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3D Printing

Formlabs Preform Overview

General Overview

Preform is the software provided by Formlabs that will convert your model file into machine directions to create your print. These machine instructions are produced automatically, based upon user configurable options. This page will go over the basics of setting up your machine settings, changing basic variables for print quality, and ensure successful prints using Formlabs products. More detailed guides and forms regarding post processes will be linked out to our OEM’s continually updated recommendations.

Download and Install

To install PreForm on your computer to use with a Fuse 1 printer:

  1. Download Preform.
  2. Click the Download button for your computer’s operating system. An EXE or DMG file downloads.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Double-click the file named Preform_setup to begin installing PreForm. A setup window opens.
  5. Follow the prompts to finish installing.

Selecting a Printer in PreForm

When opening PreForm for the first time, a Virtual Printer is selected by default. Selecting a printer in PreForm allows you to send a new print job to the printer or to view the status of a current print job. To select a printer in PreForm:

  1. Click the < button. The Job Info dialog box opens.
  2. Click the printer name. The Job Setup window opens.
  3. Click the Select Printer arrow. The Printer List window opens.
  4. Click the name of a Printer you wish to select. The Printer Details window opens.
  5. Click Select. The Job Setup window opens.
  6. Click Apply. The selected Printer appears in the Job Info dialog box.

Update Firmware

Download the latest firmware version for your Formlabs SLA printer with PreForm, then upload and install the firmware file on the printer. Review the firmware release notes to learn more about the improvements that come with each version’s release.

  1. Open PreForm.
  2. Connect the printer to the computer via USB or wire the printer to an Ethernet network.
  3. Click the < button. The Job Info dialog box opens.
  4. Click the printer name. The Job Setup window opens.
  5. Click the Select Printer arrow. The Printer List window opens.
  6. Click on the name of a printer you wish to select. The Printer Details window opens.
  7. Click Update in the upper-right corner of the Printer Details window. The Firmware Update window opens.
  8. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the latest firmware and then upload the file to the printer. To upload firmware, the printer must be connected to the computer via USB or the printer must be wired to an Ethernet network.
  9. The printer may automatically recognize you have sent a firmware update. Tap Continue on the printer’s touchscreen to finish the installation.
  10. If you are not prompted to Continue, you must continue the firmware update manually:
    1. On the touch screen, tap Settings > System > Firmware Update.
  11. After the firmware update installs, confirm the system restart on the touchscreen or wait 30 seconds for an automatic restart.

Matching Materials in PreForm to the Inserted Resin Tank and Cartridge

Send a print job to the printer and confirm the print job on your printer’s touchscreen. The printer indicates whether the resin tank and cartridge currently inserted match the print job settings, and prompts you to change materials, if necessary. To change the materials selected in PreForm to the resin tank and cartridge currently inserted in your printer:

  1. Click the < button. The Job Info dialog box opens.
  2. Click the printer name. The Job Setup window opens.
  3. Click the Select Printer arrow. The Printer List window opens.
  4. Click the name of a Printer you wish to select. The Printer Details window opens.
  5. Click Select. The Job Setup window opens.
  6. Click the Resin field. A dropdown appears.
  7. Select Current Printer Settings from the dropdown. The material matches what is currently inserted in the printer.

Loading a Model in PreForm

To open a single OBJ or STL file or multiple files to print on the same build platform:

  1. Open PreForm.
  2. In the menu bar, click File > Open. The Open File window appears.
  3. Select at least one file.
    • To select multiple models, press and hold the command key on macOS or the CTRL key on Windows.
  4. Click Open. The selected models appear in PreForm.

Moving and Rotating a Model in PreForm

Choosing which face of a model should point toward the build platform, and which face should point away, is a decision that affects more than just printability. The face that acts as a base is usually impacted the most by support marks that result in a rough surface finish. If preserving the fine details on your model is important, try orienting the model with that face away from the build platform.

Rotating a Model

Angle your model along the X, Y, and Z axes to orient it around the build platform.

  1. Select the model. Manipulators are overlaid on the model.
  2. Click Orientation. A dialogue box opens.
  3. To rotate:
    • Click-and-drag along the sphere manipulator to spin the model freely.
    • Click-and-drag on a ring to move the model along that axis.
    • Enter a specific angle into an axis field.
    • Click on an axis arrow.
    • Hover the pointer over an axis field and use the scroll wheel

Moving a model

Move a model to a different location on the build platform to create space for other parts or to prolong the life of a tank.

  1. Select the model. Manipulators are overlaid on the model.
  2. To move:
    • Click-and-drag the Move manipulator to a new location on the build platform.
    • Click-and-drag the selected model to a new location on the build platform.

Positioning by Base

Layer thickness affects both the speed and quality of a print. Thicker layers print faster but sacrifices detail. Thinner layers print more slowly but are able to capture finer details. Most materials have a variety of layer thickness settings to choose from, so there’s always an option to suit your needs.

  1. Select the model. Manipulators are overlaid on the model.
  2. Click Orientation. A dialogue box opens.
  3. Click Select Base…. A window opens and the pointer appears as an orange arrow.
  4. Click a face of the model to point it toward the build platform.
  5. Click Done. The window closes.

