeler Status..
>Maintenance..
• Select Administration and press ENTER.
Modeler Default..
>Administration..
Reboot Machine..
• Select Receive Software Upgrade or Code and press ENTER.

The machine is now ready to receive the new software upgrade or code from
the Insight workstation.
Network Configuration..
>Receive Software Upgrade or Code..<E>
>Waiting for Software Upgrade or Code

Press MENU key to Cancel
3. To install a software upgrade:
Note: You will automatically be notified when a new upgrade file is available for
download. Download the upgrade file and follow this procedure for
installation.
• Open the Administration program.

• In the administration application, select the system to upgrade.
2-5
• Click on the “Install new software to the modeler” icon button.

The administration software verifies that the system is in the Upgrade mode
and displays a File>Open dialog box.
• Navigate to the location of the upgrade file. Upgrade files (UPG) are
downloaded into the ‘Stratasys’ folder on your workstation.
Note: The default location for the ‘Stratasys’ folder is directly below the
‘Program Files’ directory. This location may be different on your
workstation depending upon choices made during previous software
installations.
• Select the Upgrade file (.UPG file) from the dialog box.
• Confirm that you want the download to begin and click Yes to acknowledge
that the machine will need to reboot. Downloading begins, a progress bar
appears showing you the downloading progress.
• Select “Reboot and Install Software Upgrade <E>” and press ENTER.
• Press ESCAPE on your keyboard to cancel the upgrade.
The system reboots and upgrades the file. The system is now in its normal
power up state. Log files and calibration files are preserved by the upgrade
installation process.
2-6
If downloading a code:
• In the Insight administration application, select the system to upgrade.
• Click on the Setup button.
• Enter the code (case-sensitive) in the Setup code field.

• Click on the green check box to download the code.
Note: If you get an error message, you entered an invalid code. Click OK and
re-enter the code.
2-7
The screen will now read:
>Install New Setup Code.. <E>

Press <ESCAPE> key to cancel
• Press ENTER. The system configures and the system powers up.
Moving the Machine

If you need to move the machine to a different location, use the following steps to
correctly move the machine.
1. Unload material filament from the liquefiers as shown on page 4-12.
2. Remove the material canisters as shown on page 4-6.
3. Lower the Z stage as shown on page 3-9.
4. Shut down power to the machine by pressing
Red Power
the red power down button on the operator
Down Button
panel. The blowers will operate for
approximately five minutes after power down.
Always allow the machine to complete this cycle
to avoid thermal damage to the machine.
CAUTION: Before unplugging the machine always make sure the oven
is cool to avoid blowing the oven thermal cut-out fuses.
5. Unplug the power cable from the power source.
WARNING: Power is present in the machine after the power cable has
been disconnected. This is due to the UPS.
6. Secure the Z stage and XY gantry:

• Remove all panels on the machine by loosening the Pan Head Phillips screws
on the panels.
• Grasp the Z stage drive belt and the lower Z stage until the end plates rest on
the lower hard stops.
• On each end of the machine, wrap a large wire tie around the end plate and
the lower bearing mount plate.
• Pull the wire tie tight.
• Using a small ladder, open the hood door and hood lid.
• Manually position the gantry in the left front corner of the XY table.
2-8
• Using several wire ties, secure the head to the frame.
WARNING: Do not use the head service handle. Damage to the head
could occur.
• Reinstall all panels and tighten the Pan

Head Phillips screws.
7. Raise the leveling feet located near each
caster by loosening the locknut on each
foot.
Locknut
8. Move the machine to its new location.
Note: If the machine will be rolled over any seams or bumps in the floor, do not
roll on casters, use a lifting device.
CAUTION: If you use a forklift to lift the machine, use it according to

the specifications in the T-Class Site Preparation Guide.
9. Lower the feet and lock them in place using the locknut.
10. Level the machine.
11. Cut the wire ties securing the Z stage and XY gantry.
12. Plug the power cable into the available power source.
2-9
2 - 10
FDM Vantage User Guide Machine Components
Chapter 3
Machine Components
Accessing Machine Components

This machine has been designed with easy access to the most frequently accessed
areas on the machine. The areas you will need to open or remove to access machine
components are:
• The hood (hood door and hood lid)
• The oven door
• The canister bay door
• Side panels
Hood Door
(hood lid inside)
Left Side Panel Right Side Panel

(upper) (upper)
Oven Door
Left Side Panel Right Side Panel

(lower) (lower)
Canister Bay
Door
3-1
Machine Components FDM Vantage User Guide
Hood Door. Allows access to the hood

lid.
Hood Lid. Where the XY Gantry Hood Lid
resides and allows access to the head
assembly as well as four cooling fans
to cool the upper area of the XY Gantry Hood Door
and head area. The two fans on the left
draw cool air into the machine and the
two fans on the right draw warm air out
of the machine.
WARNING: Turn power Off and disconnect the power cable before
removing any of the access panels.
DANGER: High voltage is present in the machine even if the system is

Off and the power cord is unplugged. This is due to the
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Make sure you follow
the correct shutdown procedure. See “Powering Down the
Machine” on page 5-4.
Right Side Panel (Upper). Allows access to the right side Z stage components. There
are four Pan Head Phillips screws that must be loosened, not removed, before the
panel can be removed.
Oven Door. Allows access to the platen, parts, tip wipe assembly, and the purge
bucket.
Right Side Panel (Lower). Allows access to some of the electronic bay components
such as the computer case, CD-ROM, in-line vacuum filter, keyboard, monitor
connectors, and the vacuum system. There are four Pan Head Phillips screws that
must be loosened, not removed, before the panel can be removed.
The vacuum pump generates a source of vacuum used to hold the build sheet to the
platen while a part is being built. The amount of vacuum being generated by the pump
can be read using the vacuum gauge located above the waste basket. There is an in-
line vacuum filter to remove debris from the oven. See “Cleaning the Vacuum System
In-Line Filter and Jar” on page 8-5 for cleaning instructions.
Canister Bay Door. Allows access to the material canisters, storage area, vacuum
gauge, pressure gauge, canister levers, and canister LEDs.
Left Side Panel (Lower). Allows access to the air compressor, material drying
system, flow meter, and some electronics bay components. You do not need to
access any of these components.
3-2
The material drying system consists of the components shown in the illustration
below. The air compressor forces dry air through the filament material tubes to keep
the filament dry. The compressed air is forced through a twin-tower regenerating dryer
where the air is dried to -40° F dew point. The dried air is diverted between two dryer
elements every 30 seconds.
Note: Dryer elements have an expected life of six to seven years.
After being dried, the compressed air is controlled and measured by a regulator/
pressure gauge and flow meter, which is located in the canister bay. We recommend
a setting of 36-40 psi. Any captured moisture or debris is fed through the filament
tubes and out the bottom of the machine. An air flow meter is mounted directly below
the air compressor.
Material Drying System
Air
Pressure Relief/
Adjustment Valve
Compressor
Located
Dryer System
behind
lower left
valve
Flow Meter
(located behind the
lower left door - not
operator accessible)
Drain
Left Side Panel (Upper). Allows access to the left side Z stage components. There
are four Pan Head Phillips screws that must be loosened, not removed, before the
panel can be removed.
WARNING: The access panels on the rear of the machine should only
be removed by a Stratasys Service Technician.
3-3
Opening the Hood

You can open the hood, located on the top of the machine, to access the XY Gantry
and the Head. The hood consists of two separate entry doors, the hood door and the
hood lid. Both doors share a safety switch and a continuous solenoid. The hood doors
remain locked at all times and can only be unlocked by performing an Open Hood/
Door command, which allows you to manually open the hood doors. The Open Hood/
Door command also unlocks the oven door allowing you to manually open it.
Once the hood lid or hood door is opened, the machine cannot be resumed nor can
any manual move command be sent until both the hood lid and hood door are closed.
To inform you of this, the screen will flash Hood/Door not closed. Once the hood lid
and hood door are closed, the screen will return to its previous state and you will need
to re-enter your last command.
Note: The hood lid must be closed before closing the hood door.
XY Gantry Assembly
The Gantry maneuvers the head in the X and Y directions when building a part. The
XY Gantry assembly is located under the top hood of the machine. The entire gantry
is outside of the oven. Only the bottom of the head protrudes into the oven. The gantry
and its drive motors are thermally shielded from the oven via bellows.
To move the head, the XY gantry utilizes one X and one Y servo motor attached to
timing belts, as shown in the following figure.
Head Assembly Y Axis Servo Motor

X Axis Servo Motor
X Carriage Assembly Y Carriage

Assembly
3-4
Head Assembly
The Headworks head assembly has been designed for various materials. The board
inside the head provides direct heater and thermocouple control. The head extrudes
modeling material and support material with two identical liquefiers. The support
liquefier moves up and down via a solenoid.
Note: You must replace each liquefier tip and tube assembly when you load a
different type of material.
The liquefier tips are clamped directly between the heated block and liquefier clamp
block with two screws.
HeadWorks Head
He Assembly
ad
Wo
r
Liquefier Tips
(2 screws)
Liquefier Tips and Slice Heights

The head assembly uses a support liquefier tip
and a model liquefier tip. When building with Model Material
WaterWorks (WW), use the T12 WW tip for Liquefier Tip
support when using T10, T12, & T16 modeling
tips or use the T20 for support when using the Support Material
T20 modeling tip. The standard tip is used for Liquefier Tip
Break-Away Supports (BASS) and modeling
materials.
• There are five tips available:
- T10, T12, T12 WW, T16, & T20
3-5
• Tips are a replaceable consumable item. To order tips, see “Consumable Orders”
on page 1-1. To change tips, see “Changing Material Type or Tips” on page 4-13.
• When changing tips you will be guided through resetting the tip odometers.
• The user interface automatically prompts you to replace the tips. Changing tips
helps prevent plugs as well as maintain part quality. See “Finding the Odometer
Status” on page 5-13 for more information on viewing tip status.
Tip Compatibility & Selection

Table 3-1 shows the available material and tips for your system.
Table 3-2 lists the slice heights for the three model tips.
Table 3-3 provides approximate Tip Life - based upon the amount of material used.
If you are building with WaterWorks: use a T12 WW support tip with T10, T12, & T16
modeling tips (the T12 WW tip has a finned flange); use a T20 support tip with a T20
modeling tip.
The standard tip is used for Break-Away Supports (BASS) and model material. The
tips for the HeadWorks head are 3.045” (77.34 mm) long. See “Tip Identification” on
page 3-8 for more information.
Table 3-1: Available Tips

Model Support Vantage Vantage Vantage Vantage Vantage
Material
Tip Tip i (ABS) i (PC) Xa Xp S & SE
ABS T10 T12 WW x x x
ABS T20 T20* x x x
ABSi T10 T12 WW x x
ABSi T12 T12 WW x x
ABSi T16 T12 WW x x
ABSi T20 T20* x x
PC-ABS T10 T12 WW x x x
PC T12 T12 x x x
PC T16 T16 x x x
PC-ISO T12 T12 x x
PC-ISO T16 T16 x x
*The same T20 Tip is used for Model Material and for WaterWorks Support Material.
3-6
Table 3-2: Slice Height

Model Tip Slice Height
T10 0.005 in. (0.127 mm)
T12 0.007 in. (0.178 mm)
T16 0.010 in. (0.254 mm)
T20 0.013 in. (0.330 mm)
Table 3-3: Tip LIfe
Model Tip Lifeb Support Tip Lifeb

Modela Model (Material Used) Support (Material Used)
Material Tip cu. in. cu. cm. Canisters Tip cu. in. cu. cm. Canisters
ABS &
T10 620 10160 6.5 T12 WW 540 8910 6.0
ABSi
ABS &
T12 770 12620 8.5 T12 WW 590 9730 6.5
ABSi
ABS &
T16 920 15080 10.0 T12 WW 640 10550 7.0
ABSi
ABS &
T20 920 15080 10.0 T20* 640 10550 7.0
ABSi
PC-ABS T10 270 4420 3.0 T12 WW 270 4420 3.0
PC-ABS T12 550 9010 6.0 T12 WW 550 9010 6.0
PC-ABS T16 830 13570 9.0 T12 WW 640 10550 7.0
PC &
T12 740 12060 8.0 T12 370 6030 4.0
PC-ISO
PC &
T16 830 13570 9.0 T16 460 7540 5.0
PC-ISO
a. ABS & ABSi model material requires ABS_SS support material (WaterWorks) - use T12 WW support
tip with model tips T10, T12, & T16; use T20 Support Tip with T20 model tip.
PC-ABS model material requires PC-ABS_S support material (WaterWorks) & T12 WW support tip.
PC & PC-ISO model material uses PC_S support material. Support tip size will match model tip size.
b. Tip Life is directly related to the amount of material that passes through the tip. The amounts listed
above are approximates of how much material will pass through a tip before the tip will need to be
replaced. Because other factors can affect tip life, the material amounts are only approximates.
3-7
Tip Identification
Standard HeadWorks tip
3.045” (77.34 mm)
T12 WW Headworks tip T12 WW tip has

a finned flange
Head Buttons for Unplugging Tips

You can use the two buttons on the top of the head to manually unplug tips.
• The left button unplugs the Manual Unplug Button
model liquefier. (model material)
• The right button unplugs the
support liquefier.
Each button has two functions: Manual Unplug Button
• Depressing the right side of each (support material)
button moves the material forward.
• Depressing the left side of each button moves the material backward.
The head buttons are ONLY used when unplugging the head. The tip is brought up to
temperature the first time you press a head button. The buttons are only active after
performing the Unplug Tips command from the operator panel screen.
For more information, see “Recovering From a Head Plug” on page 4-19.
3-8
Z Stage & Oven Components

The Z stage assembly moves the platen, located in the oven, up or down. This is done
with two belt driven lead screws, which you can access by removing the upper right
and left panels. See “Accessing Machine Components” on page 3-1. The majority of
the left and right Z stage assemblies are mounted outside of the oven to keep them
away from heat.
Guide Rods
Lead Screws
Bearings & Z Stage

Shafts Servo Motor
Drive Belt
Platen & Build Sheet Tip Sensor
• The platen and build sheet. They provide the build surface. Replace the build
sheet every time you build a new part.
• The tip sensor. The tip sensor is located on the right side of the platen. It
provides a reference point for calibrating the model and support tips into the
correct starting positions.
• Bearings and Shafts. These components are located on both sides of the oven.
They provide the structure for moving the platen up and down.
• Z Stage Servo Motor. This motor is mounted beneath the oven. It provides the
power to move the platen up and down.
• Drive Belt. The drive belt is located beneath the oven and synchronizes the
platen movement on both sides of the oven.
Opening the Oven Door

The Oven Assembly (also called the Oven Bay) includes the oven door and
everything that you see through the front door. This bay is where you build parts. Like
the hood doors, the oven door has a continuous solenoid. The Unlock Hood/Door will
release the solenoid allowing you to open the door.
3-9
To open the oven door, use the Operator Panel command Unlock Hood/Door. This
command is only available while the machine is paused or in an idle state. Therefore
you do not have access to this command while the gantry is moving.
To unlock the oven using the Unlock Door command:
1. From the Main Menu select Operator Control and press ENTER.

