Setting Up The Formlabs 3L/3BL
General Overview
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.
Form 3L/3BL Components
1. Resin cartridge: Two containers hold the resin before dispensing into the resin tank. Shake the resin cartridges periodically to keep resin well mixed.
2. Cover: The printer lid, made of metal and a strong, orange-tinted material, blocks exposure to the lasers and protects the resin from curing due to ambient light.
3. Build platform: The aluminum base provides a surface for prints to attach to.
4. 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 and cure resin onto the build platform to form a printed part.
5. Mixer: Each resin tank includes a mixer that improves print consistency by clearing the build area and circulating the resin.
6. Touchscreen: The LCD capacitive touch user interface displays print information, settings, and error messages.
7. Leveling disc: Slide the leveling disc included around one of the leveling feet and rotate to raise or lower the printer.
8. Status light: Two interior lights (vertical strips along the left and right walls) and an illuminated logo (on the front panel) that pulse to indicate the printer is active, a print has completed, or the printer has encountered an error.
Turning On the Printer
To turn on and initiate the printer, follow these two steps.
- Plug the included power cable into the power port on the back of the machine and connect the power cable to a power outlet.
- The printer initiates 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.
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.
- Open the printer cover.
- Open the lid of the tank case.
- Remove packaging materials from the resin tank.
- Lift the resin tank with one hand on each side.
Add block
- With the tank spout facing right, rest the front edge of the resin tank on the rails in the printer.
- 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.
- 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.
Installing 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 install the mixer:
- Open the printer cover.
- Orient the mixer with its arms facing upward and toward the right side of the resin tank.
- Place the mixer flat in the resin tank.
- Push the mixer to the right edge of the resin tank until the magnets engage.
Installing 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.
- Raise the platform lock.
- Align the build platform with the build platform carriage.
- Push the build platform onto the build platform carriage. A sensor detects the build platform, and the status lights pulse.
- Lower the platform lock to secure the build platform.
Installing 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.
- Close the printer cover.
- Shake the resin cartridges before each print to ensure the resin is mixed thoroughly. Shake each resin cartridge approximately every two weeks during storage to keep resin well mixed for the best print quality.
- Remove the protective valve cover from the bottom of each resin cartridge. Formlabs recommends saving the valve covers to protect the bite valves when storing the resin cartridges.
NOTE: 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.
- Align the resin cartridge with one of the two cartridge slots on the right side of the printer.
- 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.
- Press the vent cap open, so that the resin tank fills correctly.
- Place a second resin cartridge, with the same resin type and version, into the other slot.
- Press the vent cap open on the second cartridge.
