SCHEU Ministar Automatic Thermoforming Machine User Manual

June 3, 2024
SCHEU

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SCHEU Ministar Automatic Thermoforming Machine

SCHEU Ministar Automatic Thermoforming Machine

Safety Instructions

Carefully read the instruction manual and these important notes before commissioning and connecting the device, ensuring all requirements are met.

General notes

  • Inspect the machine for damage before commissioning. If any damage is found, it shall not be operated.
  • Always supervise the machine when it is switched on.
  • Only use blanks of a diameter of 125 mm!
  • Keep the device out of the reach of children!
  • In order to protect the device against electric shock, any contact with liquids has to be avoided.
  • Infrared heater and heater arm reach high temperatures during operation.
  • Avoid flammable material coming close to the infrared heater.
  • Only touch the handles to avoid any risk of burns.
  • Transport of the machine shall effected solely if the machine is cooled down.
  • Make sure the heater stays free accessible during transport to avoid any damaging.
  • Safe operation of the device can only be ensured if original SCHEU-DENTAL spare parts are used. Servicing shall always be performed by qualified SCHEU-DENTAL service technicians or at the SCHEU-DENTAL premises. Any conversion or modification to the device might impair product safety and lead to loss of warranty claims.
  • Never open the device without authorisation. Caution: Risk of injury!
  • Never carry out repairs on your own!
  • The device is designed for power supplies with an alternating voltage of 100 V, 115 V or 230 V. (Please observe the serial number label on the rear of the device).

Installation of power supply on site
The installation of the power supply for connection of our devices shall take place in accordance with international provisions and the regulations derived thereof.
Our devices are constructed according to VDE protection class I and shall be connected to a socket with protective conductor contact.

Environment
The machine is fabricated from reusable or recyclable material. In accordance with the directive 2012/19 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment legislation (WEEE), SCHEU-DENTAL accepts to take back the device under the condition of free return delivery. Alternatively, the machine can be sent to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

General commissioning

Please make sure to understand and follow the below instructions to make optimal use of the MINISTAR S® machine. When placing the MINISTAR S® in its working environment, make sure there is sufficient space for the infrared heater 1, the pressure chamber 2 and the locking shaft 3.The MINISTAR S® shall be placed in a clean environment which is free from dust and plaster. Do not place the machine near to to a steam cleaner or sandblasting unit.

The enclosed stainless steel pellets should be filled into the model cup 4 and the remaining quantity into the pellet receiver 5; when using the model platform 6 make sure its surface in the model cup is free from pellets. The contact faces on and under the model cup have to be free from pellets as well.

When embedding the model, only use the stainless steel pellets provided with the machine. Other material (e.g. rice or sand) might lead to serious damage of the pneumatic part and the air outlet. If lighter weight materials are used these may ingest into the air stream during pressurising and evacuation. Connect the MINISTAR S® machine by plugging in only the original power and air connections; make sure the compressed air supply used is free from oil residues and humidity and has a minimum feed pressure of 4.0 bar.

System settings

Customise the settings of language, pressure, temperature and screen contrast according to your individual needs.

Switching on the device
As soon as the firmware version appears on the screen, press at least 5 times – possibly even more times – the „CE“ button, until you see „language selection“ on the display. If „material selection“ is indicated on the screen, make sure to switch off the unit and to repeat the process.

Language selection
Select figure – confirm pressing button „code/scan“ 17

Pressure selection
Select figure – confirm pressing button „code/scan“ 17

Temperature selection
Select figure – confirm pressing button „code/scan“ 17

Contrast selection
Select figure – confirm pressing button „code/scan“ 17

Front panel

The front panel has the following operating elements:

13 On/off switch
14 Display indicating heating/cooling times and pressure
20 Dual LED: green = availability , red = heating
22 Push button “air” for depressurization /control of working pressure
21 Blue LED indicating cooling time (continuous light) and depressurization (flashing light)
17 Push button “code scan” for scan activation

SCHEU Ministar Automatic Thermoforming Machine 2

Main connection

Connect the MINISTAR S® machine to the corresponding network by plugging in the original power cable on the back of the machine 7, (please also refer to connection to the local network in the safety instructions). Two fuses are built in to protect the machine from high voltage (230 V version). To exchange the fuses press the little clip below the connector and remove the fuse compartment 8. For the 100 V/115 V versions, these fuses are built in two separate fuse covers R, which can be unscrewed (see fig 2 and 3). Please use the T4A fuse (3100.940) for 230 V device, the T10A fuse (3101.941) for 115 V devices and the TT10A fuse (3100.941) for 100 V devices.

Compressed air connection
A 20 bar air hose 9 with filter element and hose clip (DN 7.2/6 mm tube inner diameter) is permanently connected with the device and should not be replaced. Use the 20 bar tube and optionally a quick connect coupling (DN 7.2/6 mm tube inner diameter). The working pressure is adjusted to 4 bar/58 psi, continuously indicated on the display and should not be changed as it is calibrated to achieve the best pressure moulding results. However, if you wish to lower the working pressure, it can be adjusted using the pressure regulator J on the back of the machine. The pressure regulator is unlocked by pulling and turning ( ). The pressure regulator is locked again by pushing it in. If the pressure exceeds 4.5 bar/65 psi contrary to our specifications the security valve will be set into action (depressurisation noise).