>Operator Control.. | * Support T16
Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Unlock Door and press ENTER.
>Unlock Door <E> | Calibrate..

Load/Unload Matl.. | Temp Control..
Change Tips/Matl.. | Move Head/Stage..
3. If the temperature is high, a warning screen may appear. Put on the safety gloves
and sleeves, provided in the Startup Kit, and press ENTER again.
Note: Once any of the doors are unlocked and/or opened, the machine
operation cannot be resumed, nor can any manual move command be
sent until all three doors are closed. When all doors are closed, the
solenoids reactivate and you can resume operation.
Oven Lights
There are two incandescent oven lights mounted in the two front
upper corners of the oven. The lights are rated at 240 volts and
40 watts. There is a light switch on the keypad, which you can
use to manually turn the light ON or OFF. Before replacing the
bulb, you must remove the protective glass cover.
WARNING: Oven lights are hot! Do not touch without wearing approved
safety gloves.
3 - 10
The Platen
The platen is the surface on which parts are built. A plastic build sheet is held to the
17” x 15” aluminum platen by the vacuum source. The platen has a waffle pattern
machined into the top surface. This allows vacuum to pull across the entire surface. A
silicone rubber o-ring, that runs around the perimeter of the platen, helps seal the
build sheet to the platen.
A debris screen is placed across the vacuum port, located at the center of the platen,
to prevent material particles from entering the vacuum lines.
Vacuum Port and Tip Sensor

Debris Screen
Waffle Pattern
Silicone O-Ring
The platen is mounted to the Z stage cross beams with three adjustment screws. This
allows the platen to be leveled. The tip sensor (shown above) is used when
performing a Auto tip-to-tip calibration.
Moving the Head and Z Stage using “Move Relative”

To change the amount to move the Head and Z stage using Move Relative:
1. From the Operator Control Panel, select Operator Control and press ENTER.

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Move Head/Stage and press ENTER.
Unlock Door <E> | Calibrate..

Change Tips/Matl.. |>Move Head/Stage..
3 - 11
3. Select Move Relative and press ENTER.
Move Head to Service Location <E>

Move Head to Center-Front Location<E>
Move Z Stage to Bottom <E>
>Move Relative..
4. Select Set Distance and press ENTER.
This toggles between 0.001, 0.010, 0.100 and 1.000 inches (0.01, 0.10 and 1.0
and 10 mm).
>Set Distance= 0.100 in <E>

*Move Head: +X <6> -X<4> +Y <2> -Y <8>
*Move Z Stage: +Z <9> -Z <3>
*Current: X: 0.000 Y: 0.000 Z: 0.000
Moving the Z Stage

To move the Z stage up or down, from the Operator Panel:
CAUTION: When moving the Z stage, be careful not to run it into the
head. When the Z stage gets close to the top, toggle the set
distance to 0.010 (0.254 mm) or 0.001 inches (0.0254 mm).
• Press <3> to move it up.

• Press <9> to move it down.
Moving the Head

To move the head left, right, back, or forward, from the Operator Panel::
• Press <4> to move it left.
• Press <6> to move it right.
• Press <2> to move it back.
• Press <8> to move it forward.
Note: The current position of the head and stage are displayed on the last line.
The current values are based on the following coordinate system. Z = 0.0
when the model tip is on the build sheet, X = 0.0 on the left side of the
oven, and Y = 0.0 at the front of the oven.
3 - 12
Lowering the Z Stage

1. From the Operator Control Panel, select Operator Control and press ENTER.

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..

Change Tips/Matl.. |>Move Head/Stage..
3. Select Move Z Stage to Bottom and press ENTER.

>Move Z Stage to Bottom <E>
Move Relative..
3 - 13
3 - 14
FDM Vantage User Guide Material & Canisters
Chapter 4
Material & Canisters
Materials Used in the Vantage

The Vantage systems use high strength polycarbonate material (PC and medical
grade PC-ISO), ABS, ABSi and PC-ABS - the last 3 are used with WaterWorks
supports.Table 4-1shows the material build temperatures.
Material Compatibility
System/Material compatibility can be found in “About the FDM Vantage” on page i -
iii. or in “Tip Compatibility & Selection” on page 3-6.
Table 4-1: Material Build Temperatures
Maximum Extrusion Maximum Oven

Material
Temperature Temperature
ABS & ABSi 315° C (599° F) 95° C (203° F)
PC-ABS 330° C (626° F) 110° C (230° F)
PC & PC-ISO 390° C (734° F) 145° C (293° F)
Note: All materials use the same canister type. Extrusion and oven
temperatures are automatically set by the modeler.
4-1
Material & Canisters FDM Vantage User Guide
Accessing the Canister Bays

You can access the canister bays by opening the canister
bay door (lowest door) on the front of the machine. The door
has a magnetic seal allowing you to easily open it.
Note: These doors are not equipped with any type of

safety interlock.
Canister Bay Components

The figure below shows the canister bay components:
Vacuum
Air Pressure
Canister LED Indicators
Canister Drive Levers
Model Material Canister
Support Material Canister
Spare Canister Bays

These are active in Vantage SE only
Storage Area
Canister Bays
The Vantage systems, except the Vantage SE, have two active bays and two inactive
storage bays.
The Vantage SE has four active bays with Auto Changeover capability, which
automatically loads a second canister and continues building when the first canister
runs out of material. See “Canister Auto Changeover (For Vantage SE only)” on
4-2
The middle left bay holds modeling material and the

middle right bay holds support material. The two
active bays in the middle must have canisters
installed with filament preloaded into the drive block
to allow the material drying system to operate. You
can store canisters in the outer spare bays but
filament does not need to be preloaded (loaded to the
liquefiers) in order for the machine to run.
For Vantage SE: The two left bays hold model
material and two right bays hold support material.
Stratasys recommends that you install a canister in all
four canister bays to ensure maximum efficiency for
the air drying system. If necessary, an empty canister
may be installed in an inactive bay.
While building, two of the four canisters are active. An active canister has material
filament loaded to the liquefiers (green LED).
Note: Modeling canisters and support canisters CANNOT be mixed. For

example, when building with ABS material, BOTH model canisters must
be ABS and both support canisters must be ABS_SS.
Whether the machine is idle or building, you can replace inactive canisters without
pausing the machine.
Canister Drive Levers

Each individual canister has a drive lever that is used to activate the material drive
block. The drive block feeds the filament from the canisters to the liquefiers.
A drive block is located above each canister. The
drive block contains a small DC motor which drives
the filament up to the liquefiers. The drive block is
spring loaded and moves up and down on a guide
that is actuated via a lever on the front of the drive
block. The spring provides compression for the seal
between the drive block and the top of the canister’s
plastic insert. Each drive block contains material
sensors that determine the presence of material. Drive Block
Interpreting the LED Indicators Drive Lever

There are two colored LED indicators, one above
each canister (Vantage SE has four colored indicators). Each LED indicator is used to
notify you of the canister’s current condition. They are defined as follows:
4-3
• Green – Steady. Material filament has been

loaded into the liquefiers. You cannot remove the LED
canister when the LED is a steady green. Indicator
• Green – Flashing. Filament has been fed into
the canister drive block but is not loaded into the
liquefiers. You can unload canisters if necessary.
• Red – Steady. The canister is empty. You can
unload the canister if necessary.
• Red – Flashing. The canister has a load failure or a smart-spool-chip
read/write failure. You can unload canisters if necessary.
• Off. No canister is present, or the canister is present but the filament has not
been fed into the canister drive block.
Canister Auto Changeover (For Vantage SE only)

Auto Changeover allows you to leave a long part build unattended. When an active
canister becomes empty, the machine is paused and the canister automatically
withdraws all material remaining in the tube into the empty canister. This is followed
by the full canister loading into the head, and the job is automatically resumed. No
interaction is required. Auto Changeover takes about five minutes. The machine will
resume building when finished.
• If you press the Pause key during an Auto Changeover, the machine will remain
paused after the changeover is complete. In that case, you need to select
Resume on the screen to continue building.
• While the changeover is taking place, the following message screen comes up.
* Auto Changing Material*
* On Model Head *
Please Wait ..........
Will indicate support if support side changing.
If an error occurs during the Auto Changeover process, the machine will remain
paused. You can press the HELP key to find the reason for the error. Once the error is
resolved you may select Resume on the screen to continue building.
4-4
Smart Canister
The Smart Canister gives you the information Encoded Chip
necessary to manage material resources and (SmartSpool
maximize part build strategies for long, Circuit)
unattended part builds.
Each canister contains an encoded chip that
tracks and reports the status of the material.
The status is displayed on the Operator
Control Panel screen and displays the:
• Type of material
• Estimated amount of material remaining
in each canister
When you send a .CMB file to the machine, the machine verifies that the material
selected is the same as the material in the canister. If not, the screen will display a
warning, allowing you to switch canisters or continue. In addition, the amount of model
and support material that is in the .CMB header will be compared with the amount of
material in each canister. If there is not enough material to finish the part, a warning
will be displayed giving you the option of replacing the canister before building a part.
Storing Canisters
The handling and storage of the filament in the canisters is extremely important to
ensure proper modeling conditions. Like most engineering plastics, the filament
absorbs moisture. Moisture causes poor model surface quality due to oozing.
Canisters still containing material filament must be sealed with the square foam
gasket, and the thumbwheel door must be closed. In addition, the plastic cap must be
on top of the insert to prevent moisture absorption. Store canisters in an upright
position, do not lay them flat.
Do not remove the plastic cap until you are ready
to preload the filament into the drive block. After Cap
the filament is preloaded, and the canister door is
closed, the machine constantly purges any
moisture from the canister. If the thumbwheel
door is not closed, the filament will be damaged.
Each canister holds 92 in3 (1510 cc) of material.
The removable plastic cap and thumbwheel door Canister
provide an airtight seal for storage. The
individually sealed canisters are returnable and
refillable.
Note: Do not forget to re-insert the square foam gasket under the thumbwheel
door, or to place the plastic cap over the filament exit after removing the
canister. In less than one hour, filament can absorb enough moisture
through an open cap to be unusable.
4-5
Changing Canisters
Installing a Canister
To install a new canister (see figure on page 4-9):
1a. If the canister is new (or locking plug is still installed), peel back the foil tape on
the side of the canister.
1b. Remove and discard the locking plug.

1c. Reseal the canister hole with the reusable foil tape by
pressing it firmly against the can to establish an airtight seal.
2a. Pick up the canister by grasping the plastic insert. The plastic
insert acts as a handle as well as a guide for the material.
Rest the canister in the bay; do not fully push it in yet.
2b. Remove the plastic cap on top of the insert.
2c. Snap the plastic cap into the storage slot.
2d. Open the thumbwheel door on the front of the canister. If the
filament end is not bent, skip step 10.
3a. For first time use only, cut the filament below the bend so that
the filament end is flush with the top guide. The cut end must
be square. Plastic Insert
3b. Close the thumbwheel door; do not remove foam center from
gasket yet.
4a. Push canister fully into canister bay.
4-6
4b. Drop the filament drive mechanism down onto the canister by pulling out the
spring plunger. Verify that the filament drive is aligned with the filament exit and
completely sealed. The LED is off at this point. After about five seconds, the
smart spool chip is read and the drive block motor starts turning.
Pull spring plunger.

Block will drop and
engage pogo pins.
Thumbwheel
Filament in canister
4-7
5a. Open the thumbwheel door.
Preloading Filament into the Drive Wheels

5b. Feed the filament into the filament drive mechanism by pressing in and down the
the thumbwheel. Turn the wheel until you feel the filament drive motor pull the
filament.
The filament only needs to be advanced 2 inches (50.8 mm) to reach the
drivewheels. The filament advances through the filament tube until it contacts the
filament-present switch. The drive motor stops, and the LED turns to green
flashing. Filament is now “preloaded” into the canister drive.
Cassette Card
Filament Present Switch
Canister
Drivewheels
Pogo Pins
Turning thumbwheel
pushes filament end to
drivewheels
6a. Remove the square foam gasket on the inside of the thumbwheel door, as shown
on page 4-9.
6b. Stick the gasket onto the canister. The square foam gasket prevents the
thumbwheel from moving. The gasket must only be removed while the canister is
in the machine. The gasket should be replaced if storing a partially full spool.
6c. Close the thumbwheel door.
Do not discard the box or packing material. The box can be used to ship the
empty canister back to Stratasys for recycling.
4-8
2b 3a
1a Remove plastic cap Cut filament below bend
Peel back (square cut)
foil tape 3b
Close Door
1c
Carefully 2d
re-seal foil tape Open door 2a: Rest canister in bay
(do not push fully in yet)
4a: Push canister fully into bay
4b: Drop filament drive

mechanism onto canister
5b
Advance filament
by turning rubber
thumbwheel
1b
Discard locking plug
5a
Open door
6c 2c
Store cap in slot 6b
Close door Save square 6a
foam center and Remove square
stick to canister foam center from
door gasket
Repeat this procedure for the remaining bay(s). You can install canisters
simultaneously.
The canister will then be active (green LED):
• While building, one model bay and one support bay will be active.
• You can remove and replace canisters in the two inactive bays while building.
• Both the active model and support canisters must have filament preloaded to
the drive blocks to seal the Y-blocks.
4-9
Removing an Empty Canister

You can remove an empty canister from the bay after it has run out of material or
when filament has been unloaded from the liquefiers.
To remove an empty canister:

1. Raise the drive block off the canister by lifting the drive block lever.
2. Pull the canister out of the bay.
There will be a piece of material approximately 2 inches (50.8 mm) in length that
extends beyond the filament exit hole. When removing an ABS soluble support
canister, this piece will break. Make sure it drops out of the drive block. If
necessary, remove the drive block inlet to remove this piece of material.
Note: Empty canisters will have a small volume of material left in them that is
not usable. This leftover material allows manufacturing tolerances and
ensures that Auto Changeover works properly.
3. Place the empty canister back into the shipping box.
Removing a Partially Used Canister

You can remove a partially used canister to change to a different material.
To remove a partially used canister:

1. Unload filament from the liquefiers as shown on page 4-12.
2. After “Unload Complete” is displayed, open the thumbwheel door.
3. Re-insert the square foam gasket on the back of the thumbwheel door.
4. Close the door.
5. Raise the drive block off the canister by lifting the drive block lever.
6. Pull the canister out of the bay immediately (within ten seconds) and let the
filament empty freely.
Note: If you don’t remove the canister IMMEDIATELY, the filament will be forced
into the canister, making it unusable.
7. Cut the filament flush with the top of the plastic insert.
8. Remove the plastic cap from its storage location and place it over the filament
hole. This seals the material before placing it in storage. The canister drive runs in
reverse and material exits the drive block. Once the filament is no longer
detected, the canister-drive motor stops.
4 - 10
Loading Material Filament to the Liquefiers

If you are changing to a different material type or changing tips, follow “Changing
Material Type or Tips” on page 4-13. Loading is done automatically through that
process. If you are loading ABS blue material, see “Purging Blue Material from
Liquefier” on page 4 - 13..
After preloading material filament to the drive block, the filament must be loaded all
the way up to the liquefiers. Only one canister of each material can be loaded at a
time. Loading material to the liquefiers is done in the Idle or Paused Mode only, not
while building.
To load filament to the liquefiers:

1. From the Main Menu, select Operator Control and press ENTER.

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Load/Unload Mtl.. and press ENTER.

