formlabs Form 3 Manual
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formlabs Form 3 Manual

Low force stereolithography (lfs) 3d printer
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Summary of Contents for formlabs Form 3

  • Page 1 Manual Form 3...
  • Page 2 Installation and Usage Instructions Form 3 Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) 3D Printer Original English instructions Read this manual carefully and keep it for future reference. May 2019 REV 01 © Formlabs...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Transporting the Form 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  • Page 4 Troubleshooting and Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Collecting Diagnostic Logs .
  • Page 5 Neither Formlabs nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries shall be responsible or liable for misuse of the information that is contained herein. Notify us if you have any suggestions for improvements or amendments or have found errors in this publication.

  • Page 6: Preface

    Preface Congratulations on purchasing the Form 3. On behalf of the Formlabs team, we thank you for your purchase. The instructions in this manual provide information for skilled persons to understand safety, setup and installation, operation, and maintenance of the Form 3 3D printer. These instructions are intended for anyone who is installing, operating, maintaining, or otherwise interacting with the Form 3.
  • Page 7 Formlabs and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications, proposals, and agreements, whether electronic, oral, or written, between you and Formlabs. Read the warranty for more details on the Formlabs warranty for your region: formlabs.com/support/terms-of-service/#Warranty EU (EN) formlabs.com/support/terms-of-service/eu/...

  • Page 8: Introduction

    - Do not modify – The Form 3 is intended for use as-is. Modifying the printer without explicit approval and directions from Formlabs will invalidate your warranty, and could WARNING potentially ruin the machine and cause you bodily harm.

  • Page 9: Technical Specifications

    405 nm violet laser 250 mW laser Laser Spot Size (FWHM) 85 microns (0.0033 in) Radiation Information The Form 3 is a Class 1 Laser product. Accessible radiation is within Class 1 limits. Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB Ethernet Connectivity...

  • Page 10: Product Elements

    Status Light Leveling Disc Understanding the Display The Form 3 display includes a touchscreen and status lights. The touchscreen displays print information, settings, and error messages. It serves as the user interface for the Form 3. The status lights indicate the printer’s state. Refer to messages on the touchscreen to understand the meaning of the status lights.

  • Page 11: Safety Warnings

    Max Output: 250 mW Diode: The laser beam is harmful to the eyes, so avoid direct contact. The Form 3 contains an interlock system to automatically shut off the laser when the cover is open. If this system is tampered with or fails, there is a risk of exposure to Class 3B laser light.
  • Page 12 Respect Formlabs resin like any household chemical. Follow standard chemical safety procedures and Formlabs resin handling instructions. In general, Formlabs resin is not approved for use with food, drink, or medical applications on the human body. However, biocompatible resins, such as Dental SG Resin, are biologically safe for specific types and lengths of exposure to the human body.

  • Page 13: Personal Protective Equipment (Ppe)

    Beware of flying debris. Wear eye protection and gloves to protect the skin and eyes. CAUTION Specifications of Tools to Be Used The Form 3 shall only be used with supplied accessories and additional tools recommended by Formlabs. Third-party accessories and materials may cause damage. Purchase additional supplies: •...

  • Page 14: Preparation And Set Up

    Depth: 53 cm (21 in) Height: 78 cm (30.5 in) Allow additional space for accessories, such as the Form 3 Finish Kit, Form Wash, and Form Cure. Unboxing the Form 3 During unboxing, inspect the Form 3 for any damage or missing items. In the case of damage or missing items, contact Formlabs or the certified service provider.

  • Page 15: Installing The Form 3

    All four feet must rest on a solid surface to ensure optimal print accuracy. NOTICE The Form 3 must be completely level before printing can begin. If prompted, use the leveling disc to raise or lower each foot of your printer.
  • Page 16 To install the resin tank: 1. Open the printer cover. 2. Remove the lid of the tank case. 3. Remove packaging materials from the tank. 4. Lift the resin tank with one hand on each side. Avoid contaminating the underside of the resin tank with fingerprints or liquid resin.

  • Page 17: Connecting The Form 3

    See support.apple.com for assistance with Bonjour. The USB connection can still be used while the Form 3 is connected to a LAN. When the Form 3 is connected to a LAN, its current status and print progress can be monitored with Dashboard: formlabs.com/dashboard.

  • Page 18: Transporting The Form 3

    • 1 front insert, foam • 1 bottom insert, foam Do not ship with resin inside the printer. Resin left inside the Form 3 can damage the printer in transit, which may lead to additional fees or void the warranty.
  • Page 19 To package the Form 3: 1. If the printer’s outer cardboard carton has been collapsed, start by reassembling and securely taping the box’s bottom opening. 2. To secure the LPU housing for shipping: a. Tap the wrench icon on the touchscreen to open the Settings menu. Find and select the shipping option to prepare the printer for shipping.

  • Page 20: Print With The Form 3

    • Resin - Resin flows from the cartridge into the tank when the cartridge dispense arm squeezes the valve open. The Form 3 regulates the volume of resin in the tank through a sensor called the LevelSense board, which is located behind the resin tank. The printer begins to fill the resin tank once a print starts and maintains the level of resin in the tank during the print.

  • Page 21: Managing The Printer

    Check and Maintain the Resin Temperature 5.4.5 The Form 3 heats resin to a set temperature before starting a print. View the print chamber’s current temperature on the touchscreen. The print chamber is heated by hot air blown out of the tower behind the resin tank. The warm air in the print chamber heats the resin, and the air temperature is sensed by a thermal sensor at the air intake.

