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Related Manuals for Markforged FX20
Summary of Contents for Markforged FX20
- Page 1 FX20 USER GUIDE VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 2 Changes are periodically made to the information herein which will be incorporated in revised editions of this publication. Markforged may make changes or improvements to the product(s) described in this publication at any time and without notice. Version 1.2 / June 2024...
- Page 3 HIGH VOlTAGE / ElECTRONICS VARIABlE NOZZlE HEIGHTS REPLACEMENT SUPPLIES IMPORTANT PLASTIC INFORMATION TIPS TO AVOID RuINING yOuR FIlAMENT INTRODUCTION TO THE FX20 INTERFACE CREATING EIGER ORGANIZATIONS JOIN AN EXISTING ORGANIZATION CREATE A NEW ORGANIZATION ADD A PRINTER TO AN EXISTING ORGANIZATION...
- Page 4 FX20 USER GUIDE USING THE TOUCHSCREEN SAFETY SYSTEM OPERATING THE BUILD CHAMBER DOOR BYPASSING DOOR LOCKS BuIlD CHAMBER DOOR OVERRIDE MATERIAl DRAWER PRINT BED LEVELING APPLYING A PRINT SHEET SuPPlIES NOTES APPlyING A PRINT SHEET MATERIAL STORAGE PlASTIC FIlAMENT FIBER FIlAMENT...
- Page 5 FX20 USER GUIDE UNLOADING PLASTIC AND SUPPORT MATERIAL UNLOADING FIBER PLASTIC JAM TROUBLESHOOTING FIBER JAM TROUBLESHOOTING SuPPlIES SCENARIO 1: PRINTED PART HAS A VERTICAl FIBER TAIl SCENARIO 2: NO VERTICAl FIBER TAIl; FIBER PROTRuDES FROM NOZZlE SCENARIO 3: NO FIBER TAIl, NO FIBER PROTRuDING FROM NOZZlE...
- Page 6 FX20 USER GUIDE NOZZLE OFFSET CALIBRATION UTILITY MANUAL CONTROL NOZZlE TEMPERATuRE CHAMBER TEMPERATuRE RESTART PROCEDURE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE EVERy DAy SHORT TERM lONG TERM SuMMARy TABlE VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 7 Mandatory instruction - Indicates a potentially harmful situation in which the printer can be damaged or unsatisfactory function can occur. Please retain these safety instructions for reference. For detailed instructions on setup, operation, and maintenance of your FX20 printer, visit https://support.markforged.com or email setup@markforged.com. VERSION 1.1 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 8 FX20 3D Printer Safety Document Safety Hazards The following notes indicate potential safety hazards that should be recognized when operating a Markforged FX20 3D Printer. D D A A N N G G E E R R Electric Shock ●...
- Page 9 C C A A U U T T I I O O N N • To prevent risk of fire and shock, use only the power cord supplied with your FX20. Do not attempt to replace the AC mains plug with the same or a different plug configuration.
- Page 10 FX20 3D Printer Safety Document N N O O T T I I C C E E FX20 uSER GuIDE The printer melts thermoplastics and can emit odors during printing. Make sure to operate the printer in a well-ventilated area.
- Page 11 POWER DISCONNECT ACCESS Take care to set up your FX20 printer so that the disconnecting devices (power switch on the rear face of the printer, as well as your facility disconnect to the machine) are accessible at all times. Note that the power cord can be disconnected as an emergency shutdown measure if the power switch becomes inoperable or inaccessible.
- Page 12 VENTIlATION REQuIREMENTS Markforged Composite Printers melt thermoplastics and emit thermoplastic odors during printing. Ensure your printer is used in a well-ventilated area. No dedicated exhaust is required for the printer. Additional measures may be required based on local regulations.
- Page 13 FX20 USER GUIDE AlWAyS FOllOW SAFETy INSTRuCTIONS Failing to use your FX20 printer in the manner specified by the manufacturer may lead to unsafe operating conditions. Follow all safety instructions posted on the unit and in the written documentation. Note: Consult the Safety Sheet included with your device for an explanation of the safety icons used in this manual.
- Page 14 Please read this section carefully and check it regularly for updates. It contains an assortment of notes, best practices, and new material that apply only to the FX20. As this User Guide develops, this material will be integrated into the main text and the User Notes section will be shortened.
