Tip:
For a downloadable resource, see the guide Schedule of maintenance (Form 2) (English only)
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Schedule of maintenance (Form 2)
Schedule of maintenance (Form 2)
Proactive maintenance is key for keeping your Form 2 printing successfully. Consult the table below for a schedule of suggested maintenance procedures and links to additional guides and resources.
Schedule of maintenance
Daily
| Component | Inspection | Maintenance steps (if problems are noted) | Est time | Incidental | Resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optical window | Inspect the optical glass window for contamination, including dust, resin, spots, streaks, clouding, or fingerprints. | If possible, clean the glass optical window with dry lint-free wipes (PEC*PADs). If dry wipes are not sufficient, you may apply small amounts of IPA to the lint-free wipe to help loosen up surface contaminants. Lay the wipe flat against the glass and wipe in a straight line from one side to the other slowly. Repeat in overlapping wipes until the surface is clean. | 0.2 h | Perform this check after a resin spill. | Cleaning the glass optical window (Form 2) |
| Resin tank | Use a plastic scraper to inspect the tank for cured resin adhered to the film inside the resin tank or loosely mixed into the liquid resin. | Using the scraper, gently dislodge cured resin from the bottom of the resin tank. Do not gouge or scratch the tank window. If many resin chunks are mixed in with the liquid resin and cannot be removed manually, the resin may need to be filtered. | 0.2 h | Perform this check after a failed print. | Standard Resin Tank: Maintenance and care Resin Tank LT: Maintenance and care |
| Resin tank | Use the wiper to sweep any liquid resin to one side and inspect the film inside the resin tank for pitting, clouding, spotting, or ripples. | Replace the resin tank if there is any physical damage. If clouding, spotting, or ripples are evident, this could impact print quality. Monitor print quality and replace the resin tank if print quality declines. | 0.1 h | Perform this check if there are print quality issues or if resin has leaked onto the optical window. | Standard Resin Tank: Maintenance and care Resin Tank LT: Maintenance and care |
| Build platform | Inspect the build platform for liquid resin, tackiness, or cured resin on the print surface. | Use isopropyl alcohol to remove any liquid resin or tackiness. Use a metal scraper to remove any cured resin. | 0.1 h | Perform this check after removing printed parts from the build platform. |
Monthly
| Component | Inspection | Maintenance steps (if problems are noted) | Est time | Incidental | Resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optics | Run an optics test print. Wash and dry once completed. Inspect each printed part for signs of optical degradation. Each of the four columns should have sharp angles and the numbers should be crisp. The center object should have crisp details in the slits and vertical rods. | If uniform optical degradation is noted, this could be an indication that the internal optical surfaces need to be cleaned. Contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller for assistance. Provide photos of the optics print test. See the guide Printing the Form 2 optics test for more information. Formlabs advises you print the optics test with a Standard Resin. Our engineering and dental resins are not suitable for optics tests. Irregular defects indicate a problem with the optical window or resin tank. Perform checks on both systems. | 2.0 h | Perform this test after resin spills or extensive cleaning procedures. | Printing the Form 2 optics test [EN] [DE] [ES] [FR] [IT] [JA] [ZH] |
| PreForm | Open PreForm and check for version updates. Select Help > About PreForm from the menu bar to check for PreForm updates. | If PreForm is unable to connect to the internet, PreForm versions can be downloaded manually using the resource guide provided here. | 0.1 h | Perform this check any time your printer behaves unexpectedly or displays an error message. | PreForm downloads and release notes |
| Printer firmware | Open PreForm. Expand the right panel by clicking the < button. Click the Printer Name to open the Job Setup window. Select the appropriate printer from the list to open the Printer Details window. Click Firmware Update. | If the printer is unable to connect to the internet, firmware versions can be downloaded manually using the resource guide provided here. Manually downloaded files can be loaded in PreForm in the Firmware Update window. | 0.1 h | Perform this inspection any time your printer behaves unexpectedly or displays an error message. | Firmware downloads and release notes |
Incidental (as needed)
| Component | Inspection | Maintenance steps (if problems are noted) | Est time | Incidental | Resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resin tank | Carefully inspect the acrylic resin tank window (the tank’s underside) for signs of contamination, finger prints, or smudges. | The acrylic resin tank window can be gently cleaned using a clean microfiber cloth and a plastic cleaner such as NOVUS No. 1. Transfer the resin in the tank to a separate opaque resin-safe container before cleaning. Apply 1–2 full sprays of NOVUS No. 1, and wipe using long, sweeping strokes top to bottom and across the tank window. Fold the microfiber cloth after each swipe to prevent dust and debris from scratching the acrylic. Repeat until the entire window is free of streaks or other optical contamination. | 0.2 h | Perform this check before inserting a resin tank into the Form 2 or when print quality issues are detected. | Standard Resin Tank: Maintenance and care Resin Tank LT: Maintenance and care |
| Resin cartridge | Inspect the resin cartridge thoroughly for leakage, especially around the cartridge skirt and the rubber bite valve. | Do not use the resin cartridge if you notice resin leakage. Place the resin cartridge in a plastic bag and contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller. | 0.1 h | Perform this check before inserting a resin cartridge into the printer. | Resin cartridge maintenance and storage |
| Resin cartridge | Check to see if the resin is more than 24 months old. The production date is located on a white sticker on the bottom of the cartridge. | Dispose of expired resin. | 0.1 h | Perform this check before inserting a resin cartridge into the printer. | Resin cartridge maintenance and storage |
Contacting Formlabs Support
If the maintenance steps above do not resolve the issue, contact Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller.
To help us provide the fastest and most effective response to your issue, please follow these steps:
- Upload diagnostic logs
- 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. The Your Printer screen appears.
- Troubleshooting steps attempted
- Example: “I reoriented the model in PreForm. I inspected the resin tank and did not notice any damage, clouding, or debris.”
- Resin formulation and lot number
- The lot number is inside the skirt of the resin cartridge.
- Layer thickness
- Tap the queue icon on the home screen. 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.”