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Top glass platen has been thouroughly cleaned. It seems that Acetone is great for dissolving stuck on bits, but Isopropyl Alcohol provides the best streak free clean.
Top glass platen has been thouroughly cleaned. It seems that Acetone is great for dissolving stuck on bits, but Isopropyl Alcohol provides the best streak free clean.
The top glass is pressed into a membrane that is stretched in a square frame like a drum head. This plastic layer is about 5mil thick and is believed to be [http://www.polymerplastics.com/fluoro_fep.shtml FEP]. A sheet was purchased from [http://www.mcmaster.com/#85905k66/=125ju8a McMaster] to replace the torn one that came in the machine. An [https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6G4Ywi3OresbVhwQTgzU1dpYWc Illustrator template] was created to match the original sheet and was used to precisely cut the correct shape to fit the frame and the results were good. Do not put the FEP sheet on the laser bed directly, put it on top of some paper, to prevent scratches. Handle with care as the sheet scratches easily and becomes cloudy; creases in the sheet are difficult to remove, and affect the flatness of the glass/FEP interface. Heat can be used to help relieve some of the stresses in the sheet, as FEP has excellent memory and tightens to its original stretched shape when in the frame. Acetone is a fine cleaner but the sheet becomes cloudy, use Isopropyl alcohol and lint free wipes to clean the membrane. I assume a flat, clean, clear interface between the glass and FEP is most desirable, but was not able to achieve a flawless result on the first replacement.
The top glass is pressed into a membrane that is stretched in a square frame like a drum head. This plastic layer is about 5mil thick and is believed to be [http://www.polymerplastics.com/fluoro_fep.shtml FEP]. A sheet was purchased from [http://www.mcmaster.com/#85905k66/=125ju8a McMaster] to replace the torn one that came in the machine. An [https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6G4Ywi3OresbVhwQTgzU1dpYWc Illustrator template] was created to match the original sheet and was used to precisely cut the correct shape to fit the frame and the results were good.
Some Tips:
*Do not put the FEP sheet on the laser bed directly, put it on top of some paper, to prevent scratches. Handle with care as the sheet scratches easily and becomes cloudy; creases in the sheet are difficult to remove, and affect the flatness of the glass/FEP interface.
*Heat can be used to help relieve some of the stresses in the sheet, as FEP has excellent memory and tightens to its original stretched shape when in the frame.
*Acetone is a fine cleaner but the sheet becomes cloudy, use Isopropyl alcohol and lint free wipes to clean the membrane.
*I assume a flat, clean, clear interface between the glass and FEP is most desirable, but was not able to achieve a flawless result on the first replacement.
==Toolchain==
==Toolchain==
