The Form 3L has four adjustable feet that raise the printer off the work surface and allow it to be leveled before printing. If one or more of the leveling feet is damaged or missing, it may be difficult to keep the printer level. Unleveled printers may cause print failures.
Use this guide to replace a leveling foot on your Form 3L.
Required supplies:
Formlabs:
Third-party:
Estimated time: 15–30 minutes
Preparing the workspace
Overview: Prepare the Form 3L and a dust-free workspace for replacing the leveling foot.
Warning:
Resin may cause skin irritation or an allergic skin reaction. Wear gloves when handling liquid resin or resin-coated surfaces. Wash skin with plenty of soap and water.
Step 1: Remove the build platform
Remove the build platform first to avoid dripping resin onto the LPU or into the printer cavity.
Step 2: Remove the resin cartridges
Remove the resin cartridges and close the vent caps to prevent resin from dripping off the bite valves and into the printer.
Step 3: Remove and store the resin tank
Remove the resin tank, place it in the resin tank case, and cover it with its lid. Set the case and tank aside on a clean, flat surface.
Notice:
Wear gloves and hold the resin tank by the tank grips on either side to avoid contamination or damage to the underside of the tank.
Step 4: Unplug the printer
Disconnect the power cable, Ethernet cable, and USB cable before continuing with maintenance. Do not perform maintenance on the printer while it is connected to power.
Step 5: Prepare the workspace
Clear a workspace around your printer. Ensure that the workspace is well-ventilated and free of dust.
Accessing the leveling foot
Overview: Identify the leveling foot you wish to replace. Each leveling foot requires different access instructions. Proceed to the step that is most relevant for your repair needs and remove the leveling foot.
Step 1: Identify the leveling foot in need of replacement
Front-left (1) and front-right (2) leveling feet
Rear leveling feet
Identify the leveling foot you wish to replace. Each leveling foot requires different access instructions. Proceed to the step that is most relevant for your repair needs.
Accessing the front-left leveling foot
Open the Form 3L to access the front-left leveling foot.
Step 1: Inspect the printer cavity floor
Inspect the front-left side of the printer cavity floor. Some machines may have a hole in the drip tray that allows access to the locknut for the front-left leveling foot. If not, you may need to make a hole in the plastic drip tray in order to access the locknut through the floor of the printer cavity.
Step 2: Cut a hole in the plastic drip tray above the front-left leveling foot
Use a sharp knife or razor blade to cut off the formed dome on the drip tray. The cut should remove approximately 8 mm from the top. Skip to the next section, Removing the leveling foot.
Caution:
To avoid injury, face the edges of tools away from you and direct the force away from you.
Accessing the front-right leveling foot
Move the LPU unit to its maintenance position to access the front-right leveling foot.
Step 1: Plug in the printer
Reconnect the power cable.
Step 2: Move the LPU housing to its maintenance position
Tap the wrench icon to access the Settings screen, then tap Maintenance > Motor Moves. The Motor Moves screen appears. Tap and hold Left (<) to move the LPU housing to the middle of the printer cavity. Other controls on this screen fully sweep the LPU housing across the printer cavity and control the build platform carriage.
Step 3: Unplug the printer
When prompted by the touchscreen, disconnect the power cable before continuing with maintenance. Do not perform maintenance on the printer while it is connected to power.
Warning:
Moving parts and lead/ball screws present crushing and tangling hazards. Be sure that the printer is unplugged from its power source and powered down before performing further maintenance.
Step 4: Inspect the plastic drip tray
Open the Form 3L cover and look into the LPU garage to the right of the printer cavity. Inspect the plastic drip tray for the access hole to the front-right leveling foot internal locknut. Skip to the next section, Removing the leveling foot.
Accessing the rear leveling feet
Remove the rear shell to access and remove the rear leveling feet.
Notice:
The Form 3L contains sensitive electronic components. Ground yourself before touching any electronics in the printer by using a grounding strap or touching a grounded piece of metal.
