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Setting up your Form 3L/Form 3BL

Setting up your Form 3L/Form 3BL

Get ready to print with the Form 3L/Form 3BL. Learn best practices to set up and use the Form 3L/Form 3BL and its resin tank, build platform, and resin dispensing system.

Turning on the printer

To turn on the printer:

  1. Plug the included power cable into the power port on the back of the machine and connect the power cable to a power outlet.
  2. Flip the power switch on the back of the printer to power on the machine. The printer initializes automatically.

The first time the printer is connected to power, the touchscreen displays a series of onboarding steps. The onboarding steps include instructions for inserting consumables (resin tank, resin cartridges, and build platform) into the printer, additional details for which are given below. Follow these steps to prepare the printer for use.

Inserting the resin tank

Resin is dispensed out of the resin cartridges into the resin tank. During a print, two lasers pass upwards through the flexible film of the resin tank and cure resin onto the build platform to form a printed part.

Warning:

Resin and solvent may cause skin irritation or an allergic skin reaction. Wear gloves when handling liquid resin, resin-coated surfaces, or solvent. Wash skin with plenty of soap and water.

Notice:

Resin may spill over the tank walls if the resin tank tilts more than 5–10 degrees. Hold the resin tank level with two hands. To inspect and clean the resin tank's underside, empty the resin tank and/or take care to avoid spilling resin outside the resin tank.

The resin tank is the primary container for holding resin after it is dispensed from the cartridges. Resin is cured onto the build platform when the laser passes through the tank's bottom film.

To insert the resin tank:

  1. Open the printer cover.
  2. Open the lid of the tank case.
  3. Remove packaging materials from the resin tank.
  4. Lift the resin tank with one hand on each side.

Notice:

Avoid contaminating the resin tank's underside with fingerprints or liquid resin.

  1. With the tank spout facing right, rest the front edge of the resin tank on the rails in the printer.
  2. Push the resin tank forward, pressing evenly on both sides, until the resin tank reaches the back of the machine. The resin tank magnetically clicks into place. You should not need to apply significant force. The printer will not properly detect the resin tank unless it is fully inserted.
  3. If the printer is turned on, the touchscreen displays a message, plays a notification sound, and the status lights pulse to show that a resin tank has been detected.

Inserting the mixer

Each resin tank includes a mixer that improves print consistency by clearing the build area and circulating the resin. Scrapers on the top and bottom of the mixer clear the build platform and flexible film, respectively.

To insert 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.

Inserting the build platform

The build platform is the surface onto which parts are printed. It is secured in place on the build platform carriage during a print with the platform lock.

Notice:

Hold the build platform by both handles when inserting it into or removing it from the printer.

To insert the build platform:

  1. Raise the platform lock.
  2. Align the build platform with the build platform carriage.
  3. Push the build platform onto the build platform carriage. A sensor detects the build platform, and the status lights pulse.
  4. Lower the platform lock to secure the build platform.

Inserting the resin cartridges

Resin cartridges hold liquid resin before it is dispensed into the resin tank. Given the Form 3L’s build volume and the size of the resin tank, it uses two resin cartridges at once.

Note:

A print can be started with only one resin cartridge inserted. Monitor the printer to ensure it does not run out of resin during the print.

To insert the resin cartridges:

Notice:

Do not remove the flexible, rubber bite valves at the bottom of the resin cartridges. These bite valves control the release of the resin. Removing the bite valves allows resin to continuously flow and causes extreme damage to the printer. This damage is not covered by the warranty.

 

  1. Align the resin cartridge with one of the two cartridge slots on the right side of the printer.
  2. Place the resin cartridge into the slot. The resin cartridge fits into the slot in one orientation.
    • If the printer is turned on, the touchscreen displays a message, plays a notification sound, and the status lights pulse to show the resin cartridge has been detected.
  3. Press the vent cap open, so that the resin tank fills correctly.
  4. Place a second resin cartridge, with the same resin type and version, into the other slot.

Tip:

Make sure the material in the resin tank always matches the resin type in the installed resin cartridges.

Printing with the Form 3L/Form 3BL

Now that the printer is set up: