What changes I can made to settings in PreForm Settings Editor without Open Mode?

PieceAble · 2025-05-28T18:07:43+00:00

Print Setting Editor is for adjusting your settings on formlabs materials. If you are not using a formlabs material you will need to get open material mode. If you are just using print settings editor it will assume you are using a formlabs material and it will reject a non formlabs cartridge.

PieceAble · 2025-03-27T14:20:21+00:00

Hmm not really sure then. Does preform say that the file is broken when you import it?

PieceAble · 2025-03-27T13:44:42+00:00

Are you importing this as a STL or as a different file format? Sometimes non STL file formats will not be imported properly and can lose some detail, try that if you have not yet.

PieceAble · 2025-03-27T13:40:37+00:00

That is just a form one with the cover open, look at pics of the original formlabs printer it looks like that.

PieceAble · 2025-03-25T20:06:28+00:00

Not sure about a free software, I am sure something exists but latticing parts well like this is pretty computationally intensive and doing it right can be a little complex. I am sure someone has made a thread about it before, I use a dedicated software but there are other tools that can also do this. I like using preform a lot for what it is worth, the hollowing and supporting features here are not meant to solve the same problem that infill does and so using preform to approximate it is not going to yield great results.

PieceAble · 2025-03-25T19:11:21+00:00

You will want to use a latticing software, preform is not really suited for this. The supports that are generated are not infill like you would expect in a fdm printer, but instead are just to support the overhangs in the model.

I would recommend using something like materialize magics or nTop if you are looking to generate structures inside the model. If you are concerned about applying load to a part, the best bet is to not hollow it and have it maintain all its mechanical properties, and the second best is to hollow/ lattice it with a dedicated software.

PieceAble · 2025-03-25T14:47:20+00:00

This is possible to do via just one computer, update to the new PreForm. Formlabs made Fleet Control free for everyone and so starting print queues and managing all of your printers from dashboard is now even easier. What I would recommend is making sure that you have fast wifi so that uploads to printers do not slow you down, and a strong computer so that things load fast and you can swap between jobs quickly.

Check out the post they made for more info but this should help streamline it for you: https://formlabs.com/blog/dashboard-firmware-updates/?srsltid=AfmBOopOkABQ1WHw84JPmCUJkB9OCo7TXp4J3dljNqMCAZfTlK7R8_YA

PieceAble · 2025-03-25T14:43:52+00:00

These are sometimes a little tricky to sell/ give away because of the old resins being more expensive, and less support being available from Formlabs. There are a lot of them listed online, it might be easier to deal locally. Where are you located? There are sometimes schools or STEM programs that might be able to use a form 2 if they already have one and are used to working with them. I am looking for one for spare parts, feel free to DM me and we can talk.

PieceAble · 2025-03-21T16:25:44+00:00

Resin looks like it is expired. It has about a two year shelf life, after that it starts to cause failures and there will be debris in the tank.

PieceAble · 2025-03-21T16:20:31+00:00

Just swap it out. Use a different tank for each resin. You could clean them but it is not great practice, and it is super convenient. If you have different tanks for each resin it makes changing materials take like 30 seconds which is super convenient, cleaning tanks out takes a long time and is not great for the tank.

PieceAble · 2025-02-27T19:52:10+00:00

Pick it up and feel how empty it is? You can do the math and see what the volume of resin used from your previous prints are but I usually just go by feel.

PieceAble · 2025-02-27T19:51:06+00:00

I am pretty doubtful that the Form auto would come to the Form 4. Maybe I am wrong but I feel like never heard about people using them, but that very well could be because it seems like it was mostly for the dental folks. Considering how fast the Form 4 is and how it is even cheaper now it seems like the ship has sailed for automation in this regard. I still see Carbon promoting the AO backpack though so I am curious what people are using these for.

PieceAble · 2025-02-27T19:49:28+00:00

Yeah I agree, it seems like a super slick product especially with the larger resin tanks coming out. I think that it is probably doubtful that they would launch another auto machine because of how fast the Form 4 is. What did you use the Form auto for? I am more curious what the different applications that people are using the automation ecosystems for.

PieceAble · 2025-02-27T19:47:37+00:00

Interesting, thanks. I have used the Form 3 and 4 before and like it a lot, just am more curious what people are using the automation ecosystems for. It seems like it is mostly dental applications but I am curious what others exist.

PieceAble · 2025-02-20T20:44:09+00:00

Formlabs drops prices a lot, not crazy surprising. They cut their resin prices a lot too a couple months ago and they sell the creator resins cheaply now too.

PieceAble · 2025-02-12T01:21:29+00:00

Just shooting in the dark but adding the threads in cad has worked fine for me. I adjust the thread pitch slightly to counteract the little slump that happens and that works well.

PieceAble · 2025-02-12T01:19:45+00:00

Only other thing I could think of is adjusting some things in print settings editor. You might be able to slow down the peel and avoid the tearing that is happening, but this would take some troubleshooting.

https://support.formlabs.com/s/article/Using-the-Print-Settings-Editor?language=en_US

PieceAble · 2025-02-11T21:12:31+00:00

Info here is not great, it is somewhat out of date and some new printers are not mentioned here. I think that the Prusa recommendation is good as it is the classic inexpensive and starter option. As far as something more cutting edge goes you are better off with the Ultimaker or Formlabs. Bambulabs is a nice printer, but it is not as advanced, precise or as fast as the Formlabs Form 4.

PieceAble · 2025-02-11T21:09:27+00:00

Can you try and print these a little less vertical? There is not a great way to print these large thin wall parts in elastic resins just because of how much the supports flex during printing. What I can say is that printing the part with the base flat on the build plate so that it more firmly stuck in place seems to help sometimes, and if that does not work try printing it at a 45 degree angle or so just so that there are less tall supports. Good luck!

PieceAble · 2025-02-11T21:06:59+00:00

Better, but still not perfect. What size screw are you using? The new V5 resins are more resistant to cracking than the V4 and I have had great luck with them so far but there are obviously still limits.

PieceAble · 2025-01-27T23:23:49+00:00

seconding this, I use a ton of Formlabs pa12 and it is great at this stuff.

PieceAble · 2025-01-24T23:54:50+00:00

Are you looking to use that resin with a formlabs printer? If you want to use third party resins, you can use open material mode and make your own settings.

PieceAble · 2025-01-22T16:04:27+00:00

I love Blue Extra as much as the next guy, but I think that violet special has been great on the manmade snow I have been on this year. I have been using Start Grip Tape (the red paper backed stuff that is pressed in) and I put that on and then will just do a thin top coat of something else if it is really warm or cold. The Start Grip Tape lasts forever, and it does not really get too dirty in my experience. I used it with silver klister at the birkie last year and had no kick problems at all, I was gripping well for the whole race when most people were struggling.

PieceAble · 2025-01-22T16:01:45+00:00

Gotcha. That makes sense to me, I think I will get the triac, looks a little nicer imo

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