Adjusting Layer Thickness in PreForm

Selecting Resin and Layer Thickness

Preserve the fine details of your model by facing the smaller features away from the build platform. To choose which side faces the build platform:

Layer Thickness is measured in fractions of a millimeter, often given in microns. 1 micron (µm) is equal to 0.001 of a millimeter (mm). To provide a sense of scale, 100 microns is the same thickness as a sheet of paper or a human hair. To set the Layer Thickness:

  1. Click the < button. The Job Info dialog box opens.
  2. Click the printer name. The Job Setup window opens.
  3. Click the Resin field to select a material from the dropdown.
  4. Click the Version field to select a version from the dropdown.
  5. Drag the Layer Thickness slider to the desired thickness.
  6. Click Apply. The selected material and layer thickness settings are applied.

NOTE: Support will be generated differently depending upon material and layer thickness.

Effect of Layer Thickness On Printed Parts

Effect of layer thickness on parts with supports.
Effect of layer thickness on parts without supports.

Selecting Adaptive Layer Thickness

Adaptive layer thickness is a setting that balances speed and quality to give you the best of both worlds. When PreForm detects curves, slants, and other features that would be negatively impacted by thicker layers, it processes these features into thinner slices. When PreForm detects walls, columns, and other verticals that can be printed in a single, large piece it automatically increases the layer thickness. PreForm transitions smoothly from one layer setting to another so there are no sudden jumps in thickness.

Layer Thickness is set to Fixed by default. Selecting the Adaptive setting automatically changes the layer thickness throughout a print job based on the geometry between layers. To switch to Adaptive layer thickness:

  1. Click the < button. The Job Info dialog box opens.
  2. Click the printer name. The Job Setup window opens.
  3. Click the Resin field to select a material from the dropdown.
  4. Click the Version field to select a version from the dropdown. A Fixed and Adaptive toggle appears.
  5. Click Adaptive. The Adaptive Layer Thickness notification appears.
  6. Click Apply. The selected material and layer thickness settings are applied.

NOTE: Support will be generated differently depending upon material and layer thickness.

One-Click Print Options

When orienting and supporting a model, keep in mind that a model has several correct orientations. Clicking One-Click Print shifts models between these different orientations and supports them accordingly. To orient and support a model with One-Click Print in PreForm:

  1. Click the < button. The Job Info dialog box opens.
  2. Click the name of a Printer. The Job Setup window opens.
  3. Click the Resin field to select a material from the dropdown.
  4. Click the Version field to select a version from the dropdown.
  5. Drag the Layer Thickness slider to the desired thickness.
  6. Click Apply. The selected material and layer thickness settings are applied.
  7. Click the One-Click Print icon. The One-Click Print dialog box opens.
  8. Click Set up your print. The model is oriented and supported, then the Print window opens.
  9. Click the Select Printer arrow. The Printer List window opens.
  10. Click the name of a Printer. The Printer Details window opens.
  11. Click Select. The Print window opens.
  12. Click the Job Name field. Enter a new name or view the existing name.
  13. Click Upload Job. The model is sent to the printer.

Generating Support Structures

Supports are the cornerstone of a successful SLA print—they hold the model in place throughout the entire printing process. Support structures reinforce overhangs and other delicate features. Adding more supports increases the likelihood of print success, but also increases the amount of post-processing work. Support structures can be generated automatically or adjusted manually per model.

Automatically Generating Support Structures

  1. Open models in PreForm.
  2. Click Supports. A dialog box opens.
  3. Click Auto-Generate All. Supports are added to all models on the build platform.

Automatically Generating Support Structures

If some parts of a model are highlighted in red as undersupported, add individual supports:

  1. Select the model in PreForm. Manipulators are overlaid on the model.
  2. Click Supports. A dialog box opens.
  3. Click Edit…. The model turns gray and supports are shown as white touchpoints.
  4. Click on the undersupported areas in red to add a support. White touchpoints appear where clicked.
  5. Click Apply. Supports are regenerated and remaining undersupported areas are highlighted in red.
  6. Repeat until model is fully supported.

Saving Support Changes

After supporting your model for maximum printability, save your work as a FORM file to keep changes to the support settings on your model.

  1. Navigate to File > Save As.

To upload a print job from PreForm to a printer:

  1. Click the orange Start a print icon in the left toolbar. The Print window opens.
  2. Click the Select Printer arrow to select a printer. The Printer List window opens.
  3. Click the Select Printer checkmark next to a printer’s serial name.
  4. Click Select. The Print window reopens.
  5. Enter or update the Job Name.
  6. Click Upload Job. The model is sent to the printer.

If the orange Upload Job button is unavailable in PreForm:

  1. Verify that there are no other instances of PreForm open on your computer.
  2. Check that the printer is connected to the same network as the computer running PreForm.
  3. If the computer is not connected to the same network, save any files in progress and close PreForm.
  4. Connect the computer to the same network the printer is on, start PreForm, and connect to the printer.

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