>Load/Unload Mtl.. | Temp Control..
Change Tips/Mtl.. | Move Head/Stage..
3. Select Load Material.. and press ENTER.
>Load Material..
Unload Material..
Material Status..
Unplug Tips..
4. Scroll to the desired material to load and press ENTER. The <E> indicates the
canisters that you can select.
>M1L:ABS 92.0 in3 (Ready)

M2L:PC 91.6 in3 <E> (Loaded)
S1L:PC_S 92.3 in3 <E> (Ready)
S2L:ABS_S 41.4 in3 <E> (Ready)
• The head warms up to the material operating temperature (Automatic - based

on SmartSpool data). This step also sets the oven temperature to the correct
value for the material being loaded.
4 - 11
• The canister drive motor starts to feed filament to the liquefier tips, which
takes two to four minutes.
• When the filament gets to the drive wheels in the head, it is forced into the
liquefier tip and purges. After a successful load, the LED turns to steady
green. A complete load and purge cycle should take less than five minutes.
Unloading Material Filament from the Liquefiers

If you are changing to a different material type or changing tips, follow “Changing
Material Type or Tips” on page 4-13. If you are unloading ABS blue material, see
“Purging Blue Material from Liquefier” on page 4-13.
Unloading filament from the liquefiers is done in the Idle or Paused mode only, not
while building.
To unload the filament from the liquefiers:


Modeler Status..
Maintenance..

3. Select Unload Material.. and press ENTER.
Load Material..
>Unload Material..
Material Status..
Unplug Tips..
4 - 12
4. Select the material to unload and press ENTER:
M1L:ABS 92.0 in3 (Ready)

>M2L:PC 91.6 in3 <E> (Loaded)
S1L:PC_S 92.3 in3 (Ready)
S2L:ABS_S 41.4 in3 (Ready)
• The head heats up to material temperature and the canister LED flashes
green.
• Once the necessary temperature is reached, the head drive motors and
canister drive motor turn in reverse. The material is pulled back from the head
about 4-6 inches (102-152 mm).
• The head temperature lowers to standby temperature and the canister LED
turns to green - flashing.
• At this point you can change the canisters. See “Changing Canisters” on
Purging Blue Material from Liquefier

ABS Blue model material doesn’t fully purge from the liquefier after unloading the
material. When switching to another ABS color, the blue will bleed into the material
unless you purge (load) the material at least three extra times. If switching from ABS
Blue to another ABS material, you have three options:
• Replace the liquefier tip and reserve that tip for ABS Blue material only. Place the
tip and the tip odometer reading in a bag labeled “ABS Blue”.
• After loading the new material, load it three more times to fully purge the blue
material from the liquefier.
• Load the new material and allow the blue material to bleed into the new color.
Changing Material Type or Tips

When changing the modeler from one type of material to another (e.g. PC to ABS), or
when changing tips, several steps must be taken to ensure that the system runs
properly.
To change material type or tips:

1. Remove the used build sheet from the platen.
2. Clean the oven and tip wipe assembly to prevent lower temperature materials
from melting in the machine.
3. Inspect the tip wipe brushes and flicker as shown on page 8-3.
4 - 13

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
5. Select Change Tips/Mtl.. and press ENTER.
Unlock Door <E> | Temp Control..

Load/Unload Mtl.. | Move Head/Stage..
>Change Tips/Mtl..
Calibrate..
6. Select Unload Model and Support and press ENTER.
>Unload Model and Support.. <E>

*2. Insert new canisters (if required)
*3. Install tips
Select Materials/Tips..
The head heats up to material temperature and the canister LED flashes green.
• Once the necessary temperature is reached, the head drive motors and
canister drive motor turn in reverse. The material is pulled back from the head
about 4-6 inches (102-152 mm).
• The head temperature lowers to standby temperature and the canister LED
turns to green - flashing, which means you can now remove the canister(s).
7. If changing material type, change the canisters as shown on page 4-6.
8. Choose Select Materials/Tips.
Unload Model and Support.. <E>

*3. Install tips
>Select Materials/Tips..
Note: If you are changing to a different type of material, you must change the
tips.
9. Change the liquefier tips:

a. Open the top hood to obtain access to the liquefier tips.
4 - 14
CAUTION: Always use an approved ladder or step stool when working

with high components.
b. Loosen the two captive screws that secure the head to the gantry, and secure
the head in the service bracket with the two captive screws.
c. Evenly loosen, one-half turn at a time, the two captive screws that clamp each
liquefier in place, and remove the tips.
d. Place the new liquefier tips in the head and tighten the clamp screws in place,
one-half turn at a time. Install the tips with the exposed portion of the tip shield
facing the front of the machine. See “Liquefier Tips and Slice Heights” on
page 3-5 for tip selection and material compatibility.
Incorrect: Correct: Tip fully

Tip not fully inserted into block.
inserted into block.
Install the tip with the

exposed portion of the
tip shield facing the
front of the machine.
e. Place the head back in the machine. Tighten the two captive screws and
close the top hood.
10. The top menu line on the screen shows the model and support material loaded
along with the status of each canister, shown inside the brackets. Select Review
Materials to Load.. to choose which filament you want to load.
Model M1 M2 S1 S2 Support
*M PC [R | * | * | R ] PC_S S*
>Review Materials to Load..
Select Tips <E> T12 T12
Reset Tip Odometers..
Inside brackets:
*=Selected to load
R=Ready to load
E=Empty bay
If slot is blank, filament not preloaded to drive block.
4 - 15
11. To select a material, move your cursor to that line and press ENTER. The canister
status will be displayed to the far right of the screen. You can change your
selection or press MENU to continue.
>M1L:ABS 92.0 in3 <E> (Ready)

M2L:PC 91.6 in3 (*Ready)
S1L:PC_S 92.3 in3 (*Ready)
S2L:ABS_S 41.4 in3 (None.)
*Ready=Selected to load
Ready=Ready but not selected
None.=Filament not preloaded to drive wheels.
If you select materials that aren’t compatible, you will see the following screen
with an “Invalid Material Combo” message. Reselect the appropriate materials.
*M PC [R | * | * | R ] PC_S S*
Select Tips !Invalid Material Combo!
If you do not have a material cannister loaded in a model bay AND a support bay,
you will see the following screen - “Install model, support!”. Make sure that a non-
Empty model canister AND a non-Empty support canister are installed.
*M PC [E | * | * | * ] None S*
Select Tips !Install model, support!
12. Arrow down to Select Tips and press ENTER to toggle through the available types
of tips for the installed material.
13. Select Reset Tip Odometers.
*M PC [R | * | * | R ] PC_S S*
Review Materials to Load..
>Reset Tip Odometers..
• Press ENTER for the odometer for each tip. If you are changing to a used tip
of a different size, you can enter the extruded volume or wipe count of the
used tip with the number keys and (.) keys before pressing ENTER. If any
parts remain on the build sheet, you must unlock the door and remove the
parts before continuing.
4 - 16
14. If user placement is ON:

• Arrow down to Select Calibration Part Position.. and press ENTER.
>Reset Model in3 <E> 633.5 ()

Reset Supp. in3 <E> 182.7 ()
Select Calibration Part Position..
Unlock Door <E> ! Part on Sheet
• Make the user placement selections. For more information see “User
Placement on Platen” on page 5-12. Then select Load and Calibrate..
Locate Part Start..

Demo Bounding Box <E>
>Load and Calibrate..
If user placement is OFF:

• Reset the odometers and then select Load and Calibrate..

Load and Calibrate..
Unlock Door <E>
15. Select Unlock Door and insert a new build sheet.
* Waiting h:mm to stabilize *

** Actual 100 C Setpoint: 225 C **
>Unlock Door <E> | *
Calibrate Immediately <E>
The oven will stabilize. Oven stabilization times for the material you are running
are listed in Table 4-2.
Table 4-2: Oven Stabilization Times
(in hours)
Material Type Being Installed
Current Oven Temp. ABS & ABSI PC-ABS PC & PC-ISO
Room temp. 4 4 4
ABS/ABSI &
--- 4 4
Auto Cool-Down
PC-ABS 4 --- 4
PC & PC-ISO 4 4 ---
4 - 17
Once oven stabilization is complete, the system automatically does the following:
Note: The build sheet must be inserted with proper vacuum before the system
will continue.
• Performs Auto Z Zero calibration
* Auto Z Calibration Activity *

Please Wait ...
If the Auto Z Zero calibration fails, you need to run the Z Stage Zero with Shim calibration shown
on page 7-5. You then have to walk through the screens to get back to this step.
• Loads model and support material
*Loading. Please Wait...

* Current Setpoint
* Model : 234°C / 325°C
* Support : 234°C / 325°C
If model or support loading fails, manually load or unload the material shown on page 4-11 and
page 4-12. You then have to walk through the screens to get back to this step.
• Performs Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration
* Tip to Tip Calibration Activity *

Please Wait...
If the Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration fails, you can manually perform the calibration as shown on
page 7-9. You can manually build the calibration job shown on page 7-1.
• Builds the Calibration Job
*Job: Calibration Job (Building)

*Build Time: 0:04 hr of 0:08 hr
*PC 0.1 in3 PC_S 0.0
>Modeler Status.. 0.010 of 0.050 in
If the Calibration Job fails, you can manually build the calibration job shown on page 7-1.
Next you will check the Calibration Job for any tip offset corrections. See “Auto
Tip-to-Tip Calibration (AutoCal Tip Offset)” on page 7-1 for more information.
4 - 18
Recovering From a Head Plug

A head plug occurs when filament is no longer coming out of a liquefier tip and the
drivewheels are stalled or slipping on the filament.
CAUTION: Always use an OSHA or CE approved ladder or step stool

when accessing components that are too high to reach.
The head buttons can be used during the “unplug” procedure. They are active only
when performing the Head Buttons command on the operator control panel.
Some users may find it easier to use the Load Material screen and the Unload
Material screen instead of using the manual load/unload buttons on the head. See
“Loading Material Filament to the Liquefiers” on page 4-11 and “Unloading Material
Filament from the Liquefiers” on page 4-12 for more information. The same procedure
below is followed except the loading and unloading is done through the user interface
rather than the head buttons.
To recover from a head plug:

1. Move the head to the service location as shown on page 4-20.
2. Open the hood door and hood lid.
3. If not installed, insert the head service bracket into the gantry, as shown on
page 4-20.
4. Loosen the two head mount screws.
5. Loosen the two captive screws while holding the head in place, and place the
head in the service bracket. It will help to pull out some slack for the material tubes
and head cable to get the head on the bracket.
6. Clean out any excess material if necessary.

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..

4 - 19
9. Select Unplug Tips.. and press ENTER.
Load Material..
Unload Material..
Material Status..
>Unplug Tips..
***** Head Purge Buttons Activated *****

MODEL (0) Support (-2)
** Model Warming to 320° C (now 300° C) **
** Supp Warming to 190° C (now 190° C) **
10. Select the appropriate Unload Button to activate the liquefier. The temperature
status is displayed when the head button is momentarily pressed.
11. After the modeling temperature is reached, hold down the Unload Button until the
material has been removed from the head’s drivewheels.
12. Remove the plastic material tube from the head fitting and hold down the “Load”
position until the damaged material protrudes from the tube. Snip the material
square and flush to the end of the tube and then re-install the tube into the fitting.
Note: If the material is backed up into the tube, use the Head button to advance
the material until it protrudes from the tube. Snip the material flush with
the tube and re-install the tube into the fitting.
13. Clean out the plug if necessary. Loosen the two liquefier clamp screws, one-half
turn at a time, and pull out the liquefier. Clean out as much of the plug from the
tube as possible (you may have to replace the liquefier), then replace the liquefier
and re-clamp the screws one-half turn at a time.
14. If the liquefier tip was removed or replaced, run an Auto Z Stage Zero and Auto
tip-to-tip calibration.
15. Hold down the Load Button until the material loads and purges. The load
command from the load/unload menu may be used at this point.
16. Place the head back in the machine and tighten the two head mount screws. Push
back the cable and material tubes if necessary.
Moving the Head to the Head Service Bracket

(Service Location)

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
4 - 20

Load/Unload Mtl.. | Temp Control..
Change Tips/Mtl.. |>Move Head/Stage..
3. Select Move Head to Service Location and press ENTER.
>Move Head to Service Location <E>

Move Head to Center-Front Location <E>
Move Relative..
4. Open the hood door and hood lid.

