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Enabling Open Mode (Form 2)

The Form 2 allows for experimentation with third-party resins by enabling Open Mode. When printing with Formlabs consumables, the printer’s firmware matches the inserted material and tank with the correct laser settings, then heats the selected resin to the appropriate temperature. While Open Mode is enabled, printer sensors are disabled and manual checks are needed to print successfully.

Restrictions of Open Mode

Third-party resins are not recognized by Formlabs printers and have an unknown viscosity. Due to an increased risk of resin spillage, several system processes are disabled in Open Mode:

Resin dispensing
- Resin level sensing
- Refilling the resin tank
Resin heating
Wiper motions
Resin cartridge detection
Resin tank detection

Note:

Formlabs does not support third-party resins. Printing in Open Mode sometimes results in print failures, resin spills, and may void your warranty.

Printing with settings for Castable Wax Resin is not supported in PreForm when Open Mode is enabled on a Form 2.

Open Mode requires manually filling the resin tank due to disabled cartridge or tank detection. Because the Form 2 cannot sense the tank’s fill level, the printer pauses and raises the build platform for a manual tank refill after each 100 mL of resin.

Notice:

Do not fill the resin tank beyond the maximum fill line.

Enabling Open Mode

Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
Insert a build platform and resin tank.
On the printer's touchscreen, tap the printer icon on the home screen. The Your Printer screen appears.
Tap Settings > Open Mode. The Open Mode screen appears.
Toggle Open Mode to ON. The toggle turns blue.

Starting a print in Open Mode

Open a model in PreForm.
In PreForm, click the orange printer icon. The Print dialog box appears.
Select your printer.
Select the recommended material settings from the manufacturer of the third-party resin. Click Apply.
Click Upload Job. The model is sent to the printer.
On the printer's touchscreen, tap the queue icon on the home screen. The Jobs screen appears.
Select the print job from Jobs, then press the push button to confirm.

Disabling Open Mode

Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job and is currently Idle.
On the printer's touchscreen, tap the printer icon on the home screen. The Your Printer screen appears.
Tap Settings > Open Mode. The Open Mode screen appears.
Toggle Open Mode to OFF. The toggle turns grey.

Open Mode printer messages

When a Form 2 is in Open Mode, the touchscreen displays different messages than usual.

Message	Steps
Disabled state, not printing	Enable Open Mode before using a third-party material. This turns off the resin dispensing system and requires manually pouring third-party resin into the resin tank. Fill to the resin tank's maximum line and refill every 100 mL as the printer pauses automatically.
Disabled state, printing	Open Mode cannot be enabled while a print is running. Cancel the current print job and enable Open Mode before restarting the print.
Enabled state, not printing	Because the Form 2 is calibrated with print settings specific to Formlabs materials, print quality cannot be guaranteed with third-party resins. Disable Open Mode to use Formlabs resins and the resin dispensing system of the Form 2.
Enabled state, printing	Open Mode can only be enabled or disabled when the Form 2 is Idle, not when currently printing. To enable Open Mode, cancel the current print job or wait until the print is done.