- Page 15 FX20 USER GUIDE REPLACEMENT SUPPLIES Consumable items, print material, and other parts and supplies are available from your Reseller and from the Markforged Shop (shop.markforged.com). The following items are among the most frequently replaced parts for FX20 printers: Item name...
- Page 16 Take special care to NEVER leave plastic exposed to ambient air, and ALWAYS keep plastic either inside the FX20 material drawer with desiccant, in an airtight sealed container with desiccant, or in its original packaging.
- Page 17 FX20 USER GUIDE INTRODUCTION TO THE FX20 INTERFACE FX20 introduces a redesigned user interface and a host of new features specific to FX20. If you are familiar with existing Markforged printers, you’ll find familiar features with cleaner, more convenient layout: ●...
- Page 18 After logging in, Eiger will prompt you to register a printer. Find your printer’s ID and access key on the stickers provided with your Markforged printer, or by powering on your printer and navigating to Menu > Settings > System Info.
- Page 19 FX20 USER GUIDE Enter the desired device name, device ID, and device access key into the appropriate fields and click Register Device. Note: You do not need to include any hyphens in the Device ID field. If you wish to add users to the organization: Navigate to Settings >...
- Page 20 CONNECT VIA ETHERNET (lAN) The FX20 must connect to the local network via Ethernet; the Ethernet port is located on the rear panel of the printer. See the FX20 Facilities Guide for detailed network requirements. Consult your IT department...
- Page 21 Markforged devices support both DHCP and static IP configurations. For more information, see the Advanced Networking Features support article. For proper operation, Markforged devices must be able to make outbound connections to services at the following hostnames on the given ports (no inbound connections are needed): HOSTNAME...
- Page 22 Currently, NTP — Network Time Protocol, on uDP port 123 — is the only supported mechanism for time synchronization, and Markforged devices will attempt to connect to four different servers within the global public NTP server pool, determined by querying hostnames ending in “.pool.ntp.org”.
- Page 23 In case of emergency, use one of these disconnecting devices to cut power to the printer. The power switch on the rear face of the FX20 printer also includes a lock Out / Tag Out feature for adding a lock during service.
- Page 24 FX20 USER GUIDE EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON The red emergency stop (“e-stop”) button is located on the front center panel of the printer, to the right of the touchscreen. Pressing the emergency stop immediately terminates the current print, depowering the gantry and print bed driver motors, but does not power down the entire printer.
- Page 25 The FX20 firmware is frequently updated to improve printer performance and usability. Notification of new firmware updates will be displayed on the FX20 screen automatically if the printer is connected to the internet. An ethernet connection is required for cloud updates. For more information, see Connecting Your FX20.
- Page 26 USING THE TOUCHSCREEN The touchscreen on the FX20 can flip up and out of the user panel for easier viewing and use. To stow the touchscreen, push the metal bezel at the bottom of the screen; it will click into place. Similarly, push the bezel to release the touchscreen.
- Page 27 FX20 USER GUIDE SAFETY SYSTEM The FX20 includes a standalone safety system to ensure safe use of the machine. The safety controller restricts regions of the printer from operating while the build chamber or top lid are open for access.
- Page 28 BYPASSING DOOR LOCKS In the unlikely event that you are unable to use the onboard manual control dashboard to unlock the build chamber, the FX20 includes bypass mechanisms. If you must use these bypass features to unlock the door, we recommend you power off the printer before doing so.
- Page 29 PRINT BED LEVELING For optimal print quality it is important that the print bed is properly leveled. The FX20 will perform a 32-point touch-off procedure before every print to confirm the print bed is level. The print bed should remain level under normal printer use.
- Page 30 APPlyING A PRINT SHEET Open the build chamber and use the black nylon bristle brush from the FX20 Accessory Kit to clear any debris from the print bed vacuum channels.
- Page 31 FX20 USER GUIDE Place the print sheet on the bed glue side face up, ensuring it is centered on the print bed with no material hanging over the side of the print bed. Note: If you are wearing gloves, ensure that they are free of excess moisture (from cleaning, adhesive) when applying the sheet to the print bed.
- Page 32 55-90°F (13-33°C). Once unsealed, plastic spools should be stored for use in the FX20 material drawer for up to 90 days, or in an airtight container such as the Pelican 1430 case. To keep material as dry as possible over a long-term storage period greater than 90 days, use an external drybox.
