I - Introduction

This PolyShaper CNC polystyrene cutting machine is versatile and easy to use. It is totally made in Italy, designed, produced and assembled in our laboratories. When used correctly, our CNC machine will ensure long-lasting use.

Warning

Read the instructions carefully before using the PolyShaper machine. Pay particular attention to the parts highlighted by “Attention!” and “Warning”.

Respect for the environment

Do not dispose of this machine with household waste! Residues of electrical products must be disposed of separately from household waste and subjected to ecological recycling. Please contact your local authorities about the nearest collection center.
Machine, accessories and packaging must be destined to ecological reuse for the recovery of raw materials.

Symbols

The label on the machine contains some symbols. These provide important information about the machine or instructions on how to use it.

Produced according to the current European Safety Standards

Do not dispose of in household waste

The machine is equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi antenna for wireless connection

II - Technical data

III - Safety general warning for CNC polystyrene cutting machine

ATTENTION

Read all the use and safety instructions. Failure to comply with the instructions below can cause electric shocks, fire, burns and / or serious damage to people and property. Keep these instructions carefully.

1) WORKING AREA

● Keep the working area clean and well lit. Dark and object filled areas enhance the possibility of accidents.

● Do not use the machine in the presence of flammable liquids, gases or dusts. Sparks and incandescent elements could ignite liquids, gases and/or dusts.

● Keep children and third parties away while the machine is operating.

2) ELECTRICAL SAFETY

● The plug of the machine must be suitable for the socket used. Do not modify the plug in any way. Do not use adapters with grounded tools. The use of a suitable plug and socket reduces the risk of electric shock.

● Avoid touching earthed surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ovens and refrigerators with your body. The risk of electric shock increases if the body is grounded.

● Do not expose the machine to rain or humidity. The penetration of water into the machine increases the risk of electric shock.

● Do not use the cable for any purpose other than its intended purpose. Do not use the cable to carry or pull the machine, or to disconnect the plug from the socket. Keep the cable away from sources of heat, oil, sharp moving parts. Damaged or twisted cords increase the risk of electric shock.

● If the machine is used outdoors, use an extension suitable for outdoor use. The use of an outdoor extension cable reduces the risk of electric shock.

● If it is strictly necessary to work in a humid environment, use a socket protected by residual current device. This reduces the risk of shock.

3) PERSONAL SAFETY

● The use of numerically controlled machines requires attention and caution. Do not use the machine if you are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medicines. A brief lack of attention can cause serious harm to people.

● Wear protective clothing and equipment. Always wear work eyewear, filter masks and protective gloves. The use of protective equipment including masks, non-slip shoes, helmets and hearing protectors reduces the risk of personal injury.

● Avoid accidental ignition. Make sure that the switch is in the “O” (OFF) position before inserting the plug. If you move the machine with your finger on the switch or the plug inserted in the socket with the switch in the “I” (ON) position, the risk of accidents is increased.

● Do not use the machine in unstable conditions. Always keep your balance and your feet flat on the ground.

● Wear appropriate clothing. Do not wear loose-fitting clothes or jewelry. Keep hair, clothing and gloves away from moving parts. Fluttering clothing, jewelry or hair could get caught in moving parts.

4) USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE MACHINE

● Use the most suitable machine for the job to be done. Using the right machine improves the quality of work and safety.

● Do not use the machine if it cannot be turned on or off with the appropriate switch. Machines that cannot be controlled with the switch are dangerous and must be repaired.

● Disconnect the plug from the power supply before making adjustments, replacing accessories or storing the machine. Compliance with these precautions reduces the risk of accidental starting of the machine.

● Store the unused machine out of the reach of children and do not allow it to be used by people who are unfamiliar with it or these instructions. In the hands of inexperienced people the machine can be dangerous.

● Have the machine serviced. Check the correct alignment of all moving parts, check that they are not blocked in an anomalous way and that there are no breakages or other faults that could affect the operation of the machine. Repair damaged parts before using the machine again. Many accidents are caused by tools in poor condition.

