Formlabs Form3 3D Drucker/en
ℹ️ New to resin printing?
If you are using the Form 3 for the first time, please work through this page from top to bottom.
ℹ️ What can you print?
The Formlabs Form 3 is a resin printer (SLA): a UV laser cures liquid resin layer by layer. This allows very fine details and smooth surfaces – however, the parts have to be washed and post-cured after printing.
- Location: Vienna – 3 printers: LucidEel, ElasticRaven and ElectricErmine
- Material: Resin: Grey V4.1, Clear V4, High Temp
- Build volume: 145 × 145 × 185 mm
- Layer height: 0.025 – 0.1 mm
- Recommended minimum wall thickness: 0.4 mm (supported walls) to 0.6 mm (free-standing walls), details in the Design Guidelines
- Software: PreForm
🚨 Important
Use only after an induction or after passing the online test. You can find dates and the online test on happylab.at.
The printers are used at your own risk. If a print fails, there is no refund.
Only resin from Happylab may be used – do not load your own material.
If your print failed, please let us know by email at wien@happylab.at. We have to check the resin tank for fragments before anyone can print again.
🛡️ Safety
Liquid resin irritates the skin and eyes and can cause allergies and eczema. It stays liquid as long as no UV light falls on it – under UV light (including sunlight) it cures quickly.
🔥 In an emergency
Resin on the skin or in the eyes
- Skin: Wash thoroughly with soap and water immediately.
- Eyes: Rinse immediately with plenty of water for several minutes.
- Notify the Happylab team.
⚠️ Basic rules
- ✔ When handling resin, fresh prints and isopropanol (IPA), we recommend bringing safety goggles and your own nitrile gloves – none are provided at the printer.
- ✔ Do not smear resin on the machine or its surroundings. Wipe up spilled resin immediately with paper towels and isopropanol.
- ✔ Keep the orange cover closed – it protects the resin from UV light.
🧹 After working
- Clean and dry the build platform and put it back into the printer
- Remove traces of resin from the printer, the Form Wash and the workstation
- Dispose of support structures and failed prints in the general waste.
🎬 Video tutorials
The interface of the current PreForm version may differ slightly from the videos.
Form 3, Form Wash and Form Cure
PreForm
🧭 Process overview
3D model → Prepare (PreForm) → Print (Form 3) → Wash (Form Wash) → Dry → Post-cure (Form Cure) → Remove supports
Freshly printed parts are coated with liquid resin and are not yet fully load-bearing. Washing removes the excess resin, and post-curing gives the part its final strength.
📐 Step 1: 3D model
You need a 3D file in the format STL or OBJ. You design your own models in a CAD program, and you can download ready-made models – you will find suitable programs and platforms below under Further information.
Already when designing, keep in mind the minimum wall thickness of 0.4 to 0.6 mm (see Design Guidelines).
💻 Step 2: Install PreForm
PreForm is installed on the 3D printing PC at Happylab. For your own computer: Download PreForm – please always use the current version.
PreForm on Linux: Formlabs does not offer a Linux version. We recommend Bottles – a standard bottle for applications works well. You can find detailed instructions here (in German).
✂️ Step 3: Prepare the print in PreForm
Select printer and material
- Select the printer in the selection window: LucidEel, ElasticRaven or ElectricErmine.
- Check that the resin tank and cartridge are detected. The fields Material and Version must match the resin in the cartridge.
- Layer thickness: We recommend 0.05 mm – without a microscope you cannot see the difference compared to finer layers. 0.025 mm greatly increases the print time and is not recommended.
Open the model
Via File → Open or by drag and drop. The model lies on the platform the way it was saved and appears gray. If you click it, it turns blue and is selected.
PreForm usually repairs faulty models automatically on import.
Change the size
Click the model, then click Size in the toolbar and scale it. Alternatively, drag the arrow symbol above the model with the mouse.
One-click print
PreForm automatically orients the model, creates support structures and arranges it on the platform. This is a good starting point – but always check the orientation and support structures afterwards, because not every result is printable.
Orientation
Resin printing follows different rules than FDM printing:
- Do not lay flat: Never orient large, flat surfaces parallel to the platform, but tilt them by 10–20°. Every layer has to peel off from the bottom of the tank – smaller layer areas peel off more easily and give nicer surfaces.
- Tall, thin parts should be positioned as close to the build platform as possible.
Support structures
With the sliders Density and Touchpoint size you set the number and size of the contact points. Via Edit you can add additional contact points by clicking on the model (dark blue dots).
- Areas shaded red have too few supports – add additional points there.
- Raft type: always use "Full Raft"!
Print hollow (optional)
Hollowing saves resin: PreForm automatically hollows out the object with the specified wall thickness.
This can create suction cups – closed cavities that create negative pressure during printing and deform the print or make it fail. PreForm warns about this. In that case, use the Hole tool to add openings with a diameter of 2–3 mm so that resin can drain out.
Layout
Here you can duplicate the model or load further models and arrange them on the platform.
Other tools
Texture: automatically applies a pattern to the surface (preset or your own).
Label: adds raised or engraved text to the surface.
Send to the printer
With the button at the bottom right you send the job to the printer. Before that, the estimated print time and print costs are displayed.
