Tip:
Visit the Form 3L interactive tour for a 3D view of many of the components detailed below.
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Product glossary (Form 3L/Form 3BL)
Product glossary (Form 3L/Form 3BL)
Außenkomponenten
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Shell | Five protective external casings protect the printer’s internal components:
|  |
| Leveling feet | Each corner of the printer is supported by a rubber foot that is threaded into the bottom of the machine. When prompted by the touchscreen, use the leveling disc to raise or lower each foot to ensure that the printer is acceptably level. |  |
Displaybaugruppe
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Display assembly | The display assembly contains the touchscreen and the display circuit board. A ribbon cable connects the display assembly to the motherboard. |  |
| Touchscreen | The LCD capacitive touch user interface displays print information, settings, and error messages. |  |
| Display PCB | This circuit board, separated from the main motherboard, controls the touchscreen. |  |
| Display cable | A flat, flexible cable connects the display assembly to the motherboard. |  |
Cover
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Cover | The printer lid, made of metal and a strong, orange-tinted material, blocks exposure to the lasers and protects the resin from curing due to ambient light. |  |
| Interlock magnets | The interlock sensor detects these magnets to determine when the cover is closed. This safety mechanism triggers the Cover Open message on the touchscreen and disables the lasers when the cover is open. |  |
Resin cartridge
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Resin cartridge | Two containers hold the resin before dispensing into the resin tank. Shake the resin cartridges periodically to keep resin well mixed. |  |
| Vent cap | The lid at the top of the cartridge allows for air interchange, enabling proper resin dispensing. Press the vent cap open prior to printing. |  |
| Cartridge ID chip | An Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) chip programmed with the resin type is attached to each cartridge skirt. This chip communicates to the printer via spring fingers on the cartridge floor. |  |
| Bite valve | A flexible, rubber seal that regulates resin dispensing. Resin flows out when the cartridge dispense arm squeezes the bite valve open. |  |
Baugruppe am Kartuschenboden
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge spring fingers | Two electrical contacts comprise the spring fingers located on the cartridge floor. The physical contact establishes an electrical connection with the cartridge ID chip to detect the resin cartridge. |  |
| Cartridge dispense arm | Plastic hooks press against the bite valve to dispense resin out of the resin cartridge into the resin tank. |  |
Z-Achse
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Z-tower | This vertical tower at the back of the machine provides support for many components of the Form 3L/Form 3BL. The build platform is raised and lowered along the Z-axis, inside the Z-tower. |  |
| Z-axis lead screw | The Z-axis lead screw controls the vertical motion of the build platform carriage. | |
| Heater | The resin in the resin tank is heated by hot air blown out of the right side of the printer, next to the resin cartridges. The warm air in the print chamber heats the resin, and the air temperature is sensed by a thermal sensor at the air intake. |  |
| Fans | Two heating fans blow air across the heater into the resin tank. | |
Plattform
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Build platform | The aluminum base provides a surface for prints to attach to. |  |
| Platform lock | A lever that is part of the locking mechanism that secures the build platform. Contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller before adjusting the platform lock, as improper adjustment can damage the machine. |  |
| Build platform carriage | The metal arm that the build platform slides onto. | |
| Build platform sensor | Each Form 3L/Form 3BL build platform has an RFID sticker. The printer senses the RFID sticker to detect when the build platform is properly installed. |  |
| Platform lock spring | The spring mechanism inside the build platform carriage allows the platform lock to move up and down. It also mechanically locks and unlocks the build platform. |  |
Harztank
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Resin tank | Resin is dispensed out of the resin cartridges into the resin tank. During a print, two lasers pass upwards through the flexible film of the resin tank and cure resin onto the build platform to form a printed part. Only use approved materials and procedures to clean the resin tank. |  |