● Keep the cutting hot wires clean. If subjected to regular maintenance and cleaning, they allow you to work more precisely and are more controllable.

● Use the machine, accessories, tools etc. as indicated in these instructions as well as taking into account the working conditions and the work to be performed. The use of tools for purposes other than those for which they were designed enhance the risk to dangerous situations.

● Have the machine repaired by qualified personnel using only original spare parts. Otherwise, the safety of the tool could be compromised.

Additional safety regulations for hot wire cutting devices

After about 2-4 seconds from switching on from the software, the cutting wire reaches a temperature of about 200 Celsius degrees. When switched off, the wire takes about 4 seconds to cool down completely.

In this time space “ACTIVE CUTTING PHASE”, which goes from waiting to complete cooling, absolutely do not touch the wire. Danger of burns!

Also pay attention to the contact with the springs that keep the cutting line under tension. These remain hot, albeit without reaching very high temperatures, for about 15-20 seconds after the end of the “ACTIVE CUTTING PHASE”.

● Do not use the machine for purposes other than those indicated in these instructions. Use for any other purpose will be considered improper use. In this case it will be the user, and not the manufacturing company, held responsible for any damage or injury.

● The manufacturer is not responsible for any changes made to the machine by the user or for damage caused by such changes.

● When working in a dusty environment keep the slide rails clean.

ATTENTION

Do not place weights on the precision sliding guides to avoid deformation or breakage.

IV – Components of the machine

Before using the machine it is necessary to know its particularities and safety warnings.
Use the machine only for the purposes indicated in these instructions.
Use for any other purpose is strictly prohibited.
The numbering of the components listed below refers to the illustration of the machine on figure 1.

• 1. Power switch
• 2. USB Port Type B
• 3. Power socket
• 4. Electronics box
• 5. AC/DC power supply
• 6. USB cable
• 7. Slide on X axis
• 8. Slide on Y axes
• 9. Mobile vertical structure
• 10. Polystyrene panels support plane
• 11. Hot wire
• 12. Hot wire tension spring
• 13. Power supply to hot wire

V - Assembly

The machine is sent partially pre-assembled.

Follow the instructions in the video tutorial “Guida al montaggio” (Assembly guide) supplied with the machine, for the final assembly operations.

The video is also available at the following link: https://youtu.be/82KpdnQgkeY

VI - Software

Software download

For the correct use of the machine, download the necessary software from the Resources section of the polyshaper.eu website at the following link: https://www.polyshaper.eu/risorse
Follow the instructions on the web page, installing first Inkscape and then ShaCo.

Software installation

Step-by-step video guides explaining how to install the software needed to use our machines are available at the following links:

• Software installation guide on Windows - https://youtu.be/Kd4kMj4btRo
• Software installation guide on MacOs - https://youtu.be/aSmzw6CBiHQ

How to make the first cut

The video tutorial “START - Come effettuare il primo taglio” (START - How to make the first cut) is available at the following link: https://youtu.be/fT_aIyn2R_4

Further information

Further operational information and many creative ideas are available on the official PolyShaper channel on YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/polyshaper

VII - Functioning description

Read all danger warnings and use instructions. Failure to observe the danger warnings and use instructions can cause burns, fires and/or serious accidents.

Warning:

Using the machine with tools not explicitly indicated can create the risk of accidents! Only the user is responsible for damage caused by improper use.

Before use

Unpack the machine and assemble it according to the delivery status (assembled, partially assembled, disassembled), connect to 100/230 V outlet.

Warning:

Before any work on the machine and in the event of a power failure, turn off the machine and remove the power plug.

Attention

For correct use of the machine, carefully read the specifications and indications contained in these instructions and in the documents supplied with the machine.

How to place the panels

Place the panels to be cut on the horizontal profile of the support plane, considering that the cutting process can be observed as per the path/drawing looking at the machine from the long front side (i.e. having visible the electronics box on the left as shown in the figure).

