If the printer or the Form Auto encounter any abnormalities, the printer’s touchscreen displays error messages and displays more details about the error. For additional information about printer error messages, see Form 3/Form 3B error messages.

Konfigurieren Sie die Dashboard-Einstellungen, um für die in diesem Artikel aufgeführten Fehler sowie für andere Druckereignisse SMS- oder E-Mail-Benachrichtigungen zu erhalten.

Formlabs printers maintain diagnostic logs to provide detailed information about the printer. Include these diagnostic logs with other relevant observations and details when contacting Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller to speed up resolution.

To access diagnostic logs for the printer installed on your Form Auto, rotate the printer to the touchscreen position.

For printers connected to the internet over an active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection:

1. Tap the wrench icon on the bottom left of the printer's Home screen. The Settings screen appears.
2. Tap System. The System screen appears.
3. Tap Upload Diagnostic Info. A confirmation message to upload diagnostic information appears.
4. Tap Next to start the upload. A confirmation message appears when the upload is complete.
5. If the printer displays an error message indicating that it cannot upload the logs, there may not be enough storage space on the printer for the upload. Delete print jobs from the Queue to clear enough storage space to upload the diagnostic logs.
6. Restart the printer and try again.

For printers not connected to the internet:

1. Open PreForm.
2. Click Edit Job Setup. The Job Setup window opens.
3. Select the printer’s serial name.
4. Click Download Logs. A confirmation window appears.
5. Click Browse to download the diagnostic logs to a preferred location on your computer.
6. Click OK. The diagnostic logs save and appear in the encrypted FORMLOGS format.
7. Attach the file when contacting Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller.
8. If PreForm displays the message ERROR_BAD_STATE, there may not be enough storage space on the printer for the upload. Delete print jobs from the Queue to clear enough storage space to upload the logs.
9. Restart the printer and try again.

Learn more about options for network and non-network connections.

The printer must be facing the part removal enclosure in order to automatically retrieve printed parts. The printer displays the error message Printer not aligned if it is not facing the part removal enclosure at the end of a print. Rotate the printer to the printing position (facing the part removal enclosure) and tap Retry.

If the Form Auto cannot automatically release a printed part after multiple attempts, the printer displays the Part removal failure error message or the Motor error message.

Retrieve your printed parts manually, then reinsert the build platform and continue to print. To retrieve your printed parts:

The printer displays the error message Communication error if it cannot communicate with the Form Auto. Check that the Form Auto USB cable is fully connected to the USB port at the back of the printer. To resolve this issue:

1. Inspect the USB port on the print and the USB plug from the Form Auto for contamination such as liquid resin. With the Form Auto and printer powered off, clean the USB port or plug as needed with a small amount of IPA. Allow the port or plug to fully dry before testing.
2. Try connecting another printer to the Form Auto, if one is available.
• If only one printer cannot communicate with the Form Auto, it may need to have its USB port replaced. Contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller.
• If no printers can communicate with the Form Auto, continue.
3. Remove the Form Auto’s rear gantry shell to access the motherboard. Follow the instructions in the guide Replacing the Form Auto motherboard [EN] [DE] [ES] [FR] [IT] [JA] [ZH].
4. Unplug the USB cable from the left side of the motherboard.
5. Plug a different USB-A to USB-B cable, such as the one supplied with Form 3 generation printers, directly into the printer and Form Auto motherboard.
• If the printer can now communicate with the Form Auto, route the cable through the Form Auto base to replace the original USB cable.
• If the printer still cannot communicate with the Form Auto, the Form Auto motherboard may be damaged or faulty. Contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller.

The printer displays a generic Motor error message if the Form Auto motors cannot move as expected. Check for obstructions around the printer and Form Auto that interfere with the movement of the cover or part removal mechanism. If the part removal mechanism interferes with the printer cover, adjust the cover actuator.

The printer may also display a more specific motor-related error, such as Error 357 (which indicates a general motor movement failure) or Error 358 (which indicates that a specific motor failed to reach its home position). These errors also have subcodes: Error 357/1 and 358/1 are related to the part removal mechanism, while Error 357/2 and 358/2 are related to the part release gantry. To resolve these errors:

Error 357

A generic Error 357 is not usually indicative of a more pervasive issue and can often be fixed by resetting and recalibrating the machine. This error and its subcodes occur when the printer sends a command to a motor and the encoder on the motor doesn't detect the expected movement after a few seconds.