5. Loosen the two #8 socket head cap screws on the head.
6. Place the head in the service bracket by aligning it with the bracket pins.
7. Tighten one of the #8 socket head cap screws on the head.
4 - 21
4 - 22
FDM Vantage User Guide Operating the Machine
Chapter 5
Operating the Machine
Using the Operator Control Panel

The Operator Control Panel consists of a four-line by 40 character display located on
the front right panel. A keypad is located just below the display. The Operator Control
Panel is easy to use and is menu driven.
Display Screen
Keypad
The operator control panel allows you to:

• Access material loading and unloading functions along with access to calibration.
• Open the oven door.
• Monitor machine functions like temperatures and spool status.
• Turn the machine’s power ON or OFF.
• Access the network configuration.
• Display the machine status.
• Access the job queue allowing you to change the build order.
• Access the sample job queue.
• Monitor the current mode of the machine (Building, Pause, Idle etc.).
• Monitor material status (type loaded and amount).
• Monitor job status (number of hours completed, number of hours total, current
build height and total build height, and the name of job currently being built).
5-1
Operating the Machine FDM Vantage User Guide
Keypad Button Descriptions

The Operator Control Panel has the following keypad buttons.
Button Description
Menu This button returns back one menu, unless stated otherwise. It also
returns you out of the Help system.
Up Arrow This button moves the cursor up one line at a time.
Down Arrow This button moves the cursor down one line at a time.
ENTER This button activates the selection made on the screen.
Dot <.> This button shows details of the current job selected in the queue on
the build job page, toggle between all jobs or just jobs for tip and
material configuration.
ESCAPE This button takes you to the Main Menu, unless noted.
LIGHT This button toggles the Oven Light ON or OFF.
PAUSE This button pauses the current job being built, you must use the
Resume Build command to resume build. To activate Pause, hold
button in for 2-3 seconds.
HELP This button displays Help information about the current menu being
displayed.
1 While in job queue, moves a job to the top of the queue.
2, 4, 6, 8 These buttons can move the axes: <6> (X right), <4>
(X left), <2> (Y back), <8> (Y front).
3, 9 These buttons can move the Z stage: <3> (Z up), <9> (Z down).
9 When in job queue, copies the job to the sample queue.
DEL This button deletes items, such as a job in the job queue, the
sample queue, or other characters.
5-2
Screen Symbols
The following screen symbols are used in the menu lines shown on the screen.
Symbol Description
<E> Tells you to push ENTER to execute the command line. The cursor “>”
must be on the same line.
<E>.. Tells you to push ENTER to execute command line. Also pushes you
into another menu.
".." Tells you that this line is a menu change. It implies that you may return
without executing a command.
":" Shows that this command line changes in value.
"=" Tells you that the value displayed in the command line is user
changeable.
"*" Indicates that this is a comment line. Symbol is shown at beginning of
line.
(!) When at the end of a line in the job queue or sample queue display it
means insufficient material available, wrong type of material, or wrong
tip installed. Select line and use (.) key to show further details.
"!!" Warning lines begin with this symbol.
C Temperatures are displayed in Celsius only.
Powering Up the Machine

To power up the machine after it has been powered
down for a period of time:
1. Turn the machine on by pressing the flashing Power Up
green button located on the display panel. Button
Power up messages display on the screen.
FDM Vantage Initialization

Vx.x.x
Please Wait
Note: If a built part remains in the machine, select Unlock Hood/Door <E>, and
remove the part from the machine. Install a new build sheet and close the
door.
2. Allow the oven to stabilize for at least four hours.
5-3
3. Verify that the air pressure gauge, located above the canister bays, reads
between 36-40 psi.
4. Select AutoHome XYZ and press ENTER.
The machine will find the home position for the X, Y, and Z motions. This must be
done before any parts can be built.
* FDM Vantage *
>AutoHome XYZ <E>
Unlock Door <E>
* Homing XY Gantry and Z Stage*

Please Wait...
* Press <ESCAPE> to Abort Homing*
Note: If a built part remains in the machine, select Unlock Door <E>, and remove
the part from the machine. Install a new build sheet and close the door.
Powering Down the Machine

To power down the machine press the red button
below the display screen:
Power Down
• The oven lights go off.
Button
• After a couple minutes, a series of shutdown
messages flash on the screen.
• The screen will show: It is now safe to turn off
your machine.
• After a few minutes, the green light on the panel will flash steadily.
- Always wait five minutes before powering the machine on again.
- If you unplug the machine, the head and oven blowers on the machine
will continue to operate off the UPS for approximately five minutes. The
only way to turn the blowers off is to turn the UPS off.
CAUTION: It is not recommended to turn the blowers off prior to the

five minute time-out as damage to the machine may result.
WARNING: High voltage is present in the machine even if the power

cord is unplugged. This is due to the UPS.
5-4
Building a Job
Before Building a Job
Before you build a job, you must first send the file to the machine from Insight. Jobs
are sent in a CMB format and placed in the queue on the machine’s hard drive. The
header of the .CMB file contains basic job information (material type and amount, tip
size, etc.) that can be used to verify compatibility with the machine. See “Operating
Insight” on page 6-1 for more information.
The following items must be completed prior to building a job:
• Machine must be powered up.
• If the machine has not been calibrated since new tips were installed, run an Auto
Z Stage Zero calibration and an Auto Tip-to-Tip calibration.
• The active model and support canister bays must have filament loaded to the
liquefiers (steady green LED).
• The loaded filament should match the material in the .CMB file (the screen warns
you if materials do not match, but allows you to override and continue). Change
material type if necessary, as shown on page 4-13.
• Remove any previous jobs and change the build sheet.
• Verify that the correct build sheet is properly installed. See “Changing the Build
Sheet” on page 5-16.
• Verify that the vacuum gauge reads -15 Hg or higher. The job will not start if the
vacuum level is not adequate. See “Checking Air Pressure and Vacuum” on
page 5-16.
• Verify that the tips and brushes are clean.
• Verify that the purge bucket is not full.
• Allow the oven temperature to stabilize for at least four hours if using Auto-Cool
Down, Energy Saver, or when switching material type.
• At this time you can also change the modeler default values and oven
temperature settings:
Modeler Default Values: Display units and User Placement on Platen.
If user placement on platen is ON, the machine will automatically perform an Auto
Z Stage Zero calibration before the job starts. See “User Placement on Platen” on
Oven Temperature Settings:
See “Setting the Oven Temperature” on page 5-17.
5-5
Selecting a Job to Build

1. From the Main Menu select Build Job and press ENTER.
>Build Job.. |*Tips: Model T16

Operator Control.. |* Support T16
Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select from one of the following:

• Build Next Job, Build Last Job, Show Job Queue, or Show Sample Job Queue
>Build Next Job: motor housing <E>

Build Last Job: rotor <E>
Show Job Queue.. (6 Jobs)
Show Sample Job Queue..
* Job: motor housing (Building)

* Build Time: 0:01 hr of 0:02 hr
* ABS 0.1 in3 ABS_SS 0.1 Mode:Normal
* Modeler Status.. 0.010 of 0.950 in
Building the Next Job

After a job has been built, use the following steps to build the next job:
1. Remove the part(s) from the oven and change the build sheet.
2. Verify that the vacuum gauge reads -15 or higher.
4. Select Build Next Job and press ENTER. The platen moves into position, the
head heats up, material purges, and the head performs a tip wipe.
Building the Last Job

To build the last job that was built:
2. Select Build Last Job and press ENTER.
The previous job built by the machine will show on the screen. If no previous job
was built, the screen will show No Previous Job.
Building a Specific Job in the Queue (Show Job Queue):

2. Select Show Job Queue and press ENTER.
5-6
3. Select the part to build and press ENTER. For more information on the job queue,
see “Working with the Job Queues” on page 5-10.
Building a Sample Job in the Queue (Show Sample Job Queue)

2. Select Show Sample Job Queue and press ENTER.
3. Select the part to build and press ENTER. For more information on the sample job
queue, see “Working with the Job Queues” on page 5-10.
Warnings Before Job is Built

If you see the following warning screen, one or more of the conditions is preventing
the part from being built. See the following text on how to correct the condition(s):
>Replace Worn Model Tip..

Model Canister to ABS..
Change Support Canister to ABS_S..
Need both canisters present..
Need More Model Mat’l ( 9.1 more)..
Need More SUPPORT Mat’l ( 8.2 more)..
Model / Support Mat’l Incompatibility..
Replace Model tip with T12..
Replace Support tip with T12..
Vacuum not present - Please check build sheet -
Continue..
To correct the condition(s):

a. Select the condition and press ENTER.
b. Perform the action required. The job will continue once you properly fix the
condition. You can press MENU several times to return to the warning screen.
Note: “Continue..” may be selected to bypass warnings and continue to build a

job, but this is not recommended. If a warning cannot be removed,
contact Customer Support.
Information Available While Building

The following information is available while building a job:
• The elapsed and estimated build time are displayed in hours and minutes.
• The material types and amounts to build are displayed on the third line.
• The current and final Z height of the job is displayed to the right of the last line.
Information Available If a Job Fails While Building

If a job fails, you can determine the last layer built. From the system interface choose:
Modeler Status > Machine State > System Status
5-7
Pausing or Aborting a Job

You can only pause the machine while building a job, in the following two ways:
• Automatically (canister runs out of material, failure detected, etc.)
• Manually from the operator panel.
Note: If an Automatic pause occurs, press the HELP key to view the cause.
When the machine is paused, the current tool path is completed, the Z stage is
lowered slightly, and the head is parked. The word (Building) in the upper right hand
corner of the building screen changes to (Pausing) after the Pause key is pressed.
You must hold down the Pause key for 2-3 seconds for the pause to activate.
* Job: clip4 (Paused)

>Resume Build <E> | Abort Job..
Modeler Status.. | Auto Cool: OFF
Operator Control..
Once in Pause mode, you can make the following selections:

• Resume Build. Continues building the part. The screen will display “Can’t
Resume (Help)” if the door, hood, or hood lid is open, or if vacuum is not present.
• Modeler Status. View the Job Status (time, amount of material used, job name,
etc.) and Canister Status (material type and amount left on canisters).
• Operator Control. Unlock the hood and door, clean tips, change materials
(including load/unload and canister insertion and removal), and move the head
and the Z stage.
• Abort Job. Aborts the current job.
• Auto-Cool. The auto-cool down setting can be changed for the current job only.
The mode can be toggled to OFF or AFTER. The Auto-Cool Down settings made
in Operator Control>Temp Control will control the next job.
After Building a Job

After the current job has been built, the following machine actions take place:
• The Z stage is lowered and the head is parked.
• If Auto Cool-Down is on, the oven automatically cools to the standby temperature.
See “Setting the Oven Temperature” on page 5-17 for more information.
• The screen displays Done, and asks you to remove the job. If the part is
terminated abnormally, press HELP to list the reason for the termination.
Perform the following steps:
1. If Auto Cool-Down is active, allow the oven to cool to the standby temperature
before removing the part.
5-8
2. Remove the part from the machine.

• Open the oven door.
• Remove the build sheet from the platen.
• Carefully peel the part off of the build sheet. If the part does not peel easily,
use the metal scraper included in your Startup Kit to carefully pry off the part.
CAUTION: Surfaces in the build chamber will be very hot. Wear safety
gloves and sleeves when inside the oven.
Note: The build sheet is intended to be discarded after one part build. DO NOT
FLIP OVER A USED BUILD SHEET TO PLACE ON THE MODELING TABLE.
Any material residue on the sheet could adhere to the modeling table or
clog or interfere with the vacuum.
3. After removing the part, press ESCAPE to return to the Main Menu.
• The Build Job screen allows you to repeat the last job or start a new job.
• If Auto-Cool Down is on, the oven will automatically cool down to the standby
temperature. See “Setting the Oven Temperature” on page 5-17.
4. If you’d like to remove the supports at this time, see the next two headings.
Manually Removing Support Material

PC material only uses break-away supports, called BASS, which need to be removed
manually. Wearing safety gloves, carefully peel the part off of the build sheet. If the
part does not peel easily, use the plastic scraper included in your Startup Kit to pry the
part off of the build sheet.
Carefully remove the support material. The support material should break away fairly
easily. If necessary, use a needle nose pliers, probes, Exacto knife, or a pick to
remove the supports, especially for sections of the part that are fragile or thin.
Removing WaterWorks Support Material

WaterWorks is used with ABS and PC-ABS material. After building a part, you can
remove supports using a solution of water and WaterWorks soluble support material
along with either an Ultrasonic or Circulation tank. After the tank is prepared, the part
is placed into the tank with the correct amount of concentrate added to it, and the tank
is set to the correct temperature.
For more information on WaterWorks, refer to the WaterWorks User Guide located on
Stratasys’ Customer Extranet.
5-9
Working with the Job Queues

The job queue contains files downloaded from Insight. The sample job queue contains
files that are helpful for testing the machine.
To view the jobs in the queues:

>Build Job.. |*Tips: Model T16

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Show Job Queue or Show Sample Job Queue and press ENTER.
The total number of jobs currently in the queue is displayed at the end of the line.
Build Next Job: motor housing <E>

Build Last Job: rotor <E>
>Show Job Queue.. (6 Jobs)
Show Sample Job Queue.. (jobs for cfg)
a. Show Job Queue menu:

• A total of four jobs can be displayed at once with the following options:
• Press the arrow keys to select a job and to scroll down or up if more than
four jobs are in the queue.
• Press the Enter key to build the selected job.
• Press the (.) key to show the details of the selected job.
• Press 1 to move the selected job to the top of the queue.
• Press DEL to delete the selected job from the queue.
For the Sample Job Queue the (DEL) key does not delete pre-installed
sample job files.
• Press 9 to copy the job to the sample queue (job queue only).
>1) motor housing <E> 5:23 hr

2) rotor <E> 121:45 hr
3) stand <E> 15:12 hr
a. Show Sample Job Queue menu:

• A total of four jobs can be displayed at once with the following options:
• Press the arrow keys to select a job and to scroll down or up if more than
four jobs are in the queue.
• Press the Enter key to build the selected job.
5 - 10
• Press the (.) key to toggle between (jobs for cfg) and (all jobs). Jobs for
cfg displays jobs appropriate for the installed materials and tips. All jobs
displays all sample jobs regardless of installed materials and tips.
• Press DEL to delete the selected job from the queue. You cannot delete
pre-installed sample job files.
>1) motor housing <E> 5:23 hr

2) rotor <E> 121:45 hr
3) stand <E> 15:12 hr
Using the Maintenance Menu

Changing the Modeler Default Values
1. From the Main Menu select Maintenance and press ENTER.

Modeler Status..
>Maintenance..
2. Select Modeler Default and press ENTER.
>Modeler Default..
Administration..
Reboot Machine..
Measure Flatness <E>
3. Select one of the following:

• Display Units. Inches or metric can be selected.
• User Placement on Platen. “Yes” or “No” can be selected.
> Display Units = in (Inches) <E>

User Placement on Platen: No
New Style Calibration Part: Yes <E>
5 - 11
User Placement on Platen

If User Placement is set to NO (default), the part will build in the center of the platen.
If User Placement is set to YES, you can change the position of the front-left hand
corner of the bounding box. After the pre-part checks are complete, the head moves
to the front-left corner of the bounding box as if the part was centered on the platen.
• Selecting Demo Bounding Box <E> and pressing ENTER will cause the head to
move along the bounding box outline of the currently selected starting location.
• Selecting Continue.. and then pressing ENTER accepts the currently selected
starting location and builds the part.
• To change the starting location select Locate Part Start.. and press ENTER.
>Locate Part Start..

Continue..
In the Locate Part Start menu:

• Selecting the 2, 4, 6, or 8 key moves the head in the –y, -x, +x and +y directions
respectively.
• Selecting the 0 or 1 key selects Coarse or Fine and moves the selection indicator
accordingly.
• Pressing ENTER selects the current head position and the new starting location
(lower left hand corner) for the next part.
• Select MENU to return to the menu above.
The up and down arrows have no effect when this menu is displayed.
* * * Use the 2, 4, 6, 8 Keys * * *

Press 1: Coarse Moves: 1.000 in
>Press 0: Fine Moves: 0.100 in
* * * Press ENTER to Set New XY Start * * *
Auto Z Stage Zero at Part Start

Depending on user placement settings, an Auto Z Stage Zero will run automatically:
• If user placement is ON, an Auto Z Stage Zero will be done at each part start near
the center of the bounding box.
• If user placement is OFF, an Auto Z Stage Zero will be done after powering on the
machine, or after switching user placement to ON. It will also be performed if the
oven temperature is unstable during a six-hour time frame before a part is built.
The Auto Z Stage Zero will be done near the center of the platen.
5 - 12
Displaying Machine Status

The user interface shows you the following statuses of the machine.
• Temperature Status
• Odometer Status
• Material Status
• Machine Software Version
Finding the Temperature Status

To find the current temperature and the setpoint temperature for the oven and both
liquefiers:
1. From the Main Menu select Modeler Status and press ENTER.

>Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Temperatures and press ENTER.

The current and setpoint temperatures are displayed.
>Temperatures..
Material Status..
Tip Status..
Machine State
* Current Setpoint
* Oven: 78° C / 80° C
* Model: 198° C / 200° C
* Support: 301° C / 300° C
Finding the Odometer Status

The software has the following two odometers that track the total amount of material
extruded for the liquefier tip since it was last replaced:
• Model Tip Odometer
• Support Tip Odometer
5 - 13
To view the tip odometers:


>Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Tip Status and press ENTER. The current status of the tips is displayed.
Temperatures..
Material Status..
>Tip Status..
Machine State
* Mat’l amount
*Model tip : 0.0 in3
*Support tip : 0.0 in3
*Tips: Model <T16> Support <T16>..
Finding the Material Status

You can find the current status of each of the canisters, including material type and
the volume of material.

>Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Material Status and press ENTER. All active canisters are shown.
Temperatures..
>Material Status..
Tip Status..
Machine State
** Model 1: PC 56.4 in3 (Loaded)

* Model 2: in3 (None)
** Support 1: PC_S 21.4 in3 (Loaded)
* Support 2: in3 (None)
Type of Material Remaining Status of each: None, Ready,

Volume Loaded, At Head, Empty,
Misloaded, No Read
* Only active canisters are displayed (canisters feeding filament to the liquefiers).
5 - 14
Finding Your Machine’s Software Version


>Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Machine State and press ENTER to see the current software version.
Temperatures..
Material Status..
Tip Status..
>Machine State
Sensor States..
System Status..
UPS Status..
>Vantage v2.x.x
Finding the Sensor, System, or UPS Status


>Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2. Select Machine State and press ENTER.
Temperatures..
Material Status..
Tip Status..
>Machine State
3. Select Sensor, System, or UPS Status and press ENTER.
>Sensor States..
System Status..
UPS Status..
Vantage v2.x.x
5 - 15
Checking Air Pressure and Vacuum

1. Open the canister bay door.
2. Check the air pressure gauge (right). Readings should be 36-40 psi. If the reading
is not close to this, call Customer Support for further instruction.
3. Check the vacuum gauge (left). The gauge should read -15 Hg or higher. If the
gauge does not read correctly, call Customer Support for further instruction.
The machine will not start a job without adequate vacuum pressure. If a loss of
vacuum occurs during a job, the machine will pause.
Changing the Build Sheet

Always use a new build sheet when building a job.
Note: Using build sheets not provided by Stratasys may impact part quality and
machine reliability.
Note: The build sheet is intended to be discarded after one part build. DO NOT
FLIP OVER A USED BUILD SHEET TO PLACE ON THE PLATEN. Any
material residue on the sheet could adhere to the platen or clog or
interfere with the vacuum.
To change the build sheet:

1. Open the oven door.
WARNING: Always wear safety gloves and sleeves when placing

hands inside the oven. Components are HOT!
2. Push up on the overlapped edge of the build sheet to release the vacuum grip.
3. Slide the build sheet off the platen.
Note: Do not scrape the part off the build sheet while still on the platen.
Damage to the platen or platen level could occur.
4. Remove any debris that may have fallen onto the platen by vacuuming or by using
a soft brush.
5 - 16
CAUTION: Use extreme care when cleaning the platen. If using a

brush, brush away from the vacuum port in the center of
the platform. If debris falls into the vacuum port, it can
cause a loss of vacuum, resulting in poor adhesion of the
build sheet during building.
5. Remove the plastic wrap from both sides of the new build sheet.
6. Set the build sheet on the platen, making sure the sheet overlaps the rubber o-
ring equally on all sides and the sheet is against the back stops.
7. If the oven is hot, the build sheet will curl when placed on the platen. As the build
sheet warms up, it will straighten and adhere to the platen. After a minute or two at
oven temperature, the build sheet may need to be adjusted.
8. Check the vacuum gauge, located above the canister bays (left gauge). Vacuum
should read -15 Hg or higher before building a part. The machine should attain
this level of vacuum within about five minutes.
Setting the Oven Temperature

The oven temperature is controlled with the three settings below:
• Set Oven to Build Temp. Oven heats up to the material’s build temperature.
• Cool Down Oven to. Oven cools down to standby temperature.
• Auto Cool Oven. Oven cools down in increments until the standby
temperature is reached, which takes around 30 minutes. This option works for
PC, PC-ABS, and PC-ISO, mainly as an energy saver. Auto-cool down can
be set to After Next Job, After Every Job, or Off.
- After Next Job: After the next job is built and auto-cooled, the auto-cool
down mode will automatically reset to OFF.
- After Every Job: After every job is built and auto-cooled, the oven
temperature will stay at the material’s standby temperature.
- Off: After every job is built, the oven temperature will stay at the material’s
build temperature.
To set the oven temperature:


Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
5 - 17
2. Select Temp Control and press ENTER.
Unlock Door <E> |>Temp Control..

Change Tips/Mtl..
Calibrate..
3. Select one of the temperature parameters (as shown below) and press ENTER.
Set Oven to Build Temp: 145° C <E>

Cool Down Oven to: 85° C <E>
>Auto Cool Oven: OFF <E>
5 - 18
FDM Vantage User Guide Operating Insight
Chapter 6
Operating Insight
Starting Insight
To start Insight, select Start>Programs>Stratasys>InsightVxx>Insight. You can also
double-click on the Insight shortcut desktop, if it was installed.
Opening a .STL File in Insight

To open the file for the part you wish to build:
1. Click File>Open.
2. Select the directory that contains the file you wish to access.
3. Click on the file you wish to select with the left mouse button.
4. Click Open with the left mouse button. You can also open a file by double clicking
on the file name with the left mouse button.
6-1
Operating Insight FDM Vantage User Guide
Selecting Modeler Setup Settings

Configure Your Modeler
The first step in preprocessing is to configure your modeler.
1. Click the Modeler button located in the Modeler Setup window (right side of
screen) of the Operations Panel. The Configure Modeler dialog box opens. You
can also access the Modeler Setup window by selecting Modelers>Setup.
Options Icon
Save Settings Cancel Changes
2. Select your modeler from the Modeler Field. Choose from the following:
• Vantage i
• Vantage X
• Vantage S
• Vantage SE
3. Select a modeling material (the Support Material field is automatically filled in).
See “Liquefier Tips and Slice Heights” on page 3-5 for modeler/tip compatibility.
4. Select a model tip size (the Support Tip field and the Slice Height field is
automatically filled in).
6-2
5. To reduce curl on large, thick, ABS T12 or T16 parts, click the options icon. Select
Brick Mode from the pop-up.
6. Do one of the following:

• Click the green check button to save the settings. This closes the dialog box.
• To cancel changes, click the red “X” button. This closes the dialog box.
6-3
Part Build Parameters

The second step in preprocessing a model is to choose the part build parameters. The
part build style will determine the type of fill pattern used to build the part. The part
interior style will determine whether the interior of the part is solid or not. The support
style will determine the type of supports.
1. Select a part fill style.
Typically you will use the perimeter/rasters selection.
2. Select a part interior style.
Solid - normal will be stronger; solid - doublewide will use wide rasters for faster
build; sparse will build faster and use less material.
3. Select the Visible surfaces.
Fine rasters may improve surface finish while reducing build time on some
geometries.
4. Select a support style.
5. For Vantage S and SE: Select Normal or Draft build mode (ABS T16 & PC T16
tips only).
• Normal mode creates smoother surfaces and less seam variation; draft mode
is faster.
6-4
Orientating the Part in the Build Envelope

The modeling build envelope box displayed in Insight indicates the size of the part
relative to the build envelope inside the FDM Vantage.
1. Select the Orient STL button . The Orient STL menu appears.
2. From the Orient STL menu, click “Rotate”.
3. Select the rotation parameters in the STL Rotate Operation window.
Slicing the Part

Before the part file is sent to the FDM Vantage, the file must be sliced into the layers
that the FDM Vantage will extrude to construct the part.
Click the Slice button to create slice curves for the part. Red slice curves are
displayed in the graphics window.
6-5
Building Supports and a Base for the Part

Most parts require supports and a base to increase part stability while building and
optimize the surface finish of parts.
Click on the Create Supports button to create supports.
Note: Depending on part size and your computer’s processor speed, Insight
may take several minutes to several hours to generate supports.
Saving the Job File

Now that the part has been sliced and supports and a base created, you should save
the Job file. The Job file will save slice, support and part geometry information, and
the .CMB file that is sent to the machine. Click File>Save.
Creating Toolpaths
Before sending the part to the FDM Vantage, you must create a toolpath for the part.
Toolpaths are the paths along which the heads will extrude each layer of model and
support material to build the part.
Click the “Toolpath” button .
Saving the Toolpath (.CMB file)

Now that the part file is sliced and ready to send to the FDM Vantage, it must be
saved as a .CMB file, which can be received by the machine.
1. Click File>Save As>Toolpath.
2. Enter the File Name and Directory. Click Save.
6-6
Flag Button Shortcut

The Flag button can be used as an automated shortcut to performing the
following procedures:
• Slice the Part
• Build Supports and a Base for the Part
• Save the Job File
• Create Toolpaths
• Save the Toolpath (.CMB file)
Sending the Part to the Machine

You are now ready to send the file to the FDM Vantage. This requires that you use the
“Status” software.
1. Click Start>Programs>Stratasys>Insight Vxx>Status or from the Insight menu
select Modeler>Status. This opens the Status software.
2. Click “Yes” to establish the initial connection.
3. Click the Pack and Download button . This opens the Pack & Download
window. With this window a single .CMB file or multiple .CMB files can be sent to
the FDM Vantage.
Note: You need to recreate the toolpaths in your .CMB files in Insight software
version 3.7 or later before sending the file to the machine. A warning
message will appear if you send a .CMB file that has not been updated.
4. Click the “Add Job” button .
5. In the Pack Job file dialog box navigate to where the .CMB file was saved. Select
the xxx.cmb file and click Open. This adds the .CMB file to the current build.
6. Click the Download button to send the current build to the machine. The
job is now in a Build Queue in the machine.
6-7
Insight Status
Managing Parts in the Job Queue
The job queue is a storage location on the machine used to store information about
parts that are in line to be built. The building of these parts can be managed from the
queue window. A job may be selected by clicking the job name with the mouse.
From the job queue you can:
• Change the order in which parts are made.
• Delete Jobs/Parts.
• View information about each job.
Note: The job queue window on the display panel and the one on your
workstation are the same. Queue’s can be managed from the Vantage or
from any workstation on the network.
To manage parts in the queue:

1. Click Start>Programs>Stratasys>Insight Vxx>Status.
2. Click the Manage Queue button to open the job queue window where you
can see the Job Name, Owner, Submit Time, Estimated Build Time, Estimated
Finish Time, Model Tip, Support Tip, Model Material, Support Material, Model
Canister, and Support Canister.
From the job queue screen you can:
• Update the queue display with the refresh button.
6-8
• Obtain detailed information about a job that may have a conflict with
material or tip size being used. These jobs are flagged at the beginning
of the line. In addition, if the job is packed, the information button will
display the list of individual job names in the pack.
• Move a job up or down in the queue.
• Move a job to the top of the queue.
• Delete a job from the queue.
For more information, refer to the Status help menu or see “Viewing Information about
Built Parts” on page 6-10.
Monitoring the Part Build

1. Click Start>Programs>Insight Vxx>Status. The status window tells you basic
information like the:
• Job Name
• Time Remaining
• Percent Complete
|More details about the part build are available in the status Detail window.
2. Click the Status Details button . This opens the Status Detail window.
6-9
Viewing Information about Built Parts

The system software keeps track of the details from past jobs that have been built.
These details can be viewed in the Build Log.
To access the Build Log:
1. Click the Status Details button .
2. From the Status Detail screen or the queue display on the machine, click
the Build Log button.
3. To obtain the packing list for a packed job, select the job and select the “i”
button.
This information can be used to make customized reports. This allows you to track
jobs by owner, material usage, or machine usage.
To save this information as a text file click the Save Build Log button. This text
file can be imported into virtually any program such as Excel. To purge this list, use
the Administration program on the Insight workstation.
6 - 10
Setting up Remote Notification

If you enter an E-mail address or pager number, notification can be sent when the
current job build is interrupted or complete. To setup remote notification:
1. From the Status Window select the Setup Remote Notification button.
2. In order to enter an E-mail address or pager number, select the check box
adjacent to those fields and type the information. Use the prefix if your phone
system requires an addition number, such as “9” to access an outside line.
3. To test these settings, click the Test Remote Notification button.
Note: For details and limitations, see the Online Help System available from the
Status Window.
6 - 11
6 - 12
FDM Vantage User Guide Calibrating Liquefier Tips
Chapter 7
Calibrating Liquefier Tips
Automatic Calibration
Note: The system automatically performs the following calibrations after the
tips are changed or after a material type change.
If the Automatic Calibrations fail, then the same calibrations must be run
manually - starting with “Z Stage Zero with Shim Calibration” on page 7-
5.
1. Auto Z Stage Zero Calibration

