Note:
The following detailed settings comparison and guidance applies only to Fuse 1+ 30W printers. Fuse 1 guidance is given where applicable but is more limited.
Formlabs conducts extensive validation of new print settings before releasing on PreForm. All settings are validated to Formlabs recommended refresh rates.
Note:
The following detailed settings comparison and guidance applies only to Fuse 1+ 30W printers. Fuse 1 guidance is given where applicable but is more limited.
Nylon 12
Fuse 1+ 30W
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v5.3) | Recommended for default use. Offers best printing speed and part quality. |
| Legacy (v2.2) | Customers who developed specific printing parameters and wish to continue using the same printing profile. |
| Legacy (v4.1) | This setting was previously the default setting for customers, offering a good balance of performance metrics. Customers who have a fixed set of printing parameters and can achieve desired results with this setting may continue to use it. |
Fuse 1
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v2.0) | Recommended for default use. Offers best printing speed and part quality. |
| Beta (v3.0) | Customers who are looking to mitigate layer shift issues. |
Detailed comparison of settings in PreForm
| Default (v5.3) | Legacy (v4.1) | Legacy (v2.2) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimpling | Good | Good | Best |
| Z-direction warping | Best | Fair | Good |
| Fine feature resolution | Best | Best | Fair |
| Z accuracy | Best | Fair | Good |
| Birchbark/orange peel | Best | Fair | Good |
| Print speed | Best | Good | Good |
| Layer shifting1 | Best | Best | Good |
1 For Fuse 1 printers, use Beta v3.0 print settings or later to mitigate layer shifting.
Details on Default v5.3 settings
If you switch to Default v5.3 from previous settings, you may notice the following:
Z-axis warping and accuracy
The new Default setting significantly reduces the warping that occurs on long parts oriented along the Z-axis. With Default v5.3, warping is reduced by upwards of 50% to previous settings. As a result, the maximum part height when printing with this setting is 294.1 mm, approximately 1.4 mm shorter than previous print settings.
Surface dimpling
The rate of dimpling on parts printed with Default v5.3 is comparable to that of Legacy v4.1, with no significant differences. Tuning the printer’s bed temperature helps reduce the likelihood of dimpling, but some geometries are still more susceptible to dimpling, particularly spheres. If your parts are more prone to dimpling, contact Formlabs Support for more advanced troubleshooting support.
Print speed
The new Default v5.3 settings maintain the same fast and efficient printing speed as the previous Speed Optimized setting.
Print cooldown
While printing times remain unchanged compared to Speed Optimized settings, Formlabs recommends letting your parts cool for 30% longer for optimal results. This is twice the cooldown time of Legacy v4.1 settings. This cooldown can happen outside the printer, freeing it up for the next print.
Due to the increased efficiency and fast print speed of Default v5.3 settings, the powder cake will remain noticeably hotter after cooling for the same amount of time as parts printed with other settings. Take extra caution when unpacking parts, and refer to published print cooldown times in PreForm as a helpful guide for when your parts can be unpacked. Premature unpacking can cause parts to warp.
Downloadable FPS files for deprecated print settings
The settings listed below were released previously but are no longer recommended for use due to subsequent improvements. However, the settings are available here as downloadable FPS files for customers whose workflows may require them. After downloading, import the print setting into PreForm with the Print Settings Editor to set up a print.
Nylon 12 GF
Fuse 1+ 30W
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v1.1) | Recommended for default use. Offers best printing speed and part quality. |
Fuse 1
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v2.1) | Recommended for default use. Offers best printing speed and part quality. |
| Legacy (v1.1) | Customers who have developed specific printing profiles. |
Downloadable FPS files for deprecated print settings
The settings listed below were released previously but are no longer recommended for use due to subsequent improvements. However, the settings are available here as downloadable FPS files for customers whose workflows may require them. After downloading, import the print setting into PreForm with the Print Settings Editor to set up a print.
Nylon 12 Tough
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v1.1) | Recommended for default use. Offers best printing speed and part quality. |
Nylon 12 White
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v1.1) | Recommended for default use. Offers best printing speed and part quality, with best fine feature resolution. |
| Legacy (v1.0) | Customers who developed specific printing parameters and wish to continue using the same printing profile. |
Detailed comparison of settings in PreForm
| Default (v1.1) | Legacy (v1.0) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimpling | Best | Best |
| Thin feature strength | Best | Fair |
| Fine feature resolution | Best | Good |
| Z accuracy | Best | Best |
| Surface roughness | Best | Good |
| Birchbark/orange peel | Good | Best |
| Print speed | Best | Best |
| Layer shifting | Best | Best |
Nylon 11
Fuse 1+ 30W
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v2.1) | Recommended to be used as the default setting, with best surface quality and fastest printing speed. |
| Legacy (v1.2) | Customers who have developed specific printing profiles or are printing on Fuse 1. |
Fuse 1
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v1.1) | Recommended to be used as the default setting. |
Detailed comparison of settings in PreForm
| Default (v2.1) | Legacy (v1.2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical surface finish | Best | Fair |
| Fine feature resolution | Best | Best |
| Part depowdering | Good | Best |
| Z accuracy | Best | Good |
| Mechanical properties | Best | Good |
| Print speed | Best | Good |
Details on Default v2.1 settings
Bed Temperature Offset
Customers who had previously applied a bed temperature offset to their printers should remove it and reset the printer back to nominal bed temperature prior to printing with the Default v2.1 settings. After printing with the Default setting, customers can work with Formlabs Services to modify the bed temperature if needed based on part quality. A previously-set bed temperature offset used on a different set of settings is not applicable when printing with Default v2.1 settings.
Part depowdering
You may notice harder Surface Armor more frequently than on the Legacy v1.2 settings. To resolve this, first try reducing the bed temperature of the printer. If issues persist, reduce armor exposure by modifying the Armor Laser Power parameter using the Print Settings Editor. Reduce the value in 10% increments, testing between each change.
Recoater artifacts
Due to the faster printing speed of Default v2.1, you may notice more print-related debris around the build chamber. Vacuum the print enclosure and around the top of the build chamber between each print. Otherwise, the debris may be dragged across the print plane by the recoater, causing print defects or errors.
Nylon 11 CF
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v1.2) | Recommended to be used as the default setting, with best surface quality and fastest printing speed. |
The new Nylon 11 CF Default v1.2 setting addresses part warping and accuracy in the Z direction and poor finish on vertical surfaces. When using these print settings, you should expect to print more accurate parts with fewer instances of poor vertical surface finish.
Downloadable FPS files for deprecated print settings
The settings listed below were released previously but are no longer recommended for use due to subsequent improvements. However, the settings are available here as downloadable FPS files for customers whose workflows may require them. After downloading, import the print setting into PreForm with the Print Settings Editor to set up a print.
TPU 90A
Fuse 1+ 30W
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v2.1) | Recommended to be used as the default setting, with best fine features, best accuracy, and fastest printing speed. |
| Legacy (v1.1) | Customers who have developed specific printing profiles. |
Fuse 1
| Setting | Reason for use |
|---|---|
| Default (v1.1) | Recommended to be used as the default setting. |