The Fuse Sift display assembly is the primary means of interacting with and controlling the machine. A broken or malfunctioning display or the cable that connects it to the motherboard may prevent the machine from being used normally.
Use this guide to replace the Fuse Sift display assembly or cable.
Required supplies:
Formlabs:
Third-party:
Estimated time: 45–60 minutes
Preparing the workspace
Overview: Prepare the Fuse Sift and your workspace for replacing the display assembly and cable.
Step 1: Remove and store printed parts
The Fuse Sift hood will be open during portions of this procedure. Remove any printed parts from the Fuse Sift workspace to prevent them from being damaged inadvertently.
Step 2: Clean the workspace
Using the vacuum attached to your Fuse Sift, clean the workspace. Vacuum any loose powder inside the workspace, under the hood, on the print bed and the surrounding port, and on the vent filter.
Step 3: Unplug the Fuse Sift
Power off the Fuse Sift, then unplug the power cable from the rear panel.
Danger:
Performing this procedure on the Fuse Sift while it is plugged in increases the risk of electric shock. After disconnecting the power from the Fuse Sift, wait at least five minutes before servicing.
Step 4: Unscrew the Wi-Fi antenna
Remove the Wi-Fi antenna, if present.
Warning:
Use appropriate personal protective equipment when handling loose or unsintered powder. Refer to the support article Safety with Formlabs SLS products or your powder’s safety data sheet (SDS) for more information.
Removing the upper front enclosure panel
Overview: Remove the upper front enclosure panel to access the display assembly mounting screws.
Step 1: Unscrew the upper front enclosure panel mounting screws
Using a 2.5 mm hex driver, loosen and remove the four black 8.0 mm M4 button screws underneath the upper front enclosure panel lip. Remove the three black 8.0 mm M4 button screws from the left-hand side of the same panel. Set the screws aside.
Step 2: Remove the upper front enclosure panel
Slide the panel downwards to remove it from the Fuse Sift. Set the upper front enclosure panel aside.
Removing the display assembly
Overview: Disconnect and remove the original display assembly. The display assembly can be replaced separate from its cable.
Notice:
The Fuse Sift contains sensitive electronic components. Ground yourself before touching any electronics in the device by using an antistatic wrist band.
The display assembly is mounted to a frame that is then secured to the Fuse Sift. Using a 2.5 mm hex driver, loosen and remove the two chrome 8.0 mm M4 button screws securing the display assembly frame to the front of the Fuse Sift. Set the screws aside.
Step 2: Separate the display assembly and frame from the Fuse Sift
Gently pull the left side of the display assembly outward, then to the left. Do not pull sharply on the display assembly, as it is still connected to the Fuse Sift via a cable.
Unlock the cable clamp holding the display cable.
Place the display assembly in the workspace with the screen side facing up. Using a 2.5 mm hex driver, loosen and remove the four black 7.0 mm M4 button screws holding the metal frame to the display assembly. Set the frame and the screws aside.
Turn the display assembly over and locate the display cable connector. Carefully disconnect the cable from the original display assembly, then separate the rubber grommet holding the cable from the display assembly. Set the display assembly aside for disposal with electronic waste.
If you are only replacing the display assembly, skip to Installing the replacement display assembly. Otherwise, continue.
Removing the display cable
Overview: Remove the rear enclosure panel, open the motherboard enclosure, and remove the display cable.
Use a 2.5 mm hex driver to remove the 16 black 8.0 mm M4 screws securing the rear panel to the Fuse Sift. Set the screws and rear enclosure panel aside.
If you have not already, put on an antistatic wristband and connect it to a known ground point. Do not connect the wristband any surfaces that are powder-coated or painted.
Locate the square motherboard cover on the rear of the machine. Using a #2 Phillips driver, loosen and remove the eight countersunk screws securing the cover onto the motherboard enclosure. Set the screws and cover aside.
Disconnect the USB and Ethernet cables from the top of the motherboard. Disconnecting these cables gives you more room to work when you disconnect the display cable.
Step 4: Unseat the display cable grommet from the motherboard enclosure
Locate the grommet passing through the top of the motherboard enclosure, just above the USB and Ethernet ports. Squeeze the three retention tabs on the sides and push it through to the outside of the enclosure. Note that one of the tabs is on the back of the grommet.
Using a 2.5 mm hex driver, loosen and remove the chrome 10.0 mm M4 screw at the top-right corner of the motherboard. Set the screw aside.
Step 6: Disconnect the display cable from the motherboard
Carefully feed the cables slack out of the enclosure. Once you have fed the slack out of the enclosure, carefully disconnect the display connector from the motherboard.
Rotate the display cable connector 90º so that it can fit through the cutout in the enclosure. Push it up and out of the motherboard enclosure along with the grounding wire.
Step 7: Open the display cable grommet
Locate the two vertical slots on the back of the plastic grommet. Insert a 6.5 mm slotted screwdriver into the larger slot. Firmly push the driver into the slot and away from the cable to partially unlock the grommet. Pull the two halves of the grommet apart until it opens completely.
Separate the cable from the grommet and set the grommet aside.
Step 8: Separate the display cable from cable routing components
Use a pair of flush cutters to cut the zip tie securing the display cable and several other cables to the top-left corner of the motherboard enclosure. Be careful not to cut any of the other cables.
Follow the display cable and locate the grommet in the left-hand side of the Fuse Sift’s frame that it passes through. Gently push it upwards to release it from the frame, then remove the display cable from it. Open the nearby cable clamp and separate the display cable from it.
Carefully turn the display connector 90º so that it can fit through the grommet cutout in the frame. Pull the display cable through and out the back of the Fuse Sift. Take care not to pull on any other cables. Set the cable aside for disposal.
