Stratasys FDM 2000 Manual page 23

Procedures
Tip Offset Procedure
1. Check the tightness of the tip using the tip wrench.
2. Start FDM Status application.
3. Click the Calibration button (micrometer icon).
4. Specify the properties of the modeler in the Configure Modeler window. This is
much like the configuration window in Insight. Specify the
· model material type
· support material type
· model tip size
· support tip size
· slice height
5. Click the green check mark to confirm the modeler configuration parameters.
These parameters will determine the values used to build the calibration box used
to set the tip offset values.
6. The Calibration window is displayed.
7. Choose Cal boxes and Tip offsets as the type of Download data. For tip-offset
calibration, you will want to download the current offsets and a calibration box.
8. Click the Download button (monitor and modeler icon) to build an initial calibra-
tion box using the current modeler configuration and offset values.
9. The FDM Pause light will start to blink. Press the Pause button to initiate the XYZ
homing procedure. When the Pause light starts to blink again, the extrusion head
will be in the front-left corner. Lower the tip so that it is touching the foam. Press
the Pause light again to start building the calibration box.
10. Verify the results and modify the X and Y offsets to center the support material
directly on top of the model material. Do this by clicking the +/- X and +/- Y
buttons to shift the location of the support material bead. You can also enter
numeric values for the X and Y offset increments.
11. Repeat steps 8 through 10 as necessary, until the support material is centered on
the model material.
12. After completing the X and Y offset calibration, peel away the support material
layer from the final calibration box. Measure the Z-thickness of the support material
bead using a caliper or micrometer. The thickness should match the slice height
displayed in the configuration box. Typically this is 0.010 inches for T12 and T16 tips
and 0.007 inches for the T10 tip.
13. If the support bead is too tall or too short, use the +Z and -Z buttons to change the
Z offset.
14. After changing the Z offset, build a new calibration box by clicking the Download
button.
15. Repeat steps 12 through 14 until the support-material bead is the correct height.
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About The FDM —Calibration
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