Z Axis Fine Tuning is an advanced troubleshooting feature on Formlabs LFS printers (Form 3 and Form 3L product lines). Use Z Axis Fine Tuning to correct any consistent, small-scale dimensional errors or to mitigate model adherence issues.

Printed prints are sometimes shorter than their intended design. This dimensional inaccuracy is referred to as Z-compression, and can be adjusted by either raising the build platform or by recalibrating the Z-axis.

Step 1: Recalibrate the Z-axis

Recalibrating the Z-axis may correct Z-compression by resetting the build platform’s height back to factory settings.

To recalibrate the Z-axis:

1. Update the printer’s firmware.
2. Put on a pair of clean, nitrile gloves.
3. Make sure the build platform is clean of any resin.
4. Remove the resin tank from the printer.
5. Ensure that the printer is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
6. Calibrate your printer’s Z-axis.
   1. Form 3 product line: Tap the gear icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Settings screen appears. Tap Maintenance > Calibration > Calibrate Z-axis. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the procedure. The process may take several minutes.
   2. Form 3L product line: Tap the wrench icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Maintenance screen appears. Tap Calibration > Calibrate Z-axis. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the procedure. The process may take several minutes.
7. Print small models to test the change. If the problem persists, fine tune the printer’s Z-axis.

Step 2: Fine tune the Z-axis

Z Axis Fine Tuning changes the height of the build platform above the tank’s elastic layer before the first layer adheres to the build platform. Small adjustments adding to the build platform’s height may correct Z-compression in models.

To fine tune the Z-axis on a Formlabs LFS printer:

1. Update the printer’s firmware.
2. Ensure that the printer is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
3. Access the Z Axis Fine Tuning screen.
   1. Form 3 product line: Tap the gear icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Settings screen appears. Tap Maintenance > Calibration > Fine Tune Z-Axis. The Z Axis Fine Tuning screen appears.
   2. Form 3L product line: Tap the wrench icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Maintenance screen appears. Tap Calibration > Fine Tune Z-Axis. The Z Axis Fine Tuning screen appears.
4. Tap the + button above Z Offset to raise the default position of the build platform and increase the value in increments of 50 µm. The highest available Z Offset value is 1000 µm.
5. Start by changing the Z Offset value to 50 µm. Tap Apply to save the value and return to the Settings screen.
6. Print small models to test the change and continue to adjust the value until models print with consistent supports and rafts.

Prints that complete but leave the build platform empty are the result of non-adherence. This can be corrected by either raising the build platform or by recalibrating the Z-axis.

Step 1: Recalibrate the Z-axis

Recalibrating the Z-axis may correct non-adherence by resetting the build platform’s height back to factory settings.

To recalibrate the Z-axis:

1. Update the printer’s firmware.
2. Put on a pair of clean, nitrile gloves.
3. Make sure the build platform is clean of any resin.
4. Remove the resin tank from the printer.
5. Ensure that the printer is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
6. Calibrate your printer’s Z-axis.
   1. Form 3 product line: Tap the gear icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Settings screen appears. Tap Maintenance > Calibration > Calibrate Z-axis. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the procedure. The process may take several minutes.
   2. Form 3L product line: Tap the wrench icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Maintenance screen appears. Tap Calibration > Calibrate Z-axis. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the procedure. The process may take several minutes.
7. Print small models to test the change. If the problem persists, fine tune the printer’s Z-axis.

Step 2: Fine tune the Z-axis

Z Axis Fine Tuning changes the height of the build platform above the tank’s elastic layer before the first layer adheres to the build platform. Small adjustments lowering the build platform’s height may correct non-adherence in models.

To fine tune the Z-axis on a Formlabs LFS printer:

1. Update the printer’s firmware.
2. Ensure that the printer is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
3. Access the Z Axis Fine Tuning screen.
   1. Form 3 product line: Tap the gear icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Settings screen appears. Tap Maintenance > Calibration > Fine Tune Z-Axis. The Z Axis Fine Tuning screen appears.
   2. Form 3L product line: Tap the wrench icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Maintenance screen appears. Tap Calibration > Fine Tune Z-Axis. The Z Axis Fine Tuning screen appears.
4. Tap the - button above Z Offset to lower the default position of the build platform and decrease the value in increments of 50 µm. The lowest available Z Offset value is -1000 µm.
5. Start by changing the Z Offset value to -50 µm. Tap Apply to save the value and return to the Settings screen.
6. Print small models to test the change. Continue to adjust the value until models print with consistent supports and rafts.

If your parts never adhere or continue to shift location on the build platform, reset all Z Axis Fine Tuning settings to default values and contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller.

To help us provide the fastest and most effective response to your issue, please provide the following information:

• Upload diagnostic logs.
  • On a Form 3/Form 3B
  • On a Form 3L/Form 3BL
• Serial name of the printer:
  • The serial name is on the back panel of the printer in the format AdjectiveAnimal.
  • Tap the printer icon on the Home screen.
• Troubleshooting steps attempted:
  • Example: “I raised the build platform to overcompression.”
• Resin formulation and lot number:
  • The lot number is inside the skirt of the resin cartridge.
• Layer thickness:
  • Tap the queue icon on the printer’s touchscreen. The Jobs screen appears.
• Relevant FORM files:
  • If available, attach FORM files of the model to the support request.
• 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.”