  • Page 22: Emergency And Exceptional Situations

    Promptly clean and inspect the printer after a resin spill to minimize any cosmetic or functional damage to the printer. If you have experienced an accidental resin spill, document the problem with photos and clean the printer as best as possible. Contact Formlabs or a certified service provider as soon as possible.

  • Page 23: Maintenance

    Maintenance • Formlabs provides instructions to advise skilled and non-skilled persons in installing, operating, and maintaining the Form 3. The Form 3 shall only be WARNING maintained by a qualified and trained person. Do not open the Form 3 and/or investigate internal components unless under the guidance of Formlabs or a certified service provider.

  • Page 24: Inspection Tasks Between Prints

    Inspection Tasks Between Prints Inspect the Bite Valve 6.2.1 The bite valve is located on the underside of the resin cartridge. This flexible seal regulates resin dispensing. Resin flows out of the opening in the center of the bite valve when the cartridge dispense arm squeezes the valve open.
  • Page 25 Remove the build platform, resin tank, and resin cartridge to access the drip catcher, which is the area below the resin tank spout or under the resin cartridge dispensing mechanism. Visually inspect the drip catcher. Clean any traces of resin or contamination with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and paper towels.

  • Page 26: Planned Maintenance Procedures

    When you can visually see particles in the tank Update Form 3 Firmware 6.5.1 Formlabs regularly releases updated firmware to fix bugs and improve functionality. Review the PreForm and firmware release notes to learn more about the improvements that come with each version’s release.
  • Page 27 10. To install a new resin tank, see 4.3.3 Insert the Resin Tank and Mixer. Filter the Resin 6.5.3 For detailed guidance and visual assistance, search on support.formlabs.com. To filter resin: 1. Suspend the paint or oil filter (with a “fine” or ~190 micron mesh size) above an opaque plastic container suitable for storing resin.

  • Page 28: Troubleshooting And Repair

    For detailed guidance and visual assistance, search on support.formlabs.com. Collecting Diagnostic Logs The Form 3 maintains diagnostic logs to provide detailed information about the printer that may expedite issue investigation. After experiencing any error or unusual behavior on the Form 3, include the diagnostic logs with other relevant observations and details when contacting Formlabs Support.

  • Page 29: Troubleshooting And Repair

    3. Allow the tank tool to air dry after washing. Troubleshooting and Repair In the case of an error or abnormal activity with the Form 3, reference the following errors, causes, and proposed solutions. Complete the initial troubleshooting steps and carefully document all results.
  • Page 30 In order to introduce a known good variable to isolate any printing issues, run a Formlabs test print, for which the file is available on support.formlabs. com. Provide clear, focused photographs of the test print to help diagnose the issue.

  • Page 31: Disassembly And Repair

    • Check cleanliness of optical surfaces. Disassembly and Repair All steps that involve opening the printer and/or investigating internal components should be done by skilled persons under the guidance of Formlabs or a certified WARNING service provider. Contact Formlabs or a certified service provider to receive repair instructions and authorization, including how to disassemble or remove the shells.

  • Page 32: Disposal

    Disposal Guidance for Recycling and Disposal Refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and local authorities for guidance on disposing of IPA. CAUTION Disposal of resin 8.1.1 Liquid resin (whether pure liquid, dissolved in alcohol, or partially cured) may be classified as hazardous waste and shall be disposed of with care.
  • Page 33 Disposal of packaging waste 8.1.4 Save the Form 3 packaging for transporting your printer. Original packaging is required for warranty service and designed to be kept and reused for transportation or shipping. The packaging is made of cardboard and plastic-based materials. Dispose of packaging through your local waste and recycling facilities.

  • Page 34: Index

    Index bite valve 17, 23, 24, 29, 35 maintenance 6, 23, 24, 26, 30 build platform 9, 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, mixer 15, 16, 26, 27, 36 30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38 platform carrier 16, 25 operation 6, 11, 12 platform lock 16, 35, 36, 37 optical window 13, 37...

  • Page 35: Glossary

    A flat, flexible cable connects the display assembly to the motherboard. Ethernet port The Form 3 can connect to a network via Ethernet. The port is connected to the motherboard and can be accessed from the back of the machine.
  • Page 36 Laser The laser is the source of curing energy in the Form 3. It has a 405 nm violet diode and a maximum output of 250 mW. The Form 3 is a Class 1 laser product. Lead screw The lead screws are threaded rods that controls the vertical motion of the build platform carriage and the horizontal motion of the LPU housing.
  • Page 37 The LCD capacitive touch user interface displays print information, settings, and error messages. USB port The Form 3 can connect to a computer via USB. The port is connected to the motherboard and can be accessed from the back of the machine. Vent cap The lid at the top of the cartridge allows for air interchange, enabling proper resin dispensing.

  • Page 38: Product Compliance

    Product Compliance The Form 3 complies with the following electrical and laser safety standards: Electrical • UL 60950-1, 2nd Edition, 2014-10-14 • CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1-07, 2nd Edition, 2014-10 • IEC 60950-1: 2005 + A1: 2009 + A2:2013 • EN 60950-1:2006 + A11:2009 + A12:2011 + A1:2010 + A2:2013 Laser •...

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