We recommend uploading the job to the queue and starting it at the machine after you have checked the platform and resin tank (see step 4). With Print now, the print starts immediately if the printer is unlocked and ready.
Send job to the printer
Upload job to the queue
🖨️ Step 4: At the printer
Unlock the printer
The printers are always switched on and online. To unlock one, hold your membership card against the printer's Fabman reader.
ℹ️ "Lid open"?
As long as the printer is not unlocked, it displays that the lid is open – this is normal. If nothing is printed for 15 minutes after unlocking, it locks itself again. During a print it stays unlocked, so you do not have to stay with it.
Check before starting
- Build platform: It must be clean and dry. If necessary, clean it with isopropanol and paper towels and let it dry thoroughly.
- Resin tank: Gently swirl it carefully and check for solid fragments. If there are solid pieces in the tank: do NOT print and let us know by email at wien@happylab.at.
- Cartridge: The air valve on top of the cartridge (back right) must be open.
Start the print
On the touchscreen, select your job and start it with Start Print. The printer asks whether the air valve of the cartridge is open – check it, open it if necessary and confirm. The print then starts.
Using a different resin
The resin tank and cartridge must belong to the same resin. How to change the tank is shown in the instructions from Formlabs. If you are unsure, please ask the Lab Managers.
🧼 Step 5: Wash with Form Wash
When the print is finished, the build platform moves all the way up. Put on safety goggles and – if you brought them – nitrile gloves.
- On the Form Wash, select Open with the control element – the holder and basket move up.
- Open the orange cover of the printer.
- Open the lever above the build platform and pull the platform off towards the front. Immediately turn it by 180° (parts facing up) so that no resin drips off.
- Place the platform with the print directly onto the holder in the Form Wash.
- On the Form Wash, select Start. The platform automatically moves into the isopropanol.
- After the wash cycle (15 minutes), the platform and basket automatically move back up.
- Let the excess isopropanol drip off.
- Remove the print from the platform: carefully slide the removal tool under the raft and pry it off by twisting sideways. Do not scratch the platform!
- Let the print dry for at least 30 minutes until the isopropanol has completely evaporated.
- Dry the platform with paper towels and put it back into the Form 3.
Wash time: We recommend 15 minutes. A printed table from Formlabs with the wash times for the individual resins is located at the printer.
More on this: Formlabs instructions with videos (in German)
☀️ Step 6: Post-cure with Form Cure
- Set time and temperature depending on the resin: Table from Formlabs
- Place the dry print in the Form Cure and start it.
- When the time is up, the Form Cure switches off automatically. Caution: The plate can still be hot when you take it out.
More on this: Formlabs instructions with videos
✂️ Step 7: Remove support structures
After curing, snip off the support structures with the small side cutter – ideally wearing safety goggles, as small parts can fly off. Dispose of the cured leftovers in the general waste.
✅ Your first resin print
Checklist
☐ Printer, material, version and layer thickness (0.05 mm) selected in PreForm
☐ Model oriented at an angle (no flat surfaces parallel to the platform)
☐ Support structures checked (no red areas), raft "Full Raft"
☐ Cavities provided with holes
☐ Job uploaded
☐ Printer unlocked with membership card
☐ Build platform clean and dry, resin tank free of fragments, air valve open
☐ Print started
☐ Washed, dried for at least 30 minutes, post-cured
☐ Supports removed, workstation cleaned
❓ Troubleshooting
| Problem | Possible cause / solution |
|---|---|
| Print failed, parts are stuck in the tank or missing | Let us know by email at wien@happylab.at – the tank has to be checked. Then check the orientation and support structures (red areas, raft "Full Raft") |
| Holes, craters or deformations on hollow parts | Suction cup: add holes with a diameter of 2–3 mm |
| Streaks or an unattractive surface on large areas | The surface lies parallel to the platform – tilt it by 10–20° |
| Part feels sticky after washing | Let it dry longer, only then post-cure |
| Print very slow | Use a layer thickness of 0.05 mm instead of 0.025 mm |
More help: Formlabs – Diagnosing a print failure (in German)
If you have questions, our Lab Managers will help you during the front desk service hours.
📖 Further information
📚 Tutorials
📦 3D models & tools
- Printables – 3D models to download
- Thingiverse – 3D models to download
- TraceParts – CAD models of standard parts and industrial components
- MeshLab – edit and repair STL files (Win, Mac, Linux)
✏️ CAD programs
- Tinkercad – very simple, ideal for beginners and children. Browser-based, Autodesk account required.
- SketchUp Free – easy-to-use drawing program. Browser-based.
- Autodesk Fusion – professional CAD/CAM for Win and Mac. Free for private, non-commercial use, Autodesk account required.
- FreeCAD – powerful 2D and 3D CAD. Open source, Win, Mac, Linux.
- Blender – actually 3D animation software, with excellent sculpting tools for organic shapes – ideal for figures and miniatures. Open source, Win, Mac, Linux.
- CAD Sketcher – free Blender add-on for precise modeling.
💶 Costs / Prices
Print costs are calculated automatically. Before you start the print, the estimated print time and costs are displayed. You can find surcharges for special resins such as High Temp in the price list.
👉 Prices
Happy printing!