Formlabs Form 2: Changing Resin Cartridge and Tank

Put on nitrile gloves and keep them on throughout this entire process

Retrieve the cardboard empty resin tank box and the new resin tank box you will be putting on the machine

Using the cardboard box is safer than leaving the tank out in the open

Getting the new tank box out helps minimize potential dust settling on the exposed glass window and ensures you actually have the material you want to switch to

Take the orange nipple cap and tank cover out of the empty box

The orange nipple cap is used to keep the resin from dripping out of the nipple on the bottom of the resin cartridge when it is being stored

Push down the cap of the resin cartridge if it is not already closed

Pull the resin cartridge straight up using the indent in the back of the container

Clean the nipple on the bottom of the resin cartridge with a paper towel

Place the orange nipple cover on the nipple

Place the resin cartridge in the specified storage location

Lift up orange hood of printer

Pull back on base of wiper arm to release it from machine

Leave the wiper in the tank

Never touch the underside of the resin tank as light needs to propagate unobstructed by dust or other particulate to achieve successful prints

Never touch the glass optical window

Grip the edges of the resin tank with your four fingers on the bottom and your thumb on the top edge

Use your pinky finger to push directly back on the front lip of the resin tank

Keep the edge of your palm against the base of the printer to act in a frictional capacity

Instead of pulling directly back rotate your hands about the pivot point created from the edge of your palm to limit sudden movement

Carefully rotate your hands to remove the tank from the machine

This is going to take some force so be careful to not jolt back and spill the resin

Open empty tank storage box

Make sure the label on the box matches the resin you're about to put in it

Gently place the tank in the box and cover with the black plastic cover

Make sure the wiper arm is situated in the pocket of the cover so the box is able to close

Place the tank box in the specified storage location

Open the box and remove the cover from the tank

After confirming the integrity of the tank place it in the printer

Line up the tracks on the bottom of the tank with their mates on the printer

Then using the same grip discussed in step 3 rotate your hands forward until you hear the tank click into place

Slot the wiper arm into place by placing the male end of the wiper into the female slot on the machine

This functions exactly like the industrial teardrop pallet shelving

The printer should automatically recognize the resin that is inside the tank from the data connector

If the printer doesn't recognize the tank pull it out and try again

If the problem persists talk to your peers or contact Formlabs support for guidance on how to proceed

Retrieve the cartridge from the specified storage location

If the material is not there, get a new cartridge from storage

Remove the orange tab from the bottom nipple and place it in the same box that you just got the tank out of

If you open a new cartridge you'll need to cut the bottom nipple so that it opens properly

Turn the cartridge upside down and use a razor knife to trace the pre-cut line until you're able to open the nipple and see into the cartridge

Orient the cartridge so that the label faces away from you

Proceed to lower the cartridge into place at the back of the machine

The machine should automatically recognize the cartridge just like the tank so once it does you're all set