- Page 33 FX20 USER GUIDE FIBER FIlAMENT Store all composite and fiber filaments at room temperature in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. Kevlar® should be stored in a bag or container which blocks exposure to all light. FIBER SHElF lIFE unopened fiber spools have a minimum shelf life of two years from date of manufacture when stored in their original sealed packaging at temperatures between 55-90°F (13-33°C).
- Page 34 This is accomplished by three separate Material Pathways. MATERIAl PATHWAy NOMENClATuRE The material routing system of the FX20 is composed of three material pathways – two for plastic and support filament and one for fiber filament. ●...
- Page 35 MATERIAl PATHWAy F As in other Markforged composite printers, the material pathway for fiber filament is shorter and less complex. Fiber filament feeds from a spool mounted lid in the upper chamber of the printer. The fiber bowden tube connects the spool to the extruder on the print head;...
- Page 36 FX20 USER GUIDE DESICCANT REPLACEMENT The material drawer features four spool bays (marked A1, A2, B1, and B2), each with a desiccant bin on its back wall near its pre-extruder inlet. When loading a new spool into a spool bay, be sure to remove any old leftover desiccant in the bin, then place the fresh packs that came packaged with your new material into the bin.
- Page 37 Select Full or Partial Spool, then press Next. If you are loading a partial spool, weigh the spool of material to the nearest gram and enter the weight on the touchscreen, then press next. (FX20 will automatically account for the weight of the spool itself.) Use flush cutters to cut the end of the filament at a 45°...
- Page 38 FX20 USER GUIDE Remove any old desiccant packs from the open spool bay and replace them with the fresh packs included with the new spool. Press Next. Follow the onscreen directions to load the spool into the spool bay, feeding the filament through the inlet and into the load tube.
- Page 39 FX20 USER GUIDE LOADING FIBER FILAMENT Nozzle F > Load Material Select on the home screen. Select the material you intend to load. Select the appropriate spool size. Select if the spool being loaded is full or partially used. If loading a partially used spool, you will be prompted to enter the weight of the spool in grams.
- Page 40 FX20 USER GUIDE PRINTING A PART Before printing, ensure that a print sheet is installed and the correct adhesive is properly applied to the top surface of the sheet. Follow the instructions in Adjust Part Orientation, below, then continue on to one of the following subsections: ●...
- Page 41 FX20 USER GUIDE Enable or disable the Cloud Print Generation toggle button as desired. Note: With Cloud Print Generation enabled, the MFP file will be generated remotely, on the Eiger server, rather in your web browser. PRINT TO ONlINE, AVAIlABlE PRINTER Select a printer from the Select Printer...
- Page 42 FX20 USER GUIDE Verify the print details and address any material warnings listed in the pop-up window. Select Add to Queue to add the print to the end of the print job queue for that printer, or Next to add the print to the top of the print job queue for that printer.
- Page 43 FX20 USER GUIDE Select the .MFP file you wish to print from the list. Press Print Now to start the print. If the printer is busy you will only be able to queue the part by pressing Add to Queue.
- Page 44 SAFELY REMOVING PRINTED PARTS Once a part is finished, the build chamber will begin cooling down. Parts removed from the FX20, as well as internal surfaces in the build chamber, are very hot. use the thermal gloves included in the FX20 Accessory Kit when removing parts.
- Page 45 Ammonia-based cleaner ClEANING AFTER AN ONyX-BASED PART Use warm water and a blue sponge (included in the Accessory Kit) to clean the FX20 print sheet. Do not use soap. Completely dry the print sheet with a lint-free cloth or shop towel.
- Page 46 The procedures for unloading plastic (e.g. Onyx) and support filament (e.g. Support for ulTEM™ Filament) are the same on the FX20; the only difference is that support material can only be loaded in spool bay B1 for extrusion by nozzle B, while plastic filament must be loaded in spool bay A1 for extrusion by nozzle A.
- Page 47 UNLOADING FIBER Fiber filament for the FX20 is stored at the front of the upper chamber, under the lid. Note: Before unloading fiber, be sure to have a small piece of tape on hand to secure the filament, to keep it from unwinding.
- Page 48 The FX20 is capable of detecting when plastic has jammed in Nozzle A or Nozzle B. In order to clear a plastic nozzle jam, acknowledge the onscreen material jam prompt. The prompt will indicate which nozzle has jammed and instruct the user on how to proceed.
- Page 49 If the FX20 detects a fiber jam, the printer will pause the current print, cut the fiber filament and move to a pause position by lowering the print bed. The print is not recoverable, but the fiber nozzle might be. There are a few different scenarios that can present themselves in the event of a fiber jam each with different instructions on how to save the fiber nozzle covered below.
