Clearing an Exhaust Clog - Sinter-1
If you experience the ADC_ERR_HIGH error for the pressure process center, this indicates that there is a clog in the exhaust system. Please take note of and clear any errors before proceeding.
CAUTION: incompletely sintered parts can be in the powder state, which can present a respiratory hazard. If a sinter run fails during the debinding stage, the touchscreen will display a red warning indicating that the parts are in a powder state. At this point, do not open the door. As a safety feature, in this state, the furnace is only capable of performing a recovery run, and other functions/utilities are limited. If present, please acknowledge this warning so that the following troubleshooting steps can be completed. Once the parts have been completely sintered and cooled, the furnace will be safe to open. Be sure to wear nitrile gloves when handling the exhaust filters.
Clean and Disassemble the Sinter-1 Exhaust
To begin clearing the clog, turn off the flow of mixed inert gas, then turn off the power to the furnace by flipping the breaker on the rear panel. Remove the right side panel to access the exhaust’s assembly. Next, remove the exhaust filter canister by unscrewing the t-handle and safely dispose of the old clogged filter. Once the old filter has been removed, remove the exhaust flex line by using our 11/16″ wrench to disconnect the swage lock fitting at either end. Once removed, check the flex line for wax buildup inside the tube.
Next, check the white Teflon gasket for deformation and debris. If the gasket is deformed, replace it and clean if necessary, as even a small amount of debris on the gasket can cause a leak. Next, check the inlet of the exhaust filter mounting block, as this is the most common location of wax buildup that causes clogs. If necessary, use the supplied pipe cleaner to clear the channel buildup. You can determine whether this channel is unclogged by shining a light through the top of the filter fitting.
Once we have checked and cleaned the components of the exhaust filter system, we can now check and clean the moisture sensor block and exhaust solenoid components. To clean the moisture sensor block and exhaust solenoid components, remove the rear panel and disassemble the exhaust solenoid. Start by prying off the red cap, then press in on the green valve coil body to allow the tool-free removal of the nameplate. Slide the coil body and washer off the solenoid and set them aside for reassembly. Next, use a 1″ deep socket to remove the solenoid. Take note of the orientation of components inside the solenoid for proper reassembly later. Unplug the moisture sensor cable, then use the 30 millimeter wrench to remove the moisture sensor. It is important to get a feel for the tightness of the moisture sensor itself, so you will know how much torque to apply when reassembling later. Once the moisture sensor has been removed, check the threads for any excess thread tape left behind.
Disconnect the remaining pipes connected to the moisture sensor block and exhaust solenoid using our 11/16 wrench. Start with the u-shaped pipe that connects the moisture sensor to the exhaust solenoid, then loosen but do not remove the four mounting screws on the exhaust filter housing. This will enable you the freedom of movement to remove the wide u-shaped pipe that connects from the exhaust filter to the moisture sensor. Once the mounting screws have been loosened, use the 11/16″ wrench to remove both ends of this wide u-shaped pipe, first at the exhaust filter and then at the bottom of the moisture sensor block. Remove the Y weldment below the exhaust solenoid. Make sure to disconnect the Y weldment from the exhaust port on the back of the sinter as well.
Once all components and pipes have been removed, take pictures of the exhaust solenoid and moisture sensor, which will help document any problems that may arise. Next, use the pipe cleaner to clean the exhaust solenoid and moisture sensor blocks. Shine a light through the top and bottom of both components to verify that there is no more debris or clogs in these components. Use the pipe cleaners to clean and clear all pipes that were removed. If necessary, you can drop these pipes in the wash for no more than two minutes which may be necessary for components with sharp 90 degree angles. Again, use a flashlight to verify that the components are clean and clear of debris.
Reassemble the Sinter-1 Exhaust
Once all components are cleaned and dry, begin reassembly in the reverse order starting with the Y weldment. Finger-tighten all connections before fully tightening any of the connections using our proper swage-lock tightening procedures. It is especially important while reinstalling the wide u-shaped pipe below the moisture sensor block and exhaust filter to finger-tighten before using any tool to prevent the possibility of cross-threading this connection. Once the pipes are reinstalled, reassemble the moisture sensor and exhaust solenoid. Verify that all old pipe tape has been removed from the threads, then apply about two and a half to three full wraps of new pipe tape, making sure not to get any tape on the first threads of the connector. Reinstall the moisture sensor and use a 30 millimeter wrench to tighten to the torque that had been applied previously. Reconnect the moisture sensor cable and reassemble the exhaust solenoid, again pay close attention to the orientation of internal components when reassembling. Reassemble the coil body, first slide the washer on, then the green coil body. Reassemble and mount the face plate of the solenoid. Finish this assembly by reapplying the Red Cap, and reconnecting the back panel of the Sinter-1. Replace the exhaust filter and properly reconnect and tighten the exhaust flex line to the end cap and filter housing.
Once all components have been reassembled, we will restore the flow of gas to our Sinter-1. Power the Sinter-1 back up and perform a static pressure check. If there is still a leak detected or a clog with the static pressure check, please contact support immediately.
Technical Support
If you have any questions or experience unexpected behavior, feel free to reach out to MLC CAD Systems technical support