Basic position
Infrared heater 1 is swivelled back to the stop, pressure chamber 2 is opened to the left, locking ring handle 3 is swivelled back to the stop (12 o‘clock position). Please refer to fig.1

SCHEU Ministar Automatic Thermoforming Machine 1

Switching on the unit
The unit is put into operation with the on/off switch 13, runs through a test and setting mode for approx. 10 sec. and then shows the standard dia-logue, which is the starting point for any pressure moulding operation. Programming is done using the touch panel 15 or sanner 16 and shown in the display 14.

Positioning blanks
All round blanks and foils with diameter of 125 mm and thickness of 0.1 to 5.0 mm can be pressed in the MINISTAR S® machine. Open the pressure chamber 2 by swivelling it to the left side, take off the locking ring K by turning it in the 5 o‘clock position. Place the blank on the O-ring of the adjustment ring L visible in the pressure chamber and lock the device by putting on the sealing ring and turning the handle to the 6 o’clock position (see fig. 5).

SCHEU Ministar Automatic Thermoforming Machine 3

Preparing the model
When using hard or hard-elastic material, models are placed into the model cup 4, filled up to its upper rim with stainless steel pellets. When us-ing soft elastic material, models can be placed on the working platform 6.In both cases, the model should be placed with the incisors facing to the right towards the locking shaft 3 or to the left towards the pressure chamber 2 to ensure uniform material thickness between the quadrants. The model platform can be removed using the pellet brush with integrated magnet (see fig. 4). The removable pellet container 5 contains the stainless steel pellets for model embedding. By removing the pellet container, the circumferential groove for the stainless steel pellets is simultaneously closed by means of a movable slider (see fig. 6).

Scanning/programming by setting code or time
The machine is activated by pressing the illuminated on/off switch 13. When switching on the machine, make sure it is in basic position (see fig. 1). Our pressure moulding material has a 3-digit-code where all required information on temperature, heating time and cooling time is programmed. This code is printed in plain text and as bar code on our pressure moulding blanks or foils, except for material with thicknesses below 0.1 and 0.15 mm. After selecting your material, press the button „code/scan“ 17.
The scanner 16 is now activated. Present only now the bar code of the chosen material under the scanner until you hear a beep. Alternatively, the code can be programmed manually.
Enter the digits and confirm by pressing the button „code/scan“ 17 again. You also have the option to enter the heating times manually. Doing so, press the key with the clock symbol 19, enter the required heating time and confirm by pressing the button 19 again.

Heating
After programming, directly swivel the infrared heater 1 over the fixed material. The temperature is regulated automatically by a thermo element. The colour of the heater might vary from bright to dark.

Thermoforming
Acoustic signals indicate the end of the heating process (+5 sec. to 0 sec. = beeps/0 sec. to -5 sec. = continuous tone). At 0 sec. the infrared heater should be swivelled back, at -5 sec. the heater switches off for safety reasons. Swivel pressure chamber 2 by 180° to the right (make sure the seal- ing surface is clean) and turn the locking shaft C 180° to the front. This ventilates the pressure chamber and automatically starts the cooling time, signalled by blue LED.

Depressurizing
Optical signals (blue flashing LED) and acoustic signals (4 beeping sounds) indicate the end of the cooling time. Press the flashing button „air“ depressurise the pressure chamber. After approx. 3 seconds 4 beeping sounds indicate the end of depressurising. Now turn the locking shaft 3 180° backwards, push the locking ring K to the left and open the pressure chamber 2 (see fig. 8). Remove the model. The machine can now be used for the next pressure moulding operation.

Special programs using the heating support
If you want to fabricate positioners, mouth guards or splints, you can manually programme time intervals of 60/120/180/240 seconds with the pres-sure chamber closed and the locking shaft open. These intervals are chosen to heat up or to seal the occlusal surfaces using the heating support. (REF 3452) (see fig. 7). Once the heating times have been entered, the infrared heater with attached heating support is swivelled into the heating position. This process can be carried out several times depending on the thickness of the material.

Service/Maintenance
The MINISTAR S® machine is basically maintenance free. Please only check the air hose incl. filter element regularly for deposits or moisture. The filter can be replaced if necessary. The model cup  with air holes and model platform 6 can be cleaned with air nozzle or steam jet. The reflecting parts of the pressure chamber should be cleaned regularly to obtain the best heating results. For cleaning remove the aluminium adjusting ring L from the pressure chamber 2. The sealing surfaces, the sealing ring and the 4 rivets and springs should be cleaned and lightly greased. Place the adjusting ring back on the rivets and springs ensuring that the sealing ring faces the top and that the whole unit is movable. Please also refer to the enclosed „Guideline to solve technical problems“.

SCHEU-DENTAL GmbH
www.scheu-dental.com

References

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