Note:
Run the Combined Calibration Tool on each printer that will use Nylon 11 Pro Powder. Two printers operating side by side may require different calibrations.
Tuning your printer for Nylon 11 Pro Powder
Tuning your printer for Nylon 11 Pro Powder
The Combined Calibration Tool is a diagnostic print that prepares your Fuse 1+ 30W to print with Nylon 11 Pro Powder. During the print, the printer runs a series of tests that automatically and precisely tune the bed temperature to the material and correct any laser power drift that may have occurred since the printer was manufactured. The Combined Calibration Tool can also be used to diagnose problems with air handling and optical cleanliness.
The print uses about 4.3 kg of fresh Nylon 11 Pro Powder and takes about 20 hours to complete. Most of the print is used to age fresh powder for your first print. The print leaves about 4 kg of used powder, which can be mixed with 30% fresh powder for your next print.
Prepare your printer
The Combined Calibration Tool precisely calibrates your bed temperature and laser power. For these calibrations to be accurate, the IR sensor and optics must be thoroughly cleaned before the print. Clean the following:
Wiping the optical cassette windows with a lint-free cloth wetted with ethanol
Cleaning the IR sensor cone with a swab wetted with ethanol
Cleaning the upper laser window with a swab, guided by a mirror
The print includes checks that help identify optics that have not been cleaned sufficiently. If the print stops shortly after it starts and the touchscreen shows the error message Glare Check Failed, clean the camera window in the optical cassette and start the print again.
The Glare Check Failed screen, showing the camera window to clean outlined in green
Run the Combined Calibration Tool
To download, print, and use the Combined Calibration Tool:
- Update PreForm to the latest version.
- Update your printer to firmware version 1.25.0 or later.
- Download the appropriate FLZ file for your use case:
- Fresh powder: First time setup. Use this file before printing with Nylon 11 Pro Powder for the first time.
- Aged powder: Later calibration. Use this file if you have already been printing with Nylon 11 Pro Powder and are recalibrating or troubleshooting your machine.
- Open PreForm and select Job Settings.
- In the Job Setup window, make sure the correct printer is selected.
- Select Upload Diagnostic Print.
- Upload the file from your computer and start the print.
- Load the hopper with at least 4.7 kg of Nylon 11 Pro Powder. If you are using the fresh powder print, use fresh powder. If you are using the aged powder print, use aged powder from your regular powder supply.
- Allow the print to fully cool per Formlabs recommendations.
After the print
After the print has cooled, insert the build chamber into the Fuse Sift and eject the powder cake. Discard the printed sheets. Sift and recover the remainder of the powder cake—the aged can be refreshed with 30% fresh powder and used for your next print.
Review and apply the results
Review the results on the printer's touchscreen and apply the new calibration:
- Ensure that the printer is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
- Tap the gear icon on your printer's touchscreen. The Settings screen appears.
- Tap Tools. The Tools screen appears.
Tools menu on the Fuse 1+ 30W
- Tap Diagnostic Prints. A list of diagnostic prints appears.
Diagnostic Prints list on the Fuse 1+ 30W
- Tap the completed Combined Calibration Tool print. The optical cleanliness check appears.
- Compare the optical cleanliness scan from the print with the examples and determine which one your print most closely resembles. Tap the corresponding button: Clean or Needs cleaning.
Note:
Laser power is only corrected when the optics are clean. If you tap Needs cleaning, the bed temperature offset will still be applied, but the laser power will not be corrected. Clean the optics and run the Combined Calibration Tool again.
Optical Cleanliness Scan from the Nylon 11 Pro Powder Combined Calibration Tool print beside a clean and a dirty example
- Select the type of powder used for the print (Fresh or Used), then tap Next.
Selecting powder type
- Review the results, then tap Apply. The new calibration is used for future prints.
Test results and the new calibration, ready to apply