# Laser degradation and solving this problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Form 2\ **Created:** [August 21, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784 "2021-08-21T22:20:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sysrover](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/sysrover/32/17465_2.png) [@sysrover](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/sysrover)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/1 "2021-08-21T22:20:41Z")
I bought a used printer and in several prints, I got not good print quality. After checking all mirrors I understand that it is a laser. ![laser1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/1/9/19e021453fdcaf1d66172e28cd55119d16dc2e8f.JPG) Contacting with support in my country gives not good result because its only 2 ways, changing to Form 3 or refurbished Form2. And this cost too much for me. I found topics from @a_moran and his experiments with laser. I tried to cut the unfocused part with iris it helps but not the best result I want. ![laser2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/c/4/c45d2fd84b249edfb47e8daef066ea7bffbeb0f1.JPG) But I choose another way to solve this. I contact the factory that made lasers and they made me a sample. Here is the first result of the optic test ![laser5](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/c/d/cd2dd72aaf3b33f1c017b6bd1f8c52750a26492e.JPG) ![laser4](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/0/f/0f9a81e6cc88ef3ce100fa1088fca6d12ee0e5d1.JPG) ![laser3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/1/c/1ce891ff897356dad1c6f70294ee770edfa10c96.JPG) Need some calibrating on center position but this can be solved. I hope soon we will got not expensive laser for our Form2. ---
**Author:** ![fantasy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@fantasy2](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/fantasy2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 8:42am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/2 "2021-08-22T08:42:09Z")
This is going to help a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![sysrover](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/sysrover/32/17465_2.png) [@sysrover](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/sysrover)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 9:03am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/3 "2021-08-22T09:03:12Z")
I hope so, now we are testing it and soon will start producing ---
**Author:** ![br4n\_d0n](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@br4n\_d0n](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/br4n_d0n)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/4 "2021-08-22T21:16:07Z")
Any of you know what the sizes of those pieces are supposed to be? I did a test print a week or two ago and had no idea what it should be. ---
**Author:** ![sysrover](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/sysrover/32/17465_2.png) [@sysrover](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/sysrover)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/5 "2021-08-22T22:07:26Z")
The best result is if you will get columns with no steps, just digits. And in the middle plate will be all details ---
**Author:** ![sysrover](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/sysrover/32/17465_2.png) [@sysrover](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/sysrover)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 8:09am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/6 "2021-08-23T08:09:38Z")
[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GW7x\_NueaZ4DgMZarj5\_MhzgtdGFzntf](https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GW7x_NueaZ4DgMZarj5_MhzgtdGFzntf) This is manual for the optic test. And there are photos of a good results. ---
**Author:** ![nwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e4f/32.png) [@nwalker](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/nwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 10:02am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/7 "2021-08-24T10:02:44Z")
That’s impressive, top marks. ---
**Author:** ![dotlolz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dotlolz](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/dotlolz)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/8 "2021-08-29T12:32:22Z")
Hello Can you give more détail on the laser used or the manufacturer ? ---
**Author:** ![feb46](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@feb46](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/feb46)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/9 "2022-01-29T22:52:23Z")
@sysrover Did you find out how to get this laser? ---
**Author:** ![TimoH951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@TimoH951](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/TimoH951)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/10 "2022-03-08T14:11:48Z")
I’ve been hoping for an update to this for a while also. I wonder if sysrover received a cease and desist, or something similar, preventing him from continuing or offering more information. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Cohen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/randy_cohen/32/1500_2.png) [@Randy\_Cohen](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Randy_Cohen)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/11 "2022-03-08T21:32:43Z")
> [@Form 2 Aftermarket Laser Replacement FOUND!](http://forum.formlabs.com/t/form-2-aftermarket-laser-replacement-found/33382): > > I had my Original Form 2 Laser go bad, and now that my machine is out of warranty the only option to replace a $60 laser diode was to shell out over $1000 to swap my machine out with a refurbished printer or trade it in for 500 to a new form 3. Obviously this was so maddening I resorted to tearing down the whole machine to try to fix it. Ended up cleaning every single optical surface countless times, with progressing levels of clean-room cleanliness. Defeated to know that laser was actually bad,… ---
**Author:** ![TimoH951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@TimoH951](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/TimoH951)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/12 "2022-03-10T14:17:11Z")
I did see that post, but the stated results of the 4 on the test print being only slightly visible/readable isn’t a great result. The pictures sysrover posted of the replacement look like a new, clean Form2. I’m sure Formlabs is concerned about people finding ways to keep their old printers running, out of fear they wont “upgrade” to a new printer(Form3 in this instance). I think unfortunately for them, there are plenty of people who will look to another brand. In that case, Formlabs will lose out on the sale of consumables to someone who would be happy to keep running a functioning Form2. ---
**Author:** ![rogiervdheide](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/rogiervdheide/32/19449_2.png) [@rogiervdheide](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/rogiervdheide)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/laser-degradation-and-solving-this-problem/31784/13 "2023-02-20T20:27:30Z")
Hi Sysrover, if I may ask, where did you find the replacement laser? I’ll be happy to install it, test, make adjustments, and help others by writing a manual.