Failed prints often leave small, partially cured pieces of resin floating in the tank or cured resin stuck to the flexible film at the bottom of the tank. For best results, inspect and clean the tank after every print.

For many resins, the Form 3L features a printable cleaning mesh function that can be used to remove a failed print. The cleaning mesh prints as a thin layer across the resin tank, binding cured and partially cured resin into a single piece. The cleaning mesh can then be removed from the tank along with the failed print. For more information about cleaning a failed print with the cleaning mesh, see Cleaning a failed print with the cleaning mesh (Form 3L/Form 3BL).

The Form 3L Finish Kit includes a tank tool, which is a custom two-part scraper and tweezers. The tank tool is made of plastic and has rounded edges to protect the flexible film interior. Remove individual pieces of cured resin from the resin tank with the tank tool.

To manually remove cured resin:

1. Put on a new, clean pair of nitrile gloves.
2. Remove the build platform and resin cartridges from the printer.
3. Remove the resin tank from the printer. Place the resin tank in the tank case and set aside on a clean, flat surface. This allows for better visibility and more space to work than leaving the resin tank in the printer.
4. Separate the top and bottom parts of the tank tool. Place the top part aside.
5. Prepare several paper towels nearby to collect cured and uncured resin.
6. Rest the long edge of the tank tool on the flexible film interior. Skim the film surface. Search for obstructions that indicate cured resin stuck to the flexible film.
7. To remove cured resin:
   1. Slide the long edge of the tool under the edge of the cured resin.
   2. Pry with moderate pressure. Slide or pry from different angles or increase pressure to detach cured resin from the film surface. Do not press directly into the flexible film with the edge of the tank tool.
   3. Rest the cured resin on the blade of the tank tool.

4. Lift the cured resin out of the resin tank.
• If the tank tool cannot hold the cured resin:
  1. Attach the top part of the tank tool to the bottom part.
  2. Squeeze the cured resin between the two ends.

Clean the tank tool after each use to remove excess liquid resin and prevent contamination.

To wipe the tank tool:

1. Put on a new, clean pair of nitrile gloves.
2. Apply clean isopropyl alcohol to a clean, low-fiber paper towel.
3. Wipe the surface of the tank tool to remove resin.
4. Allow the tank tool to air dry after wiping.

To wash the tank tool:

1. Put on a new, clean pair of nitrile gloves.
2. Rest the tank tool in the wash basket of the Form Wash L or rinse bucket of the Form 3L Finish Kit.
3. Wash the tank tool for five minutes. Increase the wash time for heavily-used solvent.
4. Allow the tank tool to air dry after washing.

After removing the primary print failure, inspect the resin and resin tank for other small fragments. While the mixer helps keep the print area clear during printing, clean resin and optical transparency of the resin tank’s underside are always the best way to ensure quality prints.

At the start of each print, the LPU housing pulls the mixer back and forth across the flexible film several times. This motion mixes the resin in the resin tank while also checking for cured resin on the flexible film and on the build platform. If the mixer encounters cured resin blocking its path, its magnets decouple from the magnets in the LPU housing and the printer pauses the print. This is the designed behavior of the mixer and is intended to protect the flexible film and prevent further print failures.

To reseat the mixer:

1. Open the printer cover.
2. Orient the mixer with its arms facing upward and toward the right side of the resin tank.
3. Place the mixer flat in the resin tank.
4. Push the mixer to the right edge of the resin tank until the magnets engage.