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Fine Tuning the Form 2

Fine Tuning the Form 2

Fine Tuning is an advanced troubleshooting feature on the Form 2. Adjust Fine Tuning settings to correct any consistent, small-scale dimensional errors or to mitigate model adherence issues.

Conseil :

Le réglage de la valeur de Correction de la compression Z dans PreForm permet de corriger l’inexactitude dimensionnelle le long de l’axe Z pour un modèle donné.

Accessing the Fine Tuning menus

The X, Y, and Z axes can all be adjusted on a Form 2 to correct any dimensional inaccuracy your printed part experiences.

 

Access and adjust Fine Tuning

  1. Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
  2. Tap the printer icon on your printer’s touchscreen. The Your Printer screen appears.
  3. Tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
  4. To open the Fine Tuning menus:
    • Tap X/Y Fine Tuning to adjust the X- or Y-axis.
    • Tap Z Fine Tuning to adjust the Z-axis.

Tip:

When adjusting X, Y, or Z Fine Tuning, your PreForm settings do not change.

Correcting stretched or compressed prints

If printed parts appear stretched out or compressed on the build platform, change the X or Y Scale values to adjust the laser’s path and compensate for the distortion of parts. Increasing the scale value widens the laser’s path, while decreasing the scale narrows the path.

 

Correct compressed parts

  1. Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
  2. Tap the printer icon on your printer’s touchscreen. The Your Printer screen appears.
  3. Tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
  4. Tap X/Y Fine Tuning. The X/Y Fine Tuning screen appears.
  5. Stretch the laser’s path along an axis:
    • Tap the + button under X Scale to stretch the laser’s path along the X-axis and increase the value in increments of 0.10%. The maximum X Scale value is 105%.
    • Tap the + button under Y Scale to stretch the laser’s path along the Y-axis and increase the value in increments of 0.10%. The maximum Y Scale value is 105%.
  6. Tap < to save your changes and return to the Settings screen.

 

Correct stretched parts

  1. Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
  2. Tap the printer icon on your printer’s touchscreen. The Your Printer screen appears.
  3. Tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
  4. Tap X/Y Fine Tuning. The X/Y Fine Tuning screen appears.
  5. Compress the laser’s path along an axis:
    • Tap the - button under X Scale to compress the laser’s path and decrease the value in increments of 0.10%. The minimum X Scale value is 105%.
    • Tap the - button under Y Scale to compress the laser’s path and decrease the value in increments of 0.10%. The minimum Y Scale value is 95%.
  6. Tap < to save your changes and return to the Settings screen.

Correction de la surcompression

Printed prints are sometimes shorter than their intended design. The Z Fine Tuning setting changes the height of the build platform above the tank’s elastic layer before the first layer adheres to the build platform. This dimensional inaccuracy is referred to as Z-compression, and can be adjusted by raising the build platform.

Tip:

Adjust the build platform height in increments of 1.00 mm, then print small models to test the change and continue to adjust the value until models print with consistent supports and rafts.

 

Raise the build platform

  1. Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
  2. Tap the printer icon on your printer’s touchscreen. The Your Printer screen appears.
  3. Tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
  4. Tap Z Fine Tuning. The Z Fine Tuning screen appears.
  5. Tap the + button under Z Offset to raise the default position of the build platform and increase the value in increments of 0.10 mm. The maximum Z Offset value is 2.00 mm.
  6. Tap < to save your changes and return to the Settings screen.

 

Correction de la non-adhérence

Prints that complete but leave the build platform empty are the result of non-adherence. The Z Fine Tuning setting changes the height of the build platform above the tank’s elastic layer before the first layer adheres to the build platform. Small adjustments to the build platform height can help models adhere and build correctly.

Tip:

Adjust the build platform height in increments of 1.00 mm, then print small models to test the change and continue to adjust the value until models print with consistent supports and rafts.

 

Lower the build platform

  1. Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
  2. Tap the printer icon on your printer’s touchscreen. The Your Printer screen appears.
  3. Tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
  4. Tap Z Fine Tuning. The Z Fine Tuning screen appears.
  5. Tap the - button under Z Offset to lower the default position of the build platform and decrease the value in increments of 0.10 mm. The lowest available Z Offset value is -2.00 mm.
  6. Start by changing the Z Offset value to -1.00 mm. Print small models to test the change and continue to adjust the value until models print with consistent supports and rafts.
  7. Tap < to save your changes and return to the Settings screen.

 

Contacter l’assistance Formlabs

Reset all Fine Tuning settings to default values and contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller if:

  • Models consistently print with dimensions skewed by more than 5% in the X or Y direction.
  • Models never adhere.
  • Models shift location on the build platform.
  1. Upload diagnostic logs
  2. Serial name of the printer
  3. Troubleshooting steps attempted
    • Example: "I raised the build platform to fix overcompression."
  4. Resin formulation and lot number
  5. Layer thickness
    • Tap the queue icon on the home screen. The Jobs screen appears.
  6. Relevant FORM files
    • If available, attach FORM files of the model to the support request.
  7. Previous attempts to print the part and any successful prints:
    • Example: "I printed the file part2.form three times previously. The first and second were successful. The third one failed."