| Tank handles | Handles on each side of the resin tank allow for easy insertion, removal, and carrying of the resin tank. Use the tank handles to avoid touching the resin tank’s underside, as fingerprints leave smudges that obstruct the optical path. |  |
| Tank spout | A spout at the right of the resin tank sits underneath the cartridge dispense hole and receives resin from the resin cartridge. |  |
| Flexible film | A durable, dual-layer film comprises the resin tank’s underside. Parts print in the resin-filled gap between the flexible film and the build platform. The print quality depends on the flexible film being clean and clear of damage and debris. |  |
| Resin tank RFID sticker | Each resin tank has an RFID sticker attached to the back wall of the tank frame. The printer reads the RFID sticker to detect the unique tank ID and current resin type. |  |
| Mixer | Each resin tank includes a mixer that improves print consistency by clearing the build area and circulating the resin. The mixer moves with the LPU housing via magnetic coupling and rests at the right side of the resin tank when not in use. Scrapers on the top and bottom of the mixer clear the build platform and flexible film, respectively. |  |
| Tank case | Each resin tank includes a container and a lid for storing the resin tank when not in use. |  |
| Tank tool | A two-part scraper for inspecting and cleaning the resin tank interior. Separate tool for scraper function or combine for tongs. Together with the cleaning mesh, this is the only tool to clean the flexible film inside the resin tank. |  |
Tankträger
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Tank carrier rails | The resin tank side walls sit on rails on each side of the tank carrier. While printing, the tank carrier rails pull the tank walls and the flexible film into tension. |  |
| Film tensioner | A motor pulls outward on the tank side walls to create a taut film surface in the resin tank. |  |
| Tank RFID sensor | An RFID sensor at the back of the printer reads the resin tank’s RFID sticker to read data such as the resin type and tank lifetime. |  |
| Tank induction sensor | An induction sensor at the back of the printer senses the presence of an inserted resin tank. |  |
Hauptplatine
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | The main circuitry through which all systems in the printer communicate. |  |
| Power supply | The Form 3L/Form 3BL utilizes a 100–240 V power supply. The internal power supply converts line power to +24V DC. |  |
| Front display connector | This connector links the display to the motherboard via a ribbon cable. |  |
| Wi-Fi antenna | The Wi-Fi antenna enables the Form 3L/Form 3BL's wireless connectivity. The antenna is connected to the printer's motherboard. |  |
| Ethernet port | The Form 3L/Form 3BL can connect to a network via Ethernet. The port is connected to the motherboard and can be accessed from the back of the machine. |  |
| USB port | The Form 3L/Form 3BL can connect to a computer via USB. The port is connected to the motherboard and can be accessed from the back of the machine. | |
| Fans | Cooling fans pull warm air away from electronic components. |  |
LevelSense
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| LevelSense | An ultrasonic sensor, located above the rear right-hand corner of the resin tank detects the amount of resin in the resin tank. |  |
Optik
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Light Processing Units (LPUs) | These two interchangeable assemblies contain the lasers and the mirrors that control the path of the lasers, ensuring a clean, crisp laser spot. The LPU housing holds two LPUs. |  |
| Laser | Short for “Light Amplification” via “Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” The lasers are the source of curing energy in the printer with a wavelength of 405 nm, and a maximum output of 250 mW per laser. The Form 3L/Form 3BL is a Class 1 laser product. |  |
| Light Processing Unit (LPU) cable | A flat, flexible cable connects the LPU to the motherboard. |  |
| Light Processing Unit (LPU) housing | The aluminum housing for the optics engine moves left and right, traveling along the X-axis ball screw. The LPUs, roller holder, and mixer are all controlled within the LPU housing. |  |
| Roller holder | The roller holder is a metal surface that allows for smooth movement of the LPU housing across the flexible film. The roller holder surrounds the glass optical window. A clean roller holder protects the flexible film and preserves print quality. |  |
| Glass optical window | A narrow piece of anti-reflective coated glass that is surrounded by the roller holder. The glass optical window protects the sensitive mirrors inside the LPUs from dust and other contamination. Maintain a clean glass optical window to prevent print failures. | |
| X-axis ball screw | The X-axis ball screw controls the horizontal motion of the LPU housing. |  |