Note: Z Stage Zero Calibration sets the model liquefier tip to the Z zero location
on the build sheet.
A. Auto Z Stage Zero is done automatically after changing tips or material, and at
the start of a job:
1) If user placement is ON
• Before each job is built
• Performed near the center of the part’s bounding box.
2) If user placement is OFF
• At power-up and when turning user placement ON.
• Performed near the center of the platen.
• If the oven temperature was unstable within six hours of a job building
or if the previous job was started when the oven temperature was
unstable.
B. The vacuum level under the build sheet is detected before the calibration
begins.
• If the level is inadequate, a warning screen will be displayed allowing you
to check the build sheet and obtain the adequate vacuum level in order to
continue the calibration.
2. Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration (AutoCal Tip Offset)
Note: Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration calibrates the tips in the X, Y, and Z directions.
A. The system automatically performs this calibration after the tips are changed
or after a material type change.
7-1
Calibrating Liquefier Tips FDM Vantage User Guide
B. Proper calibration allows the system to toggle material tips and place the
current tip at the precise coordinate necessary to continue accurate part build.
3. XY Offset and Z Calibration
Note: The XY offset is the distance the support tip must move along the X and Y
axes to align with the model tip. The support line should be centered on the
model at “0” for both X and Y of the calibration model.
Z Calibration sets the Nominal Support Z Thickness for the Model Tip size
being used.
A. The system automatically builds the calibration model.
B. Remove the build sheet from the platen and allow it to cool.
C. Determine the XY Offset Adjustment (Figure 7-1: or Figure 7-2:)
1) View the relationship between the support calibration toolpath and the
alignment indicators to determine the X and Y Axis calibration.
• Use a magnifier.
• Hold the build sheet up to the light, a light-colored wall, or a light-
colored piece of paper.
2) Determine where on each axis the support toolpath is most centered
between the X-Y alignment path.
3) Read the Offset Adjustment Value closest to the centered location for each
location.
• This value represents the adjustment value to be entered into the
system - increments of .002 of an inch or .05 mm.
• If the value is 0, then the system is calibrated for that axis - an entry is
not required.
4) Enter the Offset Value from the Tip Offset menu (See "Enter the XY Offset
and Z Calibration Adjustment Values", on page 7-5)
5) If an adjustment entry for either axis is required, re-run the calibration
model on a clean build sheet (refer to Manual Calibration, para. 4 on
page 7-10).
6) Perform steps B through C until the calibration toolpath is centered at 0 for
the X and Y axis.
7-2
-Y Tip Offset Adjustment Indicators
X - Y Support Calibration
Toolpath
X - Y Alignment Indicators
Example: Best
Centered Position
+X -X
Z Calibration Box
This example requires

an adjustment to
Y of - .002 in. The X axis
requires no adjustment.
+Y
Figure 7-1: Calibration Model - English Units
Tip Offset Adjustment Indicators

-Y
X - Y Support Calibration
Toolpath
X - Y Alignment Indicators
Example: Best
Centered Position
+ -
X X
Z Calibration Box
This example requires

an adjustment to
Y of - .05 mm. The X axis
requires no adjustment.
+Y
Figure 7-2: Calibration Model - Metric Units
7-3
D. Determine the Z Calibration Adjustment

Note: Do not measure for Z Calibration until the Calibration Model shows the
XY Offset to be 0 for the X and Y axis.
1) Peel the Support layer from the Z Calibration box.
2) Measure the thickness of the Support layer with a caliper or micrometer.
3) Subtract the measured value from the slice height of the Model Tip being
used (See Table 7-1)
• If the measured value is within ±0.0005” (0.01 mm) of Model Tip slice
height, no adjustment is necessary.
• If the Model Tip Slice minus Measured Support thickness is a positive
number, the Z correction is +Z in 0.001 inches.
• If the Model Tip Slice minus Measured Support thickness is a negative
number, the Z correction is -Z in 0.001 inches.
• Example: (Figure 7-3:) For a T16 Model Tip - slice height of 0.010”
(from Table 7-1); measured thickness of Calibration Box = 0.012”;
Calculation 0.010 - 0.012 = - 0.002; Enter 0.002 in the - Z menu option
(para E.4) ).
Z Up
Support
0.012”
Model
Z Down
Figure 7-3: Z Calibration Example
4) Enter the Z Adjustment Value from the Tip Offset menu (See para."Enter
the XY Offset and Z Calibration Adjustment Values", on page 7-5).
5) If an adjustment entry is required, re-run the calibration model on a clean
build sheet (refer to Manual Calibration, para. 4 on page 7-10).
6) Perform steps B and D above until the Support layer matches the
Model Tip slice height ±0.0005”.
Table 7-1 : Model Tip Slice Heights
Model Tip Slice Height
T20 0.013”
T16 0.010”
T12 0.007”
T10 0.005”
7-4
E. Enter the XY Offset and Z Calibration Adjustment Values

1) From the Main Menu select Operator Control and press Enter.

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2) Select Calibrate and press Enter.

Change Tips/Mtl..
>Calibrate..
3) Select Tip Offset Value and press Enter.
Set Z Stage Zero.. | Calibration Job <E>

AutoCal Tips <E>
>Tip Offset Value..
AutoHome XYZ <E>
4) Using the arrow keys, select the direction and axis to change.
*Delta X:0.0000 Y:0.0000 Z:0.0000

>-X 0.00 <E> | +X 0.00<E>
-Y 0.00 <E> | +Y 0.00<E>
-Z 0.00 <E> | +Z 0.00<E>
5) Enter the adjustment value and press Enter.

• The adjustment value will appear on the top line.
Manual Calibration
1. Z Stage Zero with Shim Calibration
Note: If the Auto Z Stage Zero calibration fails, Z Stage Zero with Shim Calibra-
tion must be performed. This procedure manually sets the model liquefier
tip to the Z Zero location.
A. Install a new build sheet and verify that vacuum is present.
7-5
B. Run Z Stage Zero with Shim Calibration


Modeler Status..
Maintenance..

Change Tips/Mtl..
>Calibrate..
3) Select Set Z Stage Zero and press Enter.
>Set Z Stage Zero.. | Calibration Job <E>

AutoCal Tips <E>
Tip Offset Value..
AutoHome XYZ <E>
4) Select Auto Z Zero Calibrate and press Enter.
>Set Z Zero with Shim <E>

Modify Current Z Zero..
Auto Z Zero Calibrate <E>
5) The head will begin to move and the display will show:
*Positioning. Please Wait ...
6) After the head completes its move the display will show:
>Unlock Door <E>

Set Distance = 0.100 in <E>
Set Z Stage = 0 <E> (Z: 0.010)
*Move Z STage +Z<9> -Z<3>
7-6
WARNING: USE CARE WHEN WORKING INSIDE THE OVEN. BURNS

DUE TO HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURE (AS HIGH AS
250° C) CAN OCCUR.
7) Unlock and open the oven door.
8) Place the zero calibration shim between the tip and the build sheet (Figure
7-4:).
Zero Calibration Shim
Figure 7-4: Zero Calibration Shim
WARNING: PERSONAL INJURY CAN OCCUR WHEN WORKING IN-

SIDE THE OVEN COMPARTMENT WITH THE DOOR LOCK
BYPASS TOOL IN PLACE - IT ALLOWS THE MOTOR
DRIVES TO OPERATE WHEN THE OVEN DOOR IS OPEN.
KEEP HEAD AND HANDS CLEAR OF THE OVEN AREA
WHEN THE Z-STAGE IS MOVING.
9) Insert the door lock bypass tool (Figure 7-5:).
Inside of
Door Cheater Oven
Insert Door
Cheater Here
Figure 7-5: Door Lock Bypass Tool - Vantage
CAUTION: AS THE PLATEN APPROACHES THE SHIM, SET THE

DISTANCE INCREMENT TO THE SMALLEST SETTING
(0.001 INCH OR .025 MM) TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE
HEAD AND TO FACILITATE SETTING THE Z STAGE
ZERO.
Unlock Door <E>

>Set Distance = 0.001 in <E>
Set Z Stage = 0 <E> (Z: 0.010)
*Move Z STage +Z<9> -Z<3>
7-7
10) Raise (3 on the operator panel number pad) the platen until there is a light
drag on the calibration shim - if necessary, lower the platen (9 on the
operator panel number pad) to achieve the appropriate amount of drag.
Note: Use the calibration shim as a feeler gauge, slide the shim fore and
aft as the platen is raised .
11) Select Set Z Stage = 0 and press Enter.
• The Z Zero coordinate is read and stored. The head will move to the
park position.
Unlock Door <E>

Set Distance = 0.001 in <E>
>Set Z Stage = 0 <E> (Z: 0.010)
*Move Z Stage +Z<9> -Z<3>
12) Remove the zero calibration shim.

13) Remove the door lock bypass tool.
14) Close the oven door.
15) Run the Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration See “Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration
(AutoCal Tip Offset)” on page 7 - 9.
2. Auto Z Stage Zero Calibration
Note: Manual initiation of Auto Z Stage Zero Calibration will be necessary after
running “Z Stage Zero with Shim Calibration” on page 7-5 or before run-
ning “Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration (AutoCal Tip Offset)” on page 7-9.
A. Make sure a build sheet is installed and verify that vacuum is present.
B. Run the Auto Z Stage Zero Calibration

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..

Change Tips/Mtl..
>Calibrate..
7-8
3) Select Set Z Stage Zero and press Enter.

AutoCal Tips <E>
Tip Offset Value..
AutoHome XYZ <E>
4) Select Auto Z Zero Calibrate and press Enter.
Set Z Zero with Shim <E>

>Auto Z Zero Calibrate <E>
5) Auto Z Zero Calibration is performed. If Auto Z Zero Calibrate fails, the Z

Stage Zero with Shim Calibration will need to be performed.
3. Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration (AutoCal Tip Offset)
Note: Manual initiation of Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration is necessary if the initial au-
tomatic calibration fails.
Auto Z Stage Zero Calibration (page 7-8) must be performed before run-
ning the Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration.
A. Run Auto Tip-to-Tip Calibration

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..

Load/Unload MT.. | Move Head/Stage..
Change Tips/MT..
>Calibrate..
3) Select AutoCal Tips and press Enter.
Set Z Stage Zero.. | Calibration Job <E>

>AutoCal Tips <E>
Tip Offset Value..
AutoHome XYZ <E>
7-9
4) The system automatically calibrates the tips in the X, Y, and Z directions.

Calibration time varies from 15 to 20 minutes. While running, the display
will show:

* Press <ESCAPE> to Abort Calibration *
5) At completion of the calibration, the display will show:

* Calibration Done: Press <MENU> Key *
B. Run XY Offset and Z Calibration (page 7-10).

4. XY Offset and Z Calibration
Note: If the support layer is not centered on the model layer, an XY Offset and Z
Calibration should be performed.
A. Build the Calibration Model

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..

Change Tips/Mtl..
>Calibrate..
3) Select Calibration Job and press Enter.
Set Z Stage Zero.. |>Calibration Job <E>

AutoCal Tips <E>
Tip Offset Value..
AutoHome XYZ <E>
B. At completion of the calibration model, calibrate the system by accomplishing

paragraphs 3.B., 3.C., and 3.D. of "Automatic Calibration", on page 7-1.
7 - 10
FDM Vantage User Guide Maintaining the Machine
Chapter 8
Maintaining the Machine
Maintenance Schedule
The following maintenance tasks must be performed on a regular basis in order to
maintain optimal machine operation. Detailed instructions on each task follow the
table.
DANGER: Always power down and unplug the machine before

performing any maintenance.
Daily Weekly Monthly Quarterly Maintenance Task
X Clean platen.
X Inspect purge bucket, empty if full.
X Vacuum build envelope to remove
purged material.
X Inspect rubber o-ring and replace if
any cracks are found.
X Lubricate Z stage lead screws with
TriGEL lubricant (in Startup Kit).
X Lubricate XY gantry and Z stage
guide rods with KRYTOX lubricant
(provided in the Startup Kit).
X Inspect tip wipe brushes and wiper
and replace if excessively worn.
X Inspect purge ledge. Reinstall the
ledge facing the opposite direction,
or replace depending on wear.
X Clean vacuum system filter jar.
X Clean exterior surfaces.
X Clean cone sensor if applicable.
8-1
Maintaining the Machine FDM Vantage User Guide
Daily Maintenance Tasks

WARNING: Always wear gloves and sleeves when placing hands
inside the oven, components are HOT!
Cleaning the Platen

The platen is the surface on which the build sheet is placed for modeling. If debris
collects on the platen, it can adversely affect the vacuum which secures the build
sheet to the platen.
1. Remove the build sheet by sliding it off the platen.
2. Carefully remove any debris that may have fallen onto the channels in the platen.
Vacuuming or using a soft brush is recommended. If a brush is used, brush away
from the vacuum port in the center of the platen. If debris falls into the vacuum
port, it can cause a loss of vacuum, resulting in poor adhesion of the platen during
building.
3. Inspect the rubber o-ring and replace if cracks are found.
Emptying the Purge Bucket

The purge bucket is located inside the oven, along the oven
wall, and catches all the material that has been purged or
wiped from the liquefiers. The purge bucket can be pulled
out from the oven and should be emptied daily. You can
also look through the purge bucket window to see if waste
needs to be removed.
Stratasys does not recommend emptying the purge bucket
while building. If necessary, quickly close the oven door as Purge Bucket and tip
soon as you remove and replace the purge bucket to wipe assembly
prevent a loss in vacuum.
CAUTION: The purge bucket may be hot. Wear safety gloves and
sleeves while handling the purge bucket in a hot oven.

2. Grasp the handle on the purge bucket and lift up and to the left to remove the
bucket from the oven wall brackets.
3. Pull the key ring to remove the tip wipe assembly.
4. Empty the waste material from the purge bucket.
5. Reinstall the tip wipe assembly and insert the purge bucket back into the brackets
along the oven wall. Make sure the assembly is locked in the oven wall mounts to
avoid damaging tips or other oven components.
8-2
Weekly Maintenance Tasks

Vacuuming the Build Envelope
Vacuum the build envelope to remove purged material and dust.
Monthly Maintenance Tasks

Inspecting & Replacing the Tip Wipe Brushes
You should inspect the tip brushes and silicone wiper once a month and change them
when excessively worn. The brushes and wiper are consumable parts that you can
order. See “Consumable Orders” on page 1-1 for more information.
WARNING: The oven, purge bucket, and tip wipe assembly may be
HOT. Use safety gloves and safety sleeves if removing the
tip wipe assembly from a hot oven.
1. Allow the tip wipe assembly to cool Tip Wipe

to room temperature. Assembly
2. Remove the tip wipe assembly from
the purge bucket by removing the
two screws and pulling the pull ring.
3. Loosen and remove the outer brush Silicone
retaining screws from the wiper wiper
mount.
4. If brushes are worn, slide brushes Brush
out and slide in new ones. You can
replace one or both as needed. Pull Ring
5. Reinstall the brush retaining screws.
6. Reinstall the pull ring bracket with
the two screws.
Replacing the Silicone Wiper

Inspect and replace if necessary.
1. Allow the tip wipe assembly to cool to room temperature.
2. Remove the tip wipe assembly from the purge bucket by removing the two screws
and pulling the pull ring.
3. Loosen and remove all three brush retaining screws.
4. Note the silicone wiper orientation prior to removal.
5. Pull the old silicone wiper off the wiper assembly.
8-3
6. Install a new silicone wiper on the assembly. Use the same orientation as the
original. Align the holes properly.
7. Install the wiper mount cover, reinstall the three retaining screws, and tighten.
Inspecting the Purge Ledge

The purge ledge is made of Teflon. The head positions itself over the ledge when
purging. The purged material forms into a small ball and falls neatly into the garbage
can below. Over time the ledge will wear and small indentations will form in the sloped
surface. The purge ledge is reversible and can be turned over for even wear. If it
becomes worn on both sides, contact Customer Support for a replacement.
Tip Wipe
Assembly
Purge
Ledge
1. Allow the wiper assembly to cool to room temperature.

