One Click Print, Open Mode and more!
Release Notes:
Additional information on Open Mode:
Iām honestly surprised there wasnāt a better response to this. I read the patch notes today when I updated and did a little dance at my desk, coworkers already think Iām mad, no harm done.
Is it still true that Open Mode disables resin dispensing? I thought I saw a post from FormLabs that you could fill an empty cartridge with resin and keep using it. Though of course the Form2 will think itās the same as the cartridgeās original type, so that would have to match.
To be really useful, Open Mode shouldnāt disable the capabilities (resin filling, heating) since theyāre useful for experimenting with other resins. If anything, Open Mode should enable more options than standard resins, so you can ātuneā the printer to work with resins that donāt match the standard settings.
Hi laird,
Right now, weāve disabled certain systems while in Open Mode in an effort to make sure we donāt damage your printer with an unknown resin. We donāt know the properties of 3rd party resins that may be used with the printer, and that could easily lead to cartridge dispensing over-filling the tank. The wiper is disabled for a similar reason - if the tank is over-filled or the resin has a different viscosity than we expect, it would be possible for the wiper to push resin over the edge of the tank. Heating is also disabled, as we donāt want to risk damaging a resin you purchased.
Weāre listening to customer feedback about this first implementation of Open Mode, and will consider improving the functionality with future updates. Our goal with the initial release of Open Mode was to make sure 3rd party resins can be used, while limiting potential damage to the printer as much as possible.
Those concerns make sense. As a bit of an experimenter, Iād prefer to be able to operate with fewer āguard railsā when in Open Mode, so that I can turn heating on/off, wiping on/off, refilling on/off, and control speed/intensity of the laser. And if that means accepting that I might damage the printer by those settings, well, thatās reasonable since Iām not using the supported resin. Though Iād hope that actual damage would be rare. 
Itās implied, but would be nice if Formlabs clarified that using Open Mode is within the warranty coverage of the machine.
While it sounds virtuous that Open Mode seeks to protect 3rd-party resins from damage or spillage, neither event is covered under the warranty as it is. De-featuring the machine in this way disincentivizes the use of 3rd-party resins.
In addition to Open Mode, could there be a āManual Modeā, where the user can decide and adjust things like wiper operation, tank heating, laser power, etc.? It could be understood that using Manual Mode would terminate certains types of warranty coverage.
Having trouble. Iām trying to run the laser diagnostic in mac. Went to terminal entered /Applications/PreForm.app/Contents/MacOS/PreForm.exe -diagnostic option to run laser test and it is not there. Did it move? Please Advise.
@Ralph_Roberts, where did you look? In the Windows version it was moved to the printers submenus.
Does anyone know when the Form2+ will be coming out?
Thanks,
Joe
Probably not soon since the Form2 is barely shipping yetā¦
Hi Cederb,
I see that you have just now joined the forum.
Let me be the first one to welcome you.
The fellas here are all softees so donāt be shy.
If you have been a lurker, we want to hear from guys like you.
In factā¦
Letās bring it in tight here boys.
Please chime in to give Cederb a big welcome.
Thanks for your quick response Cb.
That Form2 sure looks like a hunny.
Hold on! I just went to check out the Form 2 on the website and I see a wiper blade on it.
Can someone please explain what this is about?
That WIFI looks handy but since it is optional and my computer is close I can probably do without one of those.
Then againā¦ I will probably just wish I ordered it later onā¦ So maybe I should just bite the bullet on that one.
Thanks,
Joe