7 PolyJet WaterJet Safety Tips

Here at CAPINC, safety is a value that we all acknowledge, especially those who are involved with the use or repair of the 3D printers or cleaning equipment. With daily use of the machines, we have come up with some suggestions, tips and shortcuts that can make it easier and safer to operate.

One of the newest pieces of equipment that we have been using over the past year is the Objet WaterJet System. The Stratasys Objet WaterJet provides easy and fast cleaning of support material from models printed on a PolyJet 3D printing systems. In addition to the Safety Guidelines that are found in the User Manual, we feel it’s necessary to highlight seven of the more common safety considerations that might be encountered with daily use of the cleaning system.

1. Proper Height. In order to alleviate physical stress from standing at the clean station, it’s important to follow the guidelines for installation. Having the unit at the proper height can make a difference when standing cleaning parts for any given amount of time. These illustrations show the recommended height whether on the stand or on a tabletop. Note the measurements from the floor to the user arm position. This will allow for the best posture while using the equipment.
    
2. Water Supply Nozzle. The unit requires a supply of water to operate which must be turned on before using the pressure pump. Our recommendation is to have this water supply controlled at the main water supply valve (outside the unit) and always leave the flow regulator inside the unit in the on position (turned horizontal). One of the reasons for this is that if any part of the unit develops a leak, it reduces the risk of large amounts of water flow from the unit onto the floor or countertop. Turning the water on and off prior to use from the main valve has been our best practice. 
3. Cover Latches. One of the most important safety suggestions is to use care when opening or closing the unit Cover. The latches on each side are spring loaded. If done incorrectly, this can cause the cover to pop up quickly. The best practice is to hold the cover closed with one hand while locking the first latch. Then lock the second latch. And the same instructions apply if you are opening the locked cover. Hold the cover down with one hand while unlocking the latch on one side, and then continue to hold down while unlocking the other side. Assist the cover in opening slowly. Needless to say, if you are looking into the cover while opening it, there is the potential of you taking one on the chin! 
4. Pressure Washer On/Off. It’s our recommendation to leave the pressure washer in the ON position and turn the power on/off on the back of the WaterJet unit. This gives you one switch to turn the unit on/off, rather than two.
5. WaterJet Cover. If you’ve used the WaterJet at all you know that it can be a little tricky to time your view of the parts with the swish of the wiper blade. While the wiper blade does wipe the water off, with the continuous spray of water during the cleaning process, it will inevitably end up on the cover almost immediately after being cleaned. We have a great suggestion that should help. Just like on your car windshield, apply a coat of Rain-X as recommended by the instructions on the bottle for a see-through finish. This application will cause the water to bead up rather than be spotty or cloud the clear cover.

   After RainX

6. Waste Filter. In our use of the WaterJet, we found that sometimes small bits of support material will go through the filter tray and into the drain. This can eventually clog up the drain or the trap. To alleviate these smaller particles from washing through, we came up with the idea to use a section of window or insect screen. This can be purchased at a home supply store such as Home Depot or Lowes. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Cut a piece of the screen to fit under the tray when it is sitting in the WaterJet unit. The tray will catch the larger pieces and the screen will catch the smaller pieces, saving your drain pipes from becoming clogged. We recommend cleaning the Waste Filter and the screen of excess particles after each cleaning use of the WaterJet.
7. After Cleaning. When you have completed using the WaterJet for cleaning parts and cleaned the residue from the trays, we have found that it’s best to leave the cover open with the gloves outstretched so it can dry faster. Closing the cover could allow for odors or mold to grow inside the unit. Drying between uses will keep the WaterJet cleaner longer.

If you have any questions about the safety guidelines for the WaterJet, or would like to share your suggestions or best practices, please contact us directly or call 800-424-2255 x 1002.