2. Loosen and remove the outer three brush retaining screws from the wiper mount.
3. Orient the new purge ledge with the three wiper holes.
4. Install the three screws previously removed and tighten them.
Lubricating the XY Guide Rods

To lubricate the XY guide rods:
1. Open the hood door to turn off the X & Y servo motor.
2. Open the hood lid to get access to the guide rods.
3. Apply KRYTOX lubricant, provided in the Startup Kit, to the guide rods and move
the head so you can get access to the guide rods underneath it.
4. Close the hood lid and hood door. The guide rods will self-lubricate through part
builds.
Lubricating the Z stage Lead Screws and Guide Rods

To lubricate the Z stage lead screws and guide rods:
8-4
1. Move the Z stage to the bottom position:

• From the Main Menu select Operator Control and press ENTER.

Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
• Select Move Head/Stage and press ENTER.

Load/Unload Mtl.. | Temp Control..
Change Tips/Mtl.. |>Move Head/Stage..
• Select Move Z Stage to Bottom and press ENTER.

Move Head to Center-Front Location <E>
>Move Z Stage to Bottom <E>
Move Relative..
2. Wipe the lead screws and guide rods with a clean cloth.
3. For the Z stage lead screws: Apply the TriGEL lubricant that is provided in the
Startup Kit. The lead screws will self-lubricate through part builds.
For the Z stage guide rods: Apply the KRYTOX lubricant that is provided in the
Startup Kit. The guide rods will self-lubricate through part builds.
Quarterly Maintenance Tasks

Cleaning the Vacuum System In-Line Filter and Jar
To clean the filter and jars:
1. Power down the machine, see “Powering Down the Machine” on page 5-4.
DANGER: High voltage is still present in the machine even if the

system is Off and the power cord is unplugged due to the
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
2. Loosen, but don’t remove, the four Pan Head Phillip screws that hold shut the
bottom panel on the right side of the machine. Remove the panel.
3. Unscrew the vacuum filter jar and clean out any debris with a clean cloth.
8-5
4. Replace the filter.

5. Reinstall the vacuum filter jar.
6. Reinstall the panel and tighten the four screws.
Cleaning the Cone Sensor

The cone sensor uses a plunger, which must be Cone Sensor
periodically cleaned.
To clean the cone sensor:
1. Remove the plunger by grasping the plunger and
gently pulling up and out.
2. Scrape off any residue on the top of the plunger
with a razor blade.
3. Replace the plunger in the sensor bracket.
As Needed Maintenance Tasks

Platen Flatness Diagnostic
If a part fails to adhere to the build sheet or the tip digs into the build sheet, the platen
may not be flat. Five measurements are taken for the diagnostic, one in each corner of
the platen and one in the center of the platen.
To check the platen flatness:

1. Install a new build sheet.
2. Verify that the vacuum gauge reads -15 Hg or higher.
3. Select Maintenance>Measure Flatness. The following screen is displayed.
The diagnostic is also stored in the job log in case it is necessary for Customer
Support to view the diagnostic.
* Z Height Measurements *
UL: -0.0050 UR: 0.0020
Center: 0.0000
LL: 0.0120 LR: 0.0090
4. Verify that all numbers are within +/- 0.015”.
Replacing the Entire Tip Wipe Assembly

2. Grasp the handle on the purge bucket and pull up and to the left to remove it from
the oven.
8-6
3. Using safety gloves, pull out the key ring from the purge bucket to remove the
wiper assembly.
4. Line up the blade with the wiper mount bracket and push in the new assembly.
5. Insert the key ring back into the purge bucket.
6. Place the purge bucket back into the oven, aligning it with the brackets along the
oven wall.
This bar slides into detent

slot in wiper mount. Apply a
small amount of KRYTOX
grease here when
replacing.
Cleaning Exterior Machine Surfaces

Exterior surfaces of the machine may be cleaned as necessary using a lightly damp
cotton cloth. Glass cleaners may be used on the oven door, provided that the cleaner
does not contain ammonia.
Cleaning the Head Tray

Whenever the head is on the maintenance bracket, clean out the stainless steel box-
shaped tray that the head sits in. Filament pieces can be sitting in this tray and
prevent proper operation of the head solenoid.
Cleaning the Liquefier Tips

There are two ways to clean the liquefier tips:
• Using a wooden-handled brush included in the Startup Kit.
• Using the user interface.
Using the User Interface to Clean the Liquefier Tips

To clean the tips, the machine uses a steel brush and a silicone wiper. The machine
automatically cleans the tips before each part build. The brushes and wiper are
consumable items that you can replace. For replacement instructions, see page 8-3.
For order information, see “Consumable Orders” on page 1-1.
You can also clean the liquefier tips with the wooden-handled brush that came with
the Startup Kit.
Cleaning the Oven Door Removable Glass

Debris and dust can get in between the removable glass of the oven door. The outer
door is secured with a top clip, VELCRO between the outer glass and the oven door,
and lower support hooks. To clean in between the removable glass of the oven door:
8-7
1. Remove the top support clip by loosening the #8 socket head cap screw.
2. Insert a wide thin tool, e.g., a paint scraper, between the outer glass and the oven
door to separate the VELCRO on the top of both sides of the glass.
WARNING: Excessive pulling on the outer oven door can result in the
glass breaking or allowing it to fall.
3. Angle the glass towards you and lift the glass up to clear the door support hooks.
4. Clean the inside of the removable glass and the exterior of the oven door with a
damp cotton cloth.
5. Align the glass on top of the support hooks making sure to realign the VELCRO
strips and push on the glass to allow the VELCRO to adhere.
6. Replace the top support clip with the #8 socket head cap screw.
Replacing an Interior Lamp

The interior lamps, located inside the oven, will periodically burn out and require
replacement. Use the following steps to replace a lamp:
1. Power down the Vantage and allow the oven to cool sufficiently to allow you to
work in the machine.
WARNING: DO NOT continue until the six-minute cooling cycle has

completed. This can be verified by examining the UPS
status LEDs through the back panel grill. DO NOT attempt
to replace the light bulbs if ANY UPS LED are still lit!
2. Go to the left rear corner of the Vantage, and turn the main circuit breaker and the
UPS power switch off.
3. Remove the glass lens on the interior lamp by unscrewing it counter-clockwise.
4. Remove the burned out bulb, and install the replacement bulb.
5. Install the glass lens by screwing it in clockwise.
6. Turn on the Main Circuit breaker, the UPS switch, and any other electrical
disconnects you may have turned off.
7. Power up the Vantage and verify the lamps are operating.
Note: The light socket bracket can come loose from the frame, exposing AC line
voltage if the machine is not completely powered down. All AC line
voltage is eliminated by powering down the machine in the manner
described above.
8-8
FDM Vantage User Guide Troubleshooting
Chapter 9
Troubleshooting
Getting Help
If you have problems with your machine or materials, that are not covered in this user
guide or in the T-Class Quick Reference Card, or if you need to order replacement
parts, please contact Customer Support by using one of the following methods:
• Call Customer Support: 800.801.6491 (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. C.T.)
• E-mail us at: support@stratasys.com
• Write to:
Stratasys, Inc.
Customer Support
14950 Martin Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344 USA
Before calling for service or supplies, always have the following information ready:
• Your machine’s software version
• Your hardware serial number
• Access to your Insight workstation (to provide a diagnostic file if necessary)
9-1
Troubleshooting FDM Vantage User Guide
Finding a Remedy
Condition Possible Cause Remedy
Canister will not Anti-rotation plug not Remove plug.

load removed from canister.
Rubber thumbwheel insert Remove thumbwheel insert.
not removed from
thumbwheel door.
Empty canister (zero Replace canister.
volume)
Filament stuck in canister. Remove canister from machine
and pull out about eight feet
(two meters) of material out.
Ensure filament pulls out freely.
Canister drive block not Reset drive block onto canister.
fully lowered onto canister.
Wrong tip size selected on Verify correct tip size on
operator display. display. See “Liquefier Tips and
Slice Heights” on page 3-5.
Canister smartspool circuit View Filament Status from
failed. operator display. If the status
reads None or is blank, replace
the canister.
Broken or bent pogo pin. Remove canister from bay and
check pogo pins on underside
of the canister drive block.
Replace any bent or broken
pogo pins.
Filament does not reach Install a new canister. If this
head (load time-out fails, call Customer Support.
reached).
9-2
Loss of extrusion Filament stuck in canister Remove canister from machine

(Head will not and pull out about 8 feet (2
extrude material) meters) of material out. Ensure
filament pulls out freely.
Canister drive is too slow Verify that load time from the
canister to the head switch is
less than 2:00 min.
Material not extruding on • Verify that material purges
first two layers of model by performing a load.
base • Perform Platen Level
Diagnostic.
• Verify that all numbers are
less than +/- 0.015”. See
“Platen Flatness Diagnostic”
on page 8-6.
Plugged Tips • Verify that the size of
installed tip matches with tip
size indicated on operator
display.
• Verify that tip life has not
exceeded maximum tip
odometer.
• Verify tips were installed
correctly.
• Verify that material purges
by performing a load.
• Replace tip with new tip and
recalibrate.
Machine not calibrated Verify that material purges by
performing a load.
Perform Auto Z Zero and
AutoCal Tips.
Low vacuum caused build See Low Vacuum in this table.
sheet to shift and may have
plugged tip.
9-3
Low Vacuum The build sheet is not Move the sheet until it overlaps
(Vacuum gauge does properly installed. the platen equally on all sides.
not read -15 or
There is filament debris on Remove the build sheet and
greater)
the platen. clean the top surface of the
platen.
A small piece of material Check vacuum pump inlet and
may have been sucked into verify that it is free of debris.
the vacuum line. Empty the vacuum system filter
jars.
The vacuum screen may Clean or replace vacuum
be plugged. screen.
The exhaust port on the Call Customer Support.
vacuum pump may be
clogged, or the vacuum
pump may require
replacing.
Rubber O-ring is twisted or Remove ring and inspect for
needs replacing. cracks. Replace if cracks are
found or reinstall insuring ring
is not twisted. Replace ring if
problems persist.
Air pressure is low This scenario is not Contact Customer Support for
operator adjustable. further instruction.
Support material is Support material is Adjust the tip-to-tip calibration.
difficult to remove imbedded in the vertical
from part surfaces of the part.
Model material not Platen is out of level. Perform Platen Level
sticking to build Diagnostic. Verify that all
sheet numbers are less than +/-
0.015”. See “Platen Flatness
Diagnostic” on page 8-6.
Model material The tip to tip calibration is Repeat tip to tip calibration.
surface finish is not set correctly.
poor on downward
facing surfaces
Support material
removes too easily
Material is oozing Dryer failure. Call Customer Support.
Moisture in the canister. Call Customer Support.
9-4
Oven not Heater failure Call Customer Support.

maintaining
Oven door open. Close the oven door; the heater
temperatures
turns off while the door is open.
Oven door not sealing with Call Customer Support.
oven fascia panel.
Information Available If a Job Fails While Building
If a job fails, you can determine the last layer built. From the system interface
choose:
Modeler Status > Machine State > System Status
9-5
9-6
FDM Vantage User Guide Index
Index
Symbols C
.CMB File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Canister Bay
.STL File Air Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . .4-2
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Door Location . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1
Drive Levers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Model Material . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
Opening door . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
A Support Material . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
Vacuum Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
ABS Canisters
Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Drive Levers . . . . . . . . . . 4-2, 4-3
Active Canister . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3, 4-9 Drivewheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-8
Air Compressor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 Installing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-6
Air Pressure LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16 Locking Plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-9
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 Smart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Auto Changeover . . . . . . . . . 4-2, 4-4 Carriage Assembly
Auto Cool Oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17 X & Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4
Auto Z Zero Calibration CE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4
User Placement settings . . . 5-12 Circuit Breaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Cleaning
Exterior Machine Surfaces . . .8-6
B Head Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-7
Liquefier Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-7
Bay Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 Oven Removable Glass . . . . .8-7
Bearings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 Platen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2
Build Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10 Purge Bucket . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2
Build Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11 Vacuum System Filter Jars . . .8-5
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16 Code Downloading . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 Connection
Build Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Delta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Building Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6 High Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Power Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Consumable Ordering . . . . . . . . . .1-1
Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-1
Index - 1
Index FDM Vantage User Guide
Creating Toolpaths . . . . . . . . . . . .6-6 Head Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Crushed Hand Sign . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 High Voltage Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Customer Support . . . . . . . . . 1-1, 9-1 Hood
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Hot Surface Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
D
DC Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Debris Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-11 I
Delta connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Downloading a Code . . . . . . . . . . .2-5 Insight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Drive Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9 Build Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Build Mode
Drive Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3 Brick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Drying System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3 Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Normal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Building Supports . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Creating Toolpaths . . . . . . . . 6-6
E Flag Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Modeler Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-1 Opening .STL File . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Encoded Chip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5 Orientating Parts . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Envelope Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Saving Job File . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Saving Toolpaths . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Sending Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Slicing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
G Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Gantry, XY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4 Insight Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4 Managing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-1 Monitoring Parts . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Gloves Required Sign . . . . . . . . . .1-3 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Guard Door Interlocks . . . . . . . . . .1-4 IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Guide Rods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9
J
H Job Queues
Hazard Classifications . . . . . . . . . .1-2 Managing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Head Viewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Move Relative . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Moving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
Plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19
K
Service Bracket . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20 Keypad
Head Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-5 Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Index - 2
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Polycarbonate (PC) . . . . . . . . .4-1

Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-14
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-4
L Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii, 4-1
Unloading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
Lamp Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8 Model
Lead Screws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 Tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1
LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 Tip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13
Leveling Modeler Default Values . . . . . . . .5-11
Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9 Moving
Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-20
Light Bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
Liquefier Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 Z Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-12
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Selecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 N
System Differences . . . . . . . iii
Unplugging . . . . . . . . . . 3-8, 4-19 Network Connection . . . . . . . . . . .2-1
Locking Plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Loss of Extrusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Low Air Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Low Vacuum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 O
Lowering the Z Stage . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16, 5-13
Operator Control Panel . . . . . . . . .5-1
Ordering Consumables . . . . . . . . .1-1
M Orientating Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5
O-Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-11
Main Circuit Breaker . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 OSHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4
Maintenance Oven
As Needed Tasks . . . . . . . . . . 8-6 Door Location . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1
Daily Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2 Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-10
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11 Opening Door . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9
Monthly Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
Quarterly Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5 Setting Temperatures . . . . . .5-17
Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1 Thermal Breaker . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
Weekly Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Material
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Canisters, Model . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 P
Canisters, Support . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1
Drying System . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 PC
Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11 Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-1
Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 PC-ISO
PC-ISO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-1
Personal Injury Sign . . . . . . . . . . .1-2
Index - 3
Platen Spare Canister Bays . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