Step 1: Remove the Wi-Fi antenna nut
Unscrew and remove the nut from the base of the Wi-Fi connector. The Wi-Fi connector is attached to the printer's motherboard and remains in place when the rear shell is removed.
Step 2: Remove the rear shell screws
Use a T10 or T8 Torx driver to loosen and remove the 21 screws on the rear shell. Early models may use all T8 screws, while later models use all T10 screws. Start at the bottom of the panel and work your way up to the top.
Step 3: Remove the rear shell
Remove the rear shell by pulling it away from the printer. There are five pins that hold the panel in place, so it may require moderate force to separate from the printer. Be careful not to damage the rear fan cable, which is still attached to the rear shell. Lay the rear shell down next to the printer.
Step 4: Disconnect the rear fan
Disconnect the rear fan cable harness by gripping the plugs and gently pulling them away from each other. Do not pull on the wires themselves.
Step 5: Locate the rear leveling feet
The rear leveling feet are located on the backside of the machine.
Removing the leveling foot
Overview: Remove the leveling foot. If you are replacing multiple leveling feet, complete the replacement process for each individual leveling foot before starting the next.
Step 1: Move the Form 3L
With a second person, carefully slide the leveling foot that you plan to replace off the work surface so you can access it freely. Ensure that the other three leveling feet remain firmly on the work surface and that the printer is not in danger of tipping or falling.
Caution:
The Form 3L is a heavy object. Have a second person hold the machine upright while the leveling foot is replaced. Removing the leveling foot unbalances the machine and may lead to injuries or property damage.
Step 2: Remove the leveling foot
Using the 13 mm nut driver or ratcheting socket wrench to hold the locknut inside the printer in place, unscrew and remove the leveling foot. Place the leveling foot aside. Set the locknut aside for later use.
If you are replacing multiple leveling feet, complete the replacement process for each individual leveling foot before starting the next.
Installing the replacement leveling foot
Overview: Screw the replacement leveling foot into the printer.
Step 1: Install the replacement leveling foot
Thread the replacement leveling foot into the threaded insert in the bottom of the printer. Hand tighten the leveling foot until it is secure. Leave a 6.5 mm (0.25 in) gap between the leveling foot and the bottom of the printer. The leveling foot should not be completely flush with the printer.
Note:
You will level the printer after the repair procedure is complete, using the prompts on the touchscreen. The printer does not need to be level at this time.
Step 2: Secure the locknut on the replacement leveling foot
Thread the locknut onto the replacement leveling foot. Hand tighten the locknut until the top of the bolt is level with the top of the locknut.
Step 3: Reposition the printer
Slide the printer back onto the work surface so that it sits on all four leveling feet. If you are replacing multiple leveling feet, continue with the next leveling foot.
Step 4: Tape access hole closed for front-left leveling foot
If you replaced the front-left leveling foot, use duct tape to close the access hole to prevent any resin spillage.
Step 5: Reinstall the rear shell for rear leveling feet
Lay the rear shell down behind the printer. Reconnect the two ends of the rear fan cable. Secure the fan cable to the rear shell with a strip of polyimide tape.
Place the rear shell back onto the printer, taking care to align the five pins on the shell with their respective holes. Press it towards the front of the printer to ensure that it fully seats in place. There should be no gaps between the rear shell and the side or bottom shells.
Using a T8 or T10 Torx driver, screw the 21 screws into the rear of the printer.
Leveling the printer
Overview: After replacing the leveling foot, ensure the printer is level.
Step 1: Power on the printer
Connect the power cable to the printer and the power supply. The printer initializes. If you replaced the front-right leveling foot, allow the printer to complete the LPU maintenance routine.
Step 2: Level the printer
On the touchscreen, tap the wrench icon. The Settings screen appears. Tap Maintenance > Printer Leveling. Follow the instructions on the touchscreen to adjust the leveling feet with the leveling disc until the printer is level.
Step 3: Test the repair
Start a print to test the repair. Inspect the finished part to ensure the machine prints evenly. Contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller to share the results of the procedure.
