Idea for laser and optics testing without resin usage

Feature Requests & Ideas
1

I’ve been mulling over this idea since my form2, where it seemed a frequent chore to clean optics. On my form 3, it seems less an issue so far, but I don’t know what I might have to do for maintenance later. Anyway, now there’s a contest for contributions, so I guess I’m motivated to actually write about it. Here goes:

What about a build plate that isn’t really a build plate, but a reading screen that detects light/lasers. It would connect via USB to your computer. The user could set his printer to “laser test” mode, remove the cartridge and tank, and it would move the laser around, making passes across the Laser Test Plate. The output would be some sort of 2D image file that tells you how crisp the laser signal is, and where, if any, there are issues that need to be resolved. No resin used, no cleaning of buildplates or anything, it would just evaluate the laser. If the laser turns out to be giving a clean signal via the test, subsequent 3D print tests could be used to determine laser clarity through the tank.

Anyway, the thought is to find a way to isolate problems and determine if the issue is with the laser or the tank.

A simpler option might be to allow for the “laser test build plate” to attach photo-reactive sun paper. No USB needed, just let the laser zap it in lines across, cure the paper, and see what it looks like. You’re still stuck with a consumable, but at least it’s cheap.

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2

An interesting idea, but I feel like Formlabs is moving away from the SLA laser resin space and going towards the LCD based approach hence the new Form 4 lineup. Sadly, I don’t see them going back to the Form 3 models and updating them.

Now, for the SLS side of things they will still most likely use lasers for the foreseeable future.

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3

I was talking to a friend yesterday, and since we have logs and records each subsytem should be clearly identified and correct values recorded.

So in case you see a failure the logs should have all this information, for troubleshooting and knowing exactly what is our of range.

All has a voltage associated i.e with bambu machines if something fails the procedure asks for measuments to be taken in order to know what could be not working as intended. This happens on every single machine and is the most effective way to solve any issue.

4

No, it won’t have all this information as to where a laser or even a bulb in a LCD setup is failing. Currently, you have to use resin to determine failure, and even then, you’re going to be wondering if it’s a bad tank, bad resin, or a bad light element. The laser checker (or LCD checker) build plate would identify laser/light-related issues independent of tank and resin issues.

6

Thanks a lot for sharing this creative solution, @StarFlicker. Noted and passed along to our R+D team.

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