To lock the panels in place, use the fasteners supplied with the machine.
For correct use of the fasteners, follow the instructions in the link: https://youtu.be/0F0fz6DXPm0

VIII - Maintenance

Warning:

Make sure the machine is switched off and the plug is unplugged before carrying out any maintenance checks.

Do not use alcohol, gasoline or other solvents. The use of aggressive detergents is not recommended.

Avoid contact of the machine with water.

General periodic checks

Regularly check that all machine components are in order, especially that the slide rails are perfectly working and that the springs are in the correct operating tension and are not twisted.

NOTE: with the machine off, the correct mechanical tension of the cutting wire occurs when the length of the springs, connected at the ends and measured from the first to the last coil, is about 15mm. During the active cutting phase and, consequently, with the wire hot, the elongation of the springs will be less, but sufficient to generate such a force to keep the wire in the right cutting tension. The springs, due to the thermal changes suffered, could deform and lose elasticity; if during the active cutting phase (hot wire) the springs are not tight enough and so the wire is bland, replace them. To change the springs and the cutting wire, see the related video on the official PolyShaper channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/fZ1BgmPLoms

Cleaning

To ensure correct and safe work, always keep the machine clean. Regularly check that dust or other foreign bodies have not entered and lodged in the machine guides, buttons, plugs and sockets. Use a soft brush or compressed air to remove dust deposits. Use protective eyewear while cleaning. To clean the machine, use a slightly damp cloth. Mild detergents can be used.

IX - Electronics with WLAN

Specifications:

• 802.11 b/g/n
• 802.11n up to 150 Mbps
• Frequency range: 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz
• Transmission power: +12 dBm

Security:

• Supported standard security functions according to IEEE 802.11, including WFA, WPA/WPA2, and WAPI
• Secure boot
• Flash encryption
• 1024-bit OTP, up to 768 bits for customers
• Hardware-accelerated encryption:

  - AES-HASH(SHA-2)-Library-RSA-ECC-Random Number Generator (RNG)

X - Warranty

Warranty terms

All our products are covered by warranty. Since the headquarters of our company is located in L’Aquila, Italy, a member state of the European Union, European and Italian laws apply. Our technical support is always available to help under any circumstances, even if the problem is not covered by the warranty. You can contact us at info@polyshaper.eu, or via the online chat (accessible from both the website and the shop via the appropriate button).

Duration of the warranty

Warranty periods for EU countries and for the rest of the world:
● 2 year warranty for customers from the EU, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland;
● 1 year warranty for EU companies;
● 1 year warranty for the rest of the world (any country not mentioned above).

Warranty null and void

The warranty becomes null and void in case of:
● any damage caused by improper maintenance or use of the machine;
● any damage caused by lack of maintenance;
● use of the machine in improper conditions (temperature, dustiness, etc.);
● updates or add-ons not officially supported or released by GIPAT srl;
● unauthorized modifications to the machine and its components;
● use of non-original spare parts;
Please note that the warranty does not cover the natural and expected wear caused by using the machine for its intended purpose.
Any warranty case must be submitted to our official support channels (chat or e-mail). In the event that the product was purchased from a dealer, the technical assistance will come through the same official channels.

Necessary documents and methods of application

In order to take advantage of the warranty, it is necessary to provide the following documentation (at the e-mail address info@polyshaper.eu):
● proof of purchase of the product, invoice or receipt, and the product serial number (present on the product label of the machine)
● a brief description of the problem together with clear evidence of its presence (for example, photos and/or videos)
The machine must be properly returned to the dealer, in its original packaging.
Please be aware that the shipping costs for returning the product to the company are charged to the customer.

Further information

The terms of the “Limited Wear Parts Warranty” and further information are available in the Garanzia (Warranty) section of the polyshaper.eu/shop website at the following link: https://www.polyshaper.eu/garanzia
The manufacturing company reserves its right to make technical changes without notice.
Technical specifications may vary from country to country.

XI - Declaration of Conformity

CE Compliance Document