Renkforce RF500 Maker Construction Kit - 21 Maintenance; A) General Information; B) Cleaning

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21. Maintenance
a) General Information
Periodically verify the technical safety of the 3D printer, e.g. check for damage to the mains unit or of its mains line.
If you have reason to believe that the device can no longer be operated safely, disconnect it immediately and make sure it is not operated
unintentionally. Pull the mains plug from the mains socket!
It can be assumed that safe operation is no longer possible if:
• thedeviceisvisiblydamaged
• thedeviceisnolongerworking
• thedevicewasstoredunderunfavourableconditionsoveranextendedperiodoftimeor
• thedevicehasbeensubjectedtoheavystressduringtransport
Ifyouperformworkabovetheprintingplate(e.g.attheextruder),covertheglasssupportwithasuitableprotection(e.g.
cardboard)orremoveitrst.Fallingobjectsmayeasilydestroytheglassplate(lossofwarranty/guarantee).
b) Cleaning
Device
The outside of the 3D printer should only be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth or brush.
Never use any aggressive cleaning agents or chemical solutions on plastic parts, stickers or the display since these parts would be
damaged otherwise.
Nozzlecleaning
 Caution:Dangerofburns.Donottouchthehotnozzledirectly.
Outside cleaning of the nozzle:
Carefully wipe off the extruder nozzle after each print using tissue paper or similar.
Thenozzlestillhastobehotforthis.Ifthisisnotthecase,heatuptheextrudernozzlerst.
Inner cleaning of the nozzle:
Method 1:
Heatuptheextruderandactuatethemanualfeedforwardandbackwardseveraltimesuntilenoughlamentisextruded.
Method 2:
Iftheextrudercontinuesnottoextrudeenoughmaterialafterthisprocedure,lettheextrudercoolofftothelowermelttemperatureofthela-
mentasindicatedbythemanufacturer(lamentmaterialmustonlybeviscousanymore)andcarefullyconrmmanualinfeedbackwardsuntil
thelamenthasbeentransportedoutoftheextruder,includingcontamination.Cutoffthecontaminatedpartofthelamentandreinsertitafter
heating up the extruder again.
Method 3:
Iftheproceduredescribedabovehasnotledtosuccess,heatuptheextrudertotheprintingtemperature(PLA=230°C).Havetheprinter
extrudesomelamentwhenthetemperatureisreached.
Thenlettheextrudercooloff.ForPLAtoapprox.90-110°C.Thepropertemperaturedependsgreatlyonthelamentused.Youmayneedto
repeat this process several times with different temperatures.
Whenthetemperatureisreached,switchofftheprinterandpullthelamentquicklyoutbyhandandinonego.Attheend,theremustbea
small cone that corresponds to the inner shape of the nozzle.
Thismethodcanalsobeusedtoremovealllamentfromtheextruder.Itisrecommendedtoalsowipethenozzleafewtimes,e.g.
with a paper towel, while cooling off.