Installing the replacement display cable
Overview: Route, secure, and connect the replacement display cable.
Step 1: Begin routing the display cable
Feed the end of the new display cable with the grounding wire into the cutout in the left-hand side of the Fuse Sift’s frame. Wrap the grommet around the display cable and the other cables passing through this hole in the frame, but do not push the grommet into place at this time.
Pull the display cable through the Fuse Sift frame, then feed the connector and the grounding wire into the opening on the top of the motherboard enclosure.
Route the grounding wire behind the standoff that the ring terminal will be secured to.
Step 3: Secure the grounding wire to the motherboard
Hold the grounding wire ring terminal against the open screw hole in the motherboard. Thread the chrome 10.0 mm screw into the screw hole, then use a 2.5 mm hex driver to tighten until snug. Ensure that the ring terminal cannot spin freely.
Step 4: Connect the display cable to the motherboard
Align the display cable connector with the port on the motherboard, then seat it by gently pushing straight down on both sides of the connector. The port is fragile, so do not force the connector into place.
Reconnect the USB and Ethernet cables to the motherboard.
Orient the locking grommet with the tabs facing down. Wrap the locking grommet around the portion of the display cable outside the motherboard enclosure. Position the grommet so that there is roughly 10 mm between the bottom of the grommet and the top of the label on the cable. Squeeze the grommet shut until it locks.
Press the locking grommet down into the cutout in the motherboard until the tabs click into place. Tuck any slack in the display cable behind the motherboard.
Apply a small dab of Loctite 243 or equivalent threadlocker onto the threads of each of ther motherboard cover mounting screws. Place the motherboard cover onto the motherboard enclosure, aligning the screw holes in the cover with the corresponding one around the edge of the enclosure. Thread one mounting screw into each of the eight screw holes, then use a #2 Phillips screwdriver to tighten until snug.
Step 8: Secure the display cable
Using a zip tie, secure the display harness and the other cables it was originally bundled with to the mount on the top-left of the motherboard enclosure.
Pull any remaining slack after the zip tie through the frame pass-through, then push the grommet back into place.
Feed the cable towards the front of the Fuse Sift, then route it into the cable clamp adjacent to the grommet.
Installing the replacement display assembly
Overview: Mount, secure, and connect the replacement display assembly.
Step 1: Mount the display cable grommet to the display assembly
Seat the groove in the display cable’s rubber grommet onto the cutout in the new display assembly.
Plug the display cable connector into the new display assembly.
Place the display assembly on its metal frame, with the long edge of the frame on the left. Align the four screw holes in the display assembly with the corresponding screw holes in the frame.
Apply a small dab of Loctite 243 or equivalent threadlocker to each of the four black 8.0 mm M4 button head screws that secure the display assembly to its frame. Thread one screw into each of the four screw holes in the display assembly. Using a 2.5 mm hex driver, tighten until snug.
Step 4: Route the display cable
Feed the display cable back into the cable clamp below the display assembly, then reengage the lock.
Step 5: Mount the display assembly
Locate the two slots on the right-hand side of the display assembly, as well as the corresponding posts behind the adjacent panel. Slide the slots onto the posts, then push the left side of the display assembly towards the Fuse Sift to seat it into place.
Note that the metal display assembly frame needs to be behind the grey plastic of the adjacent panel in order for the display assembly to properly slot into place.
Apply a small dab of Loctite 243 or similar threadlocker to the threads of the two chrome 8.0 mm M4 screws that secure the display assembly to the Fuse Sift. Thread one screw into both of the two screw holes in the left side of the display assembly frame. Using a 2.5 mm hex driver, tighten until snug.
Pull any slack in the display cable into the Fuse Sift from the back.
Reinstalling the rear enclosure panel
Overview: Mount and secure the rear enclosure panel after installing the new display assembly and cable.
Step 1: Prepare the rear panel retention screws
Apply a small amount of Loctite 243 or other similar threadlocker to each of the 16 black 8.0 mm M4 button screws that secure the rear panel to the Fuse Sift.
Step 2: Mount the rear panel
Mount the rear panel onto the Fuse Sift.
Step 3: Secure the rear panel
Thread one 8.0 mm M4 button screw into each of the 16 screw holes in the rear panel. Use a 2.5 mm hex driver to tighten until snug.
Tip:
Start with the top three screws to hold the panel in place while you thread and tighten the remaining screws.
Reinstalling the upper front enclosure panel
Overview: After replacing the display assembly and/or display cable, reinstall the upper front enclosure panel.
Step 1: Align the upper front enclosure panel
Align the upper front enclosure panel with the so that the black tab on the right-hand side of the panel and the two black flanges on the left-hand side of the panel are not visible. Start by aligning the smaller tab on the right first.
Slide the panel upwards until it locks into place. Note that the panel can still fall down if knocked or hit.
Step 3: Secure the upper front enclosure panel
Apply a small dab of Loctite 243 or equivalent threadlocker to each of the seven black 8.0 mm M4 button head screws that secure the upper front enclosure panel to the Fuse Sift. Thread one of the screws into each of the seven screw holes in the panel. Using a 2.5 mm hex driver, tighten the screws until snug.
Finalizing the repair
Overview: After installing the new display assembly and cable, power on the Fuse Sift and test its functions.
Step 1: Power on the Fuse Sift
Reconnect the Fuse Sift to its power source. Flip the power switch to the ON position.
Step 2: Test the machine
Check that the Fuse Sift fully boots. Test various functions to ensure the machine works as expected. Contact Formlabs Support or your certified service provider to share the results of the procedure.