Flatness Diagnostic . . . . . . . . 8-6 Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 Storing Canisters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11 Stratasys
Power Mailing Address . . . . . . . . . . . . i-ii
Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Support Removal
Down the Machine . . . . . . . . . 5-4 Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Up the Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 WaterWorks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Product Safety Signs . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 Support Tip Odometer . . . . . . . . 5-13
Purge Bucket
Emptying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Locating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
T
T-Class Site Preparation Guide . . 2-1
R Temperature Status . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Thermal Cut-Out Fuses . . . . . . . . 2-3
Regenerating Dryer . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3 TI speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Remote Notification . . . . . . . . . . .6-11 Tips
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
S Ordering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Selecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Safety Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Z Stage Servo Motor . . . . . . . . 1-4 Slice Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 System Differences . . . . . . . iii
Safety Practices Unplugging . . . . . . . . . .3-8, 4-19
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Specific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Troubleshooting
Saving Canister Not Loading . . . . . . . 9-2
Job File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6 Loss of Extrusion . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Toolpaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6 Low Air Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Screen Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3 Low Vacuum . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Serial Number Tag . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1 Material/Build Sheet . . . . . . . 9-4
Service Location . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-20 Oozing Material . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Servo Motor Oven Temperature . . . . . . . . 9-5
X Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 Poor Surface Finish . . . . . . . . 9-4
Y Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 Support Material . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Z Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9
Sharp Object Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
Side Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1 U
Silicone O-Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-11
Slice Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-5 Unplugging Tips . . . . . . . . . 3-8, 4-19
Slicing Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5 Upgrading Software . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Software Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1 UPS Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Software Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Index - 4
V X Carriage Assembly . . . . . . . . . . .3-4

XY Gantry
Vacuum Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2, 4-2 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
System Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Vantage
Y
i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Y Axis Servo Motor . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4
S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Y Carriage Assembly . . . . . . . . . . .3-4
SE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii, 4-4
Viewing Part Information . . . . . . . 6-10
Z
W Z Stage
Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9
WaterWorks Lowering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-13
Support Removal . . . . . . . . . . 5-9 Move Relative . . . . . . . . . . . .3-11
Tip Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 Moving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-12
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
X Servo Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9
X Axis Servo Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Index - 5
Index - 6
FDM Vantage User Guide Appendix
Appendix
Operator Control Panel Menu Structure

Text in italics indicates system compatibility differences. For example, the “Load
Material” screen shows four lines representing the material in the canisters. Only
Vantage SE will have all four lines present on the screen since it can build with all four
canister bays.
1 - Main Menu
Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2 - Build Job..
>Build Next Job: “Name of Job” <E>
Build Last Job: “Name of Job” <E>
Show Job Queue.. (6 Jobs)
Show Sample Job Queue.. (all jobs)
3 - Show Job Queue..

>1) “Name of Job” <E> 5:23 hr
2) “Name of Job” <E> 121:45 hr
3) “Name of Job” <E> 15:12 hr
3 - Show Sample Job Queue..

>1) “Name of Sample Job” <E> 5:23 hr
2) “Name of Sample Job” <E> 121:45 hr
3) “Name of Sample Job” <E> 15:12 hr
Appendix - 1
Appendix FDM Vantage User Guide
1 - Main Menu
Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2 - Operator Control
3 - Load/Unload Mtl..
>Load Material..
Unload Material..
Material Status..
Unplug Tips..
4 - Load Material
Model :PC Load <E> (Ready)

Model :PC Load <E> (Loaded)
Support :PC_S Load <E> (Ready)
Support :PC_S Load <E> (Empty)
4 - Unload Material
>Model :PC Unload <E> Ready)

Model :PC Unload <E> (Loaded)
Support :PC_S Unload <E> (Loaded)
Support :PC_S Unload <E> (Empty)
4 - 4 - Material Status..
** Model 1:PC 92.3 in3 (Ready)

* Model 2:PC 67.1 in3 (Loaded)
** Support 1:PC_S 92.3 in3 (Loaded)
* Support 2:PC_S 0.0 in3 (Empty)1
Appendix - 2
4 - Unplug Tips..
***** Head Purge Buttons Activated *****

MODEL (1) Support (2)
** Model Warming to 145° C (now 85° C) **
** Supp Warming to 145° C (now 85° C) **
3 - Change Tips/Matl..
>Unload Model and Support.. <E>
*3. Install tips
Select Materials/Tips..
4 - Select Material/Tips..
*M PC [R | * | * | R ] PC_S S*
5 - Review Materials to Load...
>M1L:ABS 92.0 in3 <E> (Ready)

M2L:PC 91.6 in3 <E> (*Ready)
S1L:PC_S 92.3 in3 <E> (*Ready)
S2L:ABS_S 41.4 in3 <E> (None.)
5 - Reset Tip Odometers.. (if user placement on)

Select Calibration Part Position..
Unlock Door <E>
Reset Tip Odometers.. (if user placement off)
Reset Model in3 <E> 633.5 ()

Unlock Door <E>
Appendix - 3
6 - Select Calibration Part Position..

(if user placement on)
Locate Part Start..

The following screens display automatically:
* Waiting h:mm to stabilize

** Actual 100°C Setpoint: 225°C
>Unlock Door <E> | Vacuum On
Calibrate Immediately <E>

Please Wait...
*Job: Calibration Job (Building)

*Build Time: 0:04 hr of 0:08 hr
*PC 0.1 in3 PC_S 0.0
>Modeler Status.. 0.010 of 0.050 in
3 - Calibrate..
AutoCal Tips <E>
Tip Offset Value..
AutoHome XYZ <E>
4 - Set Z Stage Zero..
>Set Z Zero with Shim<E>..

Auto Z Zero Calibrate <E>
Appendix - 4
5 - Set Z Zero with Shim..
*Positioning. Please Wait...
Unlock Door <E>

Set Distance= 0.100 in <E>
>Set Z Stage= 0 <E> (Z: 0.010)
*Move Z Stage: +Z<9> -Z<3>
5 - Modify Current Z Zero..
* Modify Current Z Zero Z: 16.250

>+ 0.00 <E>
- 0.00 <E>
4 - Tip Offset Value..
*Delta X:0.0000 Y:0.0000 Z:0.0000

>-X 0.00 <E> | +X 0.00<E>
-Y 0.00 <E> | +Y 0.00<E>
-Z 0.00 <E> | +Z 0.00<E>
4 - Temp Control..
Set Oven to Build Temp: 145° C <E>

Cool Down Oven to: 85° C <E>
>Auto Cool Oven: OFF <E>
4 - Move Head/Stage..

>Move Relative..
5 - Move Relative..
>Set Distance= 0.100 in <E>

*Move Head: +X <6> -X<4> +Y <2> -Y <8>
*Move Z Stage: +Z <9> -Z <3>
*Current: X: 0.000 Y: 0.000 Z: 0.000
Appendix - 5
1 - Main Menu
>Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2 - Modeler Status..
>Temperatures..
Material Status..
Tip Status..
Machine State
3 - Temperatures..
* Current Setpoint
* Oven: 78° C / 80° C
* Model: 198° C / 200° C
* Support: 301° C / 300° C
3 - Material Status..
3 - Tip Status..
* Mat’l amount
3 - Machine State..
Sensor States..
System Status..
UPS Status..
Vantage(Type) V2.x.x
Appendix - 6
4 - Sensor States.
Door State: -Closed-

Hood State: -Closed-
Sense Head Switch1: -OFF-
Filament at Model Head: -NOT Sensed-
Filament at Support Head: -NOT Sensed-
Cone Sensor: -OFF-
Vacuum Switch: -Vacuum (no)
Model Fil: MotorOff:RevFilament EE
Model Fil: MotorOff:RevNoFilament
Supp Fil: MotorOff:RevFilament EE
.4 - System Status..
Serial Number = XXX

UPS Type = Invensys or Best Power
Advanced Head: No (or Yes)
Tip Sensor: Cone
Servo Firmware= X.X.X Update XX
HEADBOARD FIRMWARE = X.X
MIO BOARD FIRMWARE = X.X
AC BOARD FIRMWARE = X.X
CANISTER 0 FIRMWARE =X.X
Device= "eth0"
IPADDR= "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"
NetMask= "xxx.xxx.x.x"
OnBoot= "yes"
BootProto= "none"
Networking= yes
Forward_IPV4= "no"
Hostname= "Vantage_Type_S/N”
DomainName=
Gateway= "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"
GatewayDev= "eth0"
4 - UPS Status
Status=(x) IPV=230.00 IPFV=230

OPV=230.00 OPLOAD=32.00 OPFreq=60.00
BattV=28.00 UPSTemp=48.2 Update=60.00
CPUTemp=N/A Ident=BestPowerFortres or
Invensys Powerware 5
Appendix - 7
1 - Main Menu
>Modeler Status..
Maintenance..
2 - Modeler Status..
>Temperatures..
Material Status..
Tip Status..
Machine State
3 - Temperatures..
* Current Setpoint
* Oven: 78° C / 80° C
* Model: 198° C / 200° C
* Support: 301° C / 300° C
3 - Material Status..
3 - Tip Status..
* Mat’l amount
3 - Machine State..
Sensor States..
System Status..
UPS Status..
>Vantage v2.x.x
Appendix - 8
4 - Sensor States..
Door State: -Closed-

Hood State: -Closed-
Filament at Model Head: -NOT Sensed-
Filament at Support Head: -NOT Sensed-
Cone Sensor: -OFF-
Vacuum Switch: -Vacuum (no)
Model Fil: MotorOff:RevFilament EE
Model Fil: MotorOff:RevNoFilament
4 - System Status..
Serial Number = XXX

UPS Type = Invensys or Best Power
Advanced Head: No (or Yes)
Tip Sensor: Nozzle (or Cone)
Servo Firmware= X.X.X Update XX
HEADBOARD FIRMWARE = X.X
MIO BOARD FIRMWARE = X.X
AC BOARD FIRMWARE = X.X
Device= "eth0"
IPADDR= "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"
NetMask= "xxx.xxx.x.x"
OnBoot= "yes"
BootProto= "none"
Networking= yes
Forward_IPV4= "no"
Hostname= "Vantage_Type_S/N”
DomainName=
Gateway= "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"
GatewayDev= "eth0"
4 - UPS Status..
Status=(x) IPV=230.00 IPFV=230

OPV=230.00 OPLOAD=32.00 OPFreq=60.00
BattV=28.00 UPSTemp=48.2 Update=60.00
CPUTemp=N/A Ident=BestPowerFortres or
Invensys Powerware 5
Appendix - 9
1 - Main Menu
Modeler Status..
>Maintenance..
2 - Maintenance..
>Modeler Default..
Administration..
Reboot Machine..
Measure Flatness <E>
3 - Modeler Default..
>Display Units = in (Inches) <E>
User Placement on Platen: NO
New Style Calibration Part: YES <E>
3 - Administration..
>Network Configuration..
Receive Software Upgrade or Code..
4 - Network Configuration..
>IP : [172.16.70.10]
MASK: (.none found)
GW : [172.16.100.1]
4 - Receive Software Upgrade or Code..
>Waiting for Software Upgrade or Code

Press MENU key to Cancel
Appendix - 10
3 - Reboot Machine..
!! Hit the 1 key to Reboot Now
!! or press <MENU> key
4 - Measure Flatness <E> (Only for Triplet Vantages)

During Function:
* Measuring Flatness *
Please wait...
* Press <ESCAPE> to Abort Measuring *
After Function Complete:
* Z Height Measurements *
UL: -0.0050 UR: 0.0020
Center: 0.0000
LL: 0.0120 LR: 0.0090
Appendix - 11
Appendix - 12

User Guide - FDM Vantage

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User Guide - FDM Vantage

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FDM Vantage ™

About the FDM Vantage

Vantage i Vantage X Vantage S Vantage SE

About This Guide

How to Use This Guide

Conventions Used in This Guide

Build Job.. |*Tips: Model T16

Service & Support

Software Support ....................................................................................................... 1 - 1

Safety Instructions ..................................................................................................... 1 - 2

Hazard Classifications ............................................................................................1 - 2

Product Safety Signs ..............................................................................................1 - 2

Specific Safety Practices ........................................................................................1 - 3

Guard Door Interlocks.............................................................................................1 - 4

General Safety Practices ........................................................................................1 - 4

Setup & Installation

Identifying Your Machine............................................................................................ 2 - 1

Making the Network Connection................................................................................ 2 - 1

Using the Main Circuit Breaker .................................................................................. 2 - 2

Using the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) ......................................................... 2 - 2

Thermal Cut-Out Fuses ............................................................................................. 2 - 3

Initial Network Configuration (IP Address) ................................................................. 2 - 4

Upgrading Software or Downloading a Code.................................................................. 5

Moving the Machine................................................................................................... 2 - 8

Opening the Hood...................................................................................................... 3 - 4

XY Gantry Assembly .............................................................................................. 3 - 4

Liquefier Tips and Slice Heights............................................................................. 3 - 5

Head Buttons for Unplugging Tips ......................................................................... 3 - 8

Z Stage & Oven Components .................................................................................... 3 - 9

Opening the Oven Door ......................................................................................... 3 - 9

Oven Lights .......................................................................................................... 3 - 10

Moving the Head and Z Stage using “Move Relative”...........................................3 - 11

Lowering the Z Stage ........................................................................................... 3 - 13

Material & Canisters

Accessing the Canister Bays ..................................................................................... 4 - 2

Canister Bay Components ......................................................................................... 4 - 2

Canister Drive Levers............................................................................................. 4 - 3

Interpreting the LED Indicators .............................................................................. 4 - 3

Canister Auto Changeover (For Vantage SE only) ................................................ 4 - 4

Changing Canisters ................................................................................................... 4 - 6

Removing an Empty Canister .............................................................................. 4 - 10

Removing a Partially Used Canister .................................................................... 4 - 10

Loading Material Filament to the Liquefiers ..............................................................4 - 11

Unloading Material Filament from the Liquefiers ..................................................... 4 - 12

Purging Blue Material from Liquefier.................................................................... 4 - 13

Changing Material Type or Tips ............................................................................... 4 - 13

Recovering From a Head Plug................................................................................. 4 - 19

Operating the Machine

Keypad Button Descriptions....................................................................................5 - 2

Powering Up the Machine.......................................................................................... 5 - 3

Powering Down the Machine ..................................................................................... 5 - 4

Building a Job ............................................................................................................ 5 - 5

Before Building a Job..............................................................................................5 - 5

Selecting a Job to Build ..........................................................................................5 - 6

Warnings Before Job is Built...................................................................................5 - 7

Information Available While Building.......................................................................5 - 7

Information Available If a Job Fails While Building .................................................5 - 7

Pausing or Aborting a Job ......................................................................................5 - 8

After Building a Job.................................................................................................5 - 8

Manually Removing Support Material........................................................................ 5 - 9

Removing WaterWorks Support Material................................................................... 5 - 9

Working with the Job Queues .................................................................................. 5 - 10

Using the Maintenance Menu ...................................................................................5 - 11

Changing the Modeler Default Values .................................................................. 5 - 11