When in doubt, always ask Innovation Lab staff for assistance if the 3D printer behaves abnormally. Here are some common problems that you may encounter.
- Printer says the resin tank is not installed
- If you have recently replaced the resin tank, it's possible it has not clicked into place all the way and is not making contact with the automated sensors. Push the tank straight toward the back of the machine with some force until you hear it click, then the screen should indicate that the tank is installed.
- Cartridge is not dispensing resin into the tank
- Make sure the vent cap on top of the cartridge is open. If the vent is open but the resin is still not dispensing, the problem might be the release valve at the bottom of the cartridge. Close the vent cap, remove the cartridge from the printer, and hold it upside down to view the rubber bite valve. Squeeze the bite valve until the opening fully unseals, then reinstall the cartridge and remember to open the vent cap again.
- Non-adherence
- Prints may become partially or completely separated from the build platform if their supports or orientation are inadequate for good adhesion. Check the support settings in PreForm and reorient the model as needed. Although custom settings may be desirable for some print jobs, a safe bet is to use PreForm's "One-click-print" function to automatically generate optimal supports and orientation.
- If a model has completely separated from the platform and fallen into the resin tank, carefully remove all solid pieces from the tank to prevent them from interfering with future prints.
- Incomplete or damaged parts
- There are a range of different surface defects that can occur in resin printed parts such as holes, cuts, craters, and other abnormal structures which may be caused by a combination of factors. To decrease the likelihood of these defects, always make sure that the resin tank and build platform are clear of debris, that the resin tank has not expired, and that your PreForm settings are adequate. Find more detailed information on diagnosing print failures here.