- Page 50 Resistance: If there is resistance when the fiber is manually fed through the nozzle, then the nozzle is jammed and must be replaced. See the Fiber Nozzle Replacement (FX20) article for more information. SCENARIO 2: NO VERTICAl FIBER TAIl; FIBER PROTRuDES FROM NOZZlE If there is no fiber filament vertically protruding from the part where it jammed then there is a good chance fiber is protruding from the nozzle.
- Page 51 If there is resistance when the fiber is manually fed through the nozzle, then the nozzle is jammed and must be replaced. See Fiber Nozzle Replacement for more information. In the event that the nozzle jam persists, contact Markforged Support for further guidance. VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 52 NOTE: All screws involved are captive and will remain in place on their respective modules. Print head Module A and Module B use the same plastic nozzle, available on the Markforged Shop. The modules are symmetric in design, making the nozzle replacement process identical. This article will only cover the steps with regards to changing a plastic nozzle from Module A.
- Page 53 FX20 USER GUIDE Using the 2.5mm hex driver, unscrew the two captive screws below the front face of the extruder of the nozzle module you are removing. Carefully move the extruder off its mounting points while the extruder cables are connected.
- Page 54 Press down on the nozzle inlet tube that protrudes from the top of the module. If the nozzle tube does not easily move out the bottom of the module, gently apply downward pressure on the nozzle inlet tube. If you experience significant resistance, contact Markforged Support for guidance. Discard the old nozzle.
- Page 55 FX20 USER GUIDE INSTAll REPlACEMENT NOZZlE Insert a new nozzle into the module until it’s flush. Using the provided torque wrench, first tighten the lower nozzle retention screws to 5 in-lbs, and then tighten the upper retention screw. The screws are recessed in the print head module.
- Page 56 FX20 USER GUIDE Reconnect the module cable connector on the side of the print head module REINSTAll PRINT HEAD EXTRuDER Reconnect the extruder wire harness to the central print head PCB. Install the extruder. Align the extruder to the locating feature on the shelf below it and slide the extruder outlet onto the metal tube.
- Page 57 FX20 USER GUIDE Tighten the two captive screws using a 2.5 mm hex driver to secure the extruder motor to the print head. Reconnect the upper plastic load tube to the print had push-to-connect fitting for Extruder A. Close the lid.
- Page 58 FX20 USER GUIDE REPLACING PRINT HEAD EXTRUDERS AND MODULES For information regarding removing and reinstalling print head extruders and modules, see the appropriate sections of Replacing Plastic and Support Nozzles above. VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 59 FX20 USER GUIDE REPLACING FIBER NOZZLE unlike the two plastic nozzles in Module A and Module B, the fiber nozzle can be removed directly from Module F from below, through the build chamber door, using the included fiber nozzle torque driver, without uninstalling any print head components.
- Page 60 FX20 USER GUIDE Disperse Anti-Seize across the threads: Using the torque wrench, screw the new nozzle partway into the print head, then unscrew it and screw it in again. Tighten the nozzle with the torque wrench until it clicks. Note: Fiber nozzle must be tightened with the fiber print head heated.
- Page 61 FX20 USER GUIDE WIPING STATION MAINTENANCE The FX20 does not generate a purge line like other Markforged printers; instead, it extrudes purged print material directly into a purge bin, located on the rear wall of the print chamber. The wiping station is equipped with brushes to clear excess filament from the nozzles between print layers.
- Page 62 FX20 USER GUIDE Open the back side of the wiping station by lifting the panel upwards and then rotate out. Empty the purge bin and dispose of the expelled filament. Pull the brush retention clip outward to free the brush.
- Page 63 FX20 USER GUIDE Slide the brush outward. Gloves or pliers can be used for ease of removal, as the brushes may be prickly. Note: Brushes may also be silver (not shown). Discard the brushes. Replace with clean brushes by sliding the brushes into the brush mount.
- Page 64 FX20 USER GUIDE Close the back panel of the wiping station bin. Carefully return the wiping station bin to the FX20 and seat the bin’s pins into the bin mounting slots. VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 65 FX20 USER GUIDE REPLACING BUILD CHAMBER BULBS The build chamber contains two bulbs, located left and right of the build chamber opening on the inside front wall. They will need replacement at some point during the course of normal operation; replacement bulbs are included in the Accessory Kit.
