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Form 2 SLA 3D Printer

The Formlabs official website and forums have great references for all your printing needs:

• Official Quick Start Guide

• Resin Care

• Resin Filtration

• Post Curing Prints (UV Cure)

• Cleaning After a Failed Print

• Minimum design specs for thin walls, unsupported features to reduce resin usage, overhangs, clearances, drain holes, etc.

• Print Defects

• Form 2 Error Messages

• Advanced Support Structures

• Video of Adam Savage's Tested In-Depth

• Article of Adam Savage's Tested In-Depth

• Thin wall and print resolution test on Form 1

• Designing for the Form 1 Printer (strong wall = 2mm) (PDF)

Notes (TODO: TO BE UPDATED):

• Use one tank per resin type and make sure to cover tank

• Important failure modes (see "Print Defects" link)

• Reducing resin usage...

• Contacts for when needs repairs

• Pricing: $0.30 per mL

• Connecting to printer

• Don't connect to Wifi to prevent outsiders from printing

• Use gloves when handling finished prints and toxic resin in general

• Build plate lasts longer if not printed directly on it and proper supports are used

• The peeling process can cause warping if features are unsupported or too thin

• Warping...

• Thin walls below 1mm (.040") may be too weak and warp

• Overhangs should be above 20deg from the build platform plane

• Resolutions: 25 to 100 microns

• Print speed is slower than FDM printers due to peeling process

• SLA vs. FDM: SLA is slower with higher resolution and isotropic strength (strong in all directions). FDM is faster with lower resolution and anisotropic strength (stronger in one direction than another, orientation of print matters more)

• DON'T MIX RESINS

• Close air vent when done printing

• When installing new resin, enlarge slit for rubber outlet? Remove orange cap with installing, put orange cap back on when removing

• Don't leave build platform out with hardening resin

• UV curing

• Cleaning with isopropyl alcohol

• Clean up and etiquette for sharing printer

• Anisotropic vs. isotropic (FDM vs. SLA)

• Contamination and cleaning build platform properly

• Keep tank clear of smudges, fingerprints, or anything visually obscuring than would affect laser

• Replace tank every 2 liters of prints (or once prints noticeably deteriorate in quality)

• Supports needed for easy removal of part from build platform

• PreForm software for automatic support generation, orientation, sizing... and tips for advanced supports

• Shelling/hollowing part to reduce print time/resin usage

• Adding custom ribs/supports?

• Free Autodesk Mesh Mixer for fixing meshes, generating supports, modify print files mesh and geometry, add drain holes, hollow parts

• Specialty materials guide

• Contacts for help using printer

• Stress tests articles/videos to show what is/isn't possible with Form 2

• Clean isopropyl alcohol container of floating resin by UV curing it (?)

• Stay with printer for first hour (?) when starts printing to make sure print doesn't peel off build platform

• Large cross sections can cause supports to break during peeling process due to large shear forces

Last edited by Richard at 11:29am on 4th of June 2019