Frequently Asked Questions for 3M ESPE Pentamix Systems. 1Q. What causes a non-homogeneous mixing of the material?

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1 Technical Update Frequently Asked Questions for 3M ESPE Pentamix Systems 1Q. What causes a non-homogeneous mixing of the material? 1A. There are two potential causes. The 3M ESPE Penta Mix Tip may not be securely fastened onto the drive shaft. If the mixing shaft is not properly engaged, then the rotor inside the mix tip is not turning. A non-homogeneous mix will result. To solve this problem, push the Penta mix tip over the drive shaft and then into the corresponding holes in the cartridges. It may be necessary to rotate the mixing tip slightly on the drive shaft for correct seating. A mix tip can only be used as long as the rotor in the mixing tip turns easily. Make sure that the drive shaft channel is not clogged with dirt. See photo below. Drive shaft 2A. The gear drive is worn due to normal wear. Or, on a rare occasion, the motor of the drive shaft is not functioning properly. To solve this problem, contact the 3M ESPE Service Department at (800) and press the number four (4) for immediate response.

2 2Q. Can the original 3M ESPE Penta Mix Tip with the black ESPE logo be used with the 3M ESPE PentaMatic AutoOpen Foil Bags? A. No. The mixing tip with the black ESPE logo must not be used with the PentaMatic foil bags. This mixing tip was discontinued in January If you use the Penta mix tips labeled with the black ESPE logo, a non-homogeneous mix and leaking may occur. The proper mixing ratio can also be compromised. To solve this problem, use the 3M ESPE Penta Mix Tips with the black CE mark currently available. (See photo below) 3Q. May the mix tip be attached to the cartridge before it is placed inside the 3M ESPE Pentamix Machine? A. For opened foil bags, it is recommended to keep the used Penta mixing tip on the cartridge for storage. Attach the new Penta mix tip to the cartridge after placing the cartridge inside the Pentamix machine. (See left photo below.) The drive shaft may not be properly engaged and the rotor inside the mix tip may not turn if the new mixing tip is attached before placing the cartridge into the Pentamix machine. A non-homogeneous mix may result. To solve this, insert the loaded cartridge into the Pentamix machine, and then attach the new mix tip.

3 4Q. I am experiencing cartridges that are cracked. Why? 1A. There are three potential causes for cracked cartridges. If you own the original 3M ESPE Pentamix System, you may have a cartridge with a V notch. This style of cartridge was available when the Pentamix system was first introduced into the market and has therefore exceeded its usable life. This cartridge has been replaced with a semi-circular notch. To solve this problem, replace with a new style cartridge that has a semicircular notch as shown in photo below. Semi-circular notch 2A. 3M ESPE Penta Cartridges are an accessory item and are made of plastic. This item is subject to damage when exposed to catalyst from the original Penta foil bags when not opened properly. A cracked cartridge may occur as shown in the photo on the right below. The left photo shows a cartridge that has become discolored and weakened due to catalyst exposure. The result may be a cracked cartridge, which cannot open the 3M ESPE PentaMatic AutoOpen Foil Bags properly. To solve this problem, conduct periodic inspections of the cartridge and replace when contaminated. In many cases, damage cannot be seen at first sight. To determine if a cartridge is cracked, the cartridge body may have to be inspected by applying pressure using two fingers inside the cartridge to reveal the crack. 3A. The condition of the cartridge is dependent upon the frequency of use. A cartridge may crack when the shelf life has been exceeded. To solve this problem, replace a cartridge approximately every 1-2 years depending upon usage.

4 5Q. What causes the 3M ESPE PentaMatic AutoOpen Foil Bag catalyst cap to crack? 1A. There are two potential causes. The PentaMatic cap may crack due to the expansion of the foil bag in a damaged cartridge. To solve this problem, replace the cartridge every 1-2 years depending upon usage. 2A. The outlet may be blocked due to hardened catalyst because of storage without used 3M ESPE Penta Mixing Tips. Cracks in the PentaMatic cap may occur. To solve this problem, after mixing, the mix tip remains on the cartridge as a seal.

5 6Q. What causes the 3M ESPE PentaMatic AutoOpen Foil Bag base cap to crack? A. Storing of the Pentamatic foil bags at low temperatures (<18 C/64 F) and not allowing them to warm up may cause cracks on the base cap. The high viscosity of the cold impression material leads to excessive pressure that may break the cap as shown above. To solve this problem, store the PentaMatic foil bag at room temperature (at least 18 C/64 F) for 8-10 hours.

6 7Q. What causes the 3M ESPE PentaMatic AutoOpen Foil Bags to burst? 1A. There are three potential causes. As shown in the left photo above, a damaged cartridge has been used in combination with a PentaMatic AutoOpen foil bag. The foil bag may be cut due to the damaged cartridge. The photo on the right shows an unopened foil bag with a typical fold that has been caused by a damaged cartridge. This bag is considered damaged and cannot be used even though the foil bag is not cut. To solve this problem, replace the cracked cartridge. 2A. An incorrectly mounted plunger disc or a worn plunger disc may damage the foil bag. The foil of the bag may slip under the plunger disc and cause the foil bag to burst. To solve this problem, when exchanging the plunger discs, mount them with their smooth side towards the foil bag as shown in left photo below. 3A. In rare cases the seam on the foil bag loosens and material leaks. To solve this problem, contact the Technical Hotline (800)

7 8Q. Can the 3M ESPE Penta Foil Bags and 3M ESPE PentaMatic AutoOpen Foil Bags be refrigerated? A. Yes. However, the foil bags must be at room temperature (at least 18 C/64 F) for 8-10 hours. Due to the increase in material viscosity the foil bag may burst if used immediately after refrigeration. 9Q. What would cause the PentaMatic foils bags not to dispense? A. The transmitted force is too low to open the PentaMatic foil bag in the original 3M ESPE Pentamix (1) machine. Therefore, it could take seconds to open a PentaMatic foil bag. If the clutch is severely worn, the foil bag may not open at all. Clutch has a typical shelf life of 4-5 years. To solve this problem, usage of a PentaMatic foil bag with the Pentamix machine is preferable. The Pentamix 2 machine is more beneficial because it dispenses impression material almost two times faster than the original Pentamix (1) machine. 10Q. Why does the Pentamix 2 machine work, but there is no mixing? A. If the plunger discs are not in contact with the foil bag, no pressure is built up and impression material will not be dispensed in the mixing tip. To solve this problem, turn the plunger adjustment knob in a download position, toward you, to move the plunger discs in contact with the foil bag. Hold the plunger adjustment knob with a slight pressure and press the start button of the Pentamix machine simultaneously. This will reduce the time to open the PentaMatic bags by almost 50%. 11Q. What would cause the catalyst in the PentaMatic foil bag not to puncture? A. The glue which is applied into the catalyst caps to secure the foil bag may block the outlet or cover the two puncturing needles. 12Q. What causes the plunger discs to loosen or crack? A. The plunger discs are functioning parts and may wear with time. They are used to apply the force on the foil bags gliding inside the Penta cartridge. The high forces applied may cause fatigue of the plastic material after time. How fast these parts wear depends upon the frequency of use. To solve this problem, we recommend checking the plunger discs periodically.

8 13Q. The original plunger discs did not have a metal backing. Why do the current plunger discs have a metal backing? A. When 3M ESPE Dimension Impression Material was introduced, the required pressure for dispensing increased. Therefore, the plunger discs had to be strengthened. The 3M ESPE Pentamix 2 machine requires the use of the plunger discs with the metal backing. 14Q. Why does the base foil bag slip under the plunger disc? A. This can be caused by a worn cartridge or plunger disc. The dimensions of both parts are out of tolerance so that the space between the plunger disc and cartridge is too wide and the foil bag could slip under the disc. To solve this problem, periodically check the condition of the cartridge and plunger discs and replace parts as needed. 15Q. The catalyst foil bag does not fit into the 3M ESPE Penta Cartridge. Why? A. If the catalyst bag has been used in a cracked cartridge its diameter may widen. When the catalyst bag is inserted into a new cartridge it may not fit due to its expanded diameter. To solve this problem, dispose of the catalyst foil bag and replace with a catalyst foil bag of material 16Q. What would cause a Penta mix tip to leak? A. Some of the nozzles of the 3M ESPE PentaMatic Caps are thinner and some of the openings of the mix tips are larger than the rest which may result in material leaking. This small amount of leaking material will not affect the homogeneous mix of the material. To solve this problem, attach another PentaMatic mix tip.