1. Power cycle the Form Auto using the power switch on the unit.
2. Recalibrate the Form Auto. On the printer’s touchscreen, tap Settings > Form Auto > Calibrate Form Auto and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. When the calibration is complete, run a test harvest. On the printer’s touchscreen, tap Settings > Form Auto > Run Print Removal Cycle.
4. If the issue recurs, record a video of the print removal cycle showing the error and contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller. Include the video you recorded.

Error 357/1

Error 357/1 indicates an issue with the motor that closes and opens the part removal mechanism or its encoder.

1. Run a test harvest. On the printer’s touchscreen, tap Settings > Form Auto > Run Print Removal Cycle. Check if the part removal mechanism attempts to close or open at all.
1. If the part removal mechanism does move and the error appears while or after it squeezes the build platform part release paddles, there may be an issue with the motor encoder or limit switch. Power off and unplug the machine, remove the rear shell (on the same side as the power switch), and reseat both ends of the encoder and limit switch cables.

2. If the part removal mechanism stalls in an unusual place, power off and unplug the Form Auto and move the mechanism by hand to search for a physical obstruction. Replace the part removal mechanism if necessary.
3. If the mechanism does not move, then the motor is likely the cause of the error. Power off and unplug the machine, remove the rear shell (on the same side as the power switch), and reseat both ends of the motor cable.

2. If the issue recurs, record a video of the print removal cycle showing the error and contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller. Include the video you recorded.

Error 357/2

Error 357/2 indicates an issue with the motor that moves the part removal mechanism towards and away from the printer (also known as the gantry motor) or its encoder.

1. Run a test harvest. On the printer’s touchscreen, tap Settings > Form Auto > Run Print Removal Cycle. Check if the gantry moves towards the printer at all during the cycle.
2. If the gantry moves, the gantry motor encoder may be malfunctioning. Power off and unplug the machine, remove the rear shell (on the same side as the power switch), and reseat both ends of the encoder cable.

2. If the gantry does not move, the motor may be malfunctioning. Power off and unplug the machine, remove the rear shell (on the same side as the power switch), and reseat both ends of the motor cable.

2. If there's any obvious physical issue with the gantry moving (e.g., a grinding noise, motor stalling noise, excessive resistance when moving the gantry by hand while the machine is powered off, etc.), the mechanism may be misaligned or the belt that drives the gantry may be damaged. Replace the gantry drive assembly if necessary.
3. If the test harvest completes normally but the printer shows this error, contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller.

Error 358/1

Error 358/1 indicates that the motor that closes and opens the part removal mechanism failed to reach its home position.

1. Check for obstructions around the printer and Form Auto.
2. Re-rack the part removal mechanism by pulling the arms to the closed position, then reopening them.
3. Inspect the part removal mechanism pulley and service it if it is slipping. Follow the instructions in the guide Proactively servicing the Form Auto part removal mechanism pulley [EN] [DE] [ES] [FR] [IT] [JA] [ZH].
4. If the pulley axle is damaged, replace the part removal mechanism. Follow the instructions in the guide Replacing the Form Auto part removal mechanism [EN] [DE] [ES] [FR] [IT] [JA] [ZH]. Replacement part removal mechanisms are available on the Formlabs Store.

Error 358/2

Error 358/2 indicates that the motor that moves the part removal mechanism towards and away from the printer failed to reach its home position.

1. Check for obstructions around the printer and Form Auto.
2. Re-rack the part release gantry by pulling it fully towards the printer, then pushing it back to its home position.
3. Inspect the gantry pulley and service it if it is slipping. Follow the instructions in the guide Repairing a slipping gantry pulley [EN] [DE] [ES] [FR] [IT] [JA] [ZH].
4. If the pulley axle is damaged, replace the part release gantry. Follow the instructions in the guide Replacing the Form Auto gantry drive assembly [EN] [DE] [ES] [FR] [IT] [JA] [ZH]. Replacement part removal mechanisms are available on the Formlabs Store.

If you see any of these error messages repeatedly, contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller.

The Form Auto must be leveled and calibrated before starting a print. The calibration routine detects the exact location of the Build Platform 2 relative to the part removal enclosure.

1. Tap the wrench icon on the Home screen. The Settings screen appears.
2. Tap Form Auto. The Form Auto screen appears.
3. Tap Calibrate Part Removal. The Calibration screen appears. Do not start the calibration process without a Build Platform 2 inserted into the printer.
4. Rotate the printer into the printing position.
5. Tap Calibrate to start the calibration process. You may only need to calibrate the Form Auto during the initial setup.