- Page 66 FX20 USER GUIDE CLEANING YOUR PRINTER Do not use any cleaning fluids on your FX20 unless specifically directed in this document. Be careful of hot surfaces and components when cleaning in the build chamber. Ammonia-based cleaners should not be used to clean your FX20 -- only print sheets.
- Page 67 FX20 USER GUIDE REPLACING MATERIAL TUBES Note: Before initiating replacement of material tubes, unload material following the instructions above. REPlACING lOWER PlASTIC lOAD TuBES Unload material from the material pathway you are working on, and leave the material drawer open.
- Page 68 FX20 USER GUIDE Disconnect the appropriate middle plastic load tube from the push-to-connect fitting on top of the routing block. The two tubes are labeled A and B. Open the printer lid. Disconnect the middle plastic load tube from the left side of the appropriate slack mechanism track.
- Page 69 FX20 USER GUIDE REPlACING uPPER lOAD TuBES Depress the push-to-connect fitting on the right side of the slack mechanism and pull the tube outward. Using a step stool to elevate and access the print head, depress the push-to-connect fitting and simultaneously pull the corresponding tube outward.
- Page 70 FX20 USER GUIDE Guide the replacement upper tube into the guide tube port above the print head. Feed the tube through until it exits the energy chain near the front of the machine. Connect the tube end into the print head push-to-connect fitting.
- Page 71 FX20 USER GUIDE REPlACING FIBER lOAD TuBE Unload fiber filament. Using an M2 hex driver, unscrew the inlet retention screw. Slide the fiber load tube out of the fiber extruder. Discard the used fiber load tube. Insert the outlet tube of the new load tube into the fiber extruder.
- Page 72 FX20 USER GUIDE Tighten the retention screw using a 2mm hex driver until the tube is secure. Reload the fiber filament. REPlACING FIBER BOWDEN TuBE Using an M2 hex driver, loosen the fiber outlet retention screw. VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 73 FX20 USER GUIDE Pull the metal ferrule and tube away from the fiber extruder. Unscrew the fiber tube from the print head. Feed the tube out of the print head port. Align the tube inlet metal ferrule into the guide tube. Once the tube is out of the guide tube, discard.
- Page 74 FX20 USER GUIDE Using a replacement fiber Bowden tube, feed the smaller metal end into the print head port. Screw the fiber fitting into the print head. Feed the smaller metal tube into the fiber extruder. VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 75 FX20 USER GUIDE Tighten the fiber outlet retention screw until it secures the fiber Bowden tube. VERSION 1.2 | July 11, 2024...
- Page 76 FX20 USER GUIDE ADJUSTING BELT TENSION The print head on your printer is moved using a system of motors, pulleys, and belts. For optimal operation, it is important that belt tension is maintained at the correct level. Excessive belt tension will contribute to premature wear and/or failure.
- Page 77 FX20 USER GUIDE Using a 4mm hex key, loosen all four screws on the motor tensioner. Place your device’s microphone close to, but not touching, the top run of the Y-axis belt. Pluck upwards on the top run of the belt above the encoder sensor as if the belt were a guitar string to get a frequency reading on your device.
- Page 78 FX20 USER GUIDE Once you’ve confirmed that the belt tension is within range, tighten down the four motor tensioner bolts you previously loosened in step 2 with the 4mm hex key. This will lock the motor assembly in place. Repeat the same process on the left side of the printer for the left Y-axis belt.
- Page 79 FX20 USER GUIDE NOZZLE OFFSET CALIBRATION UTILITY The Nozzle Offset Calibration utility is an automated process which calibrates the position of the plastic and fiber nozzles. Once the build chamber reaches the proper temperature for the utility, it will take around 70 minutes to complete.
- Page 80 FX20 USER GUIDE MANUAL CONTROL Select Menu > Manual Control to access a variety of manual controls for FX20 systems. Note that you must touch the toggle itself, not the card, to activate or deactivate a control. Chamber Settings ●...
- Page 81 FX20 USER GUIDE RESTART PROCEDURE Restarting the printer requires a full power down procedure. If the FX20 is actively printing during the printer restart, the part will not be recoverable. Prior to restarting the printer, ensure that the printer is not actively printing.
- Page 82 FX20 USER GUIDE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE This guide gives suggested cleaning and maintenance schedules for your Markforged FX20 printer. The maintenance intervals are averages, not minimums; always check your printer's components for wear and use your judgment about when to replace worn components.
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