With all respect the obvious is not being stated. I’m on my second Form 2 under 10 prints with optical issues and the bottom layer unresponsive on the lcd. So people are disappointed because we haven’t even got to really use the printer without lots of “optical issues” and now its being back burnered leaving a nasty taste in the mouth.
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I have the same fear.
However, you CAN use it in “open mode” and Form gets their resins from the same place many other SLA printer’s get their resin from (I know people in both places that supply them…) it’s the SAME resin, just in a proprietary container.
In “open mode” the printer will ignore the RFID in the container and tray.
ALSO you can refurb the trays yourself there are youtube videos on how to change the optically perfect silicone covering the glass. and alcohol rinsing out everything will clean it right up.
Just use the same settings the original materials used, and you should be pretty okay.
The process, frequency of light, time of exposure, everything is the same in all SLA printers, you can get faster or slower reacting material, just adjust the settings in open mode accordingly.
That’s the best advice I can offer. shurgs I bought mine a couple years ago… and built my LIFE around its operation… well, go me. I havent made enough money to buy a NEW Form3… So… I guess I got in on the tail end of the lifetime of the Form 2… Companies are more concerned about money than supporting legacy products, that’s just the way it is I guess. I hate it, just as much as you do.
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My Form 2 is not being used being replaced by a 3+.
At some point the 3+ will be obsoleted by a Form 4 and so on…
This is the nature of tech-life.
Upsetting and exciting.
en conclision la formlabs dos son desechables . como sera la formlbas 3. como sera la formlabs 4.
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share that we have an update on Form 2 Ongoing Support as of today. Please see below and let us know if you have any questions and concerns.
On behalf of the Formlabs team, thank you for continuing to trust us with your 3D printing needs. We would like to share two updates about our ongoing support plan for Form 2.
For the past three and half years, we’ve been able to provide certified refurbished Form 2 printers to our customers. At this time, we have discontinued sales of certified refurbished Form 2 printers, effective immediately. We will continue to honor warranty terms on any purchased, in-warranty Form 2 printers by providing you with a certified refurbished Form 3 or Form 3B printer. Please contact support@formlabs.com if you have any questions or concerns about your Form 2 printer.
We know that many of you still depend on the Form 2. We remain committed to provide consumables, spare parts, and service well in the future. Here’s a recap of our ongoing support plan.
Form 2 Consumables (Resin Cartridges, Resin Tanks, Build Platforms): We will continue to sell Resin Tanks (Standard and LT), Build Platforms, and our current library of materials for the Form 2. We have a dedicated user base, and we want to enable you to print using Form 2’s through at least December 2023.
Form 2 Support: We will continue to provide you with industry-leading customer support through at least December 2023. Customers and partners can continue to contact Formlabs for any questions or help. As always, you can still contact us to learn more about additional services like our Pro Service Plan.
Form 2 Spare Parts: We will continue to supply user-replaceable spare parts through at least December 2023.
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hola necesito el laser de la formlabs 2
Hola davidreycuenta,
El láser no es una pieza sustituible por el usuario. Veo que ha preguntado sobre los problemas de impresión que experimenta en Form 2 Aftermarket Laser Replacement FOUND! - #39 by davidreycuenta.
El láser aquí es una solución recomendada por el usuario y no está respaldada por Formlabs.
He mirado los resultados de impresión que ha compartido con nosotros - usted debe ser capaz de ayudar a mejorar los resultados poniéndose en contacto con nuestro equipo de soporte para los próximos pasos.
El equipo ha recomendado pasos de limpieza que el equipo puede compartir una vez que investigan los registros de diagnóstico de su Formlabs 2 más.
Open mode can be found from the printer touchscreen under settings. Hope this helps
I might be getting my hands on a Form 2 soon. If I do, I’m going to purchase a few resin tanks but don’t have the budget to get too many right now.
I know of a person who reconditions resin tanks and some tutorials on how to DIY so I feel I could still get some mileage out of the printer. BUT… some of the materials I’d like to use require the LT resin tank. I have not seen anything, tutorial or service, that would allow me to continue using an LT tank after they become officially discontinued. Anyone know what makes an LT tank different from a regular tank and what could be done to recondition one to reuse repeatedly?
Think it’s even worth it getting the Form 2 at this point if Formlabs is going to stop selling LT resin tanks by the end of the year? Any advice is appreciated.
Will tanks be sold at all in 2024? Or do I need to stock up on them now?
Hi @StarFlicker,
From our latest update:
Form 2 Consumables (Resin Cartridges, Resin Tanks, Build Platforms, etc.): We will continue to sell Resin Tanks (Standard and LT), Build Platforms, and our current library of materials for the Form 2. We have a dedicated user base, and we want to enable you to print using Form 2’s through at least 2023.
I would assume that we would continue selling these consumables while stock lasts, but we can only guarantee providing them through 2023. Stocking up now could potentially be a good idea to keep your Form 2 running moving forward.
Thank you
this is more of a general question to those users who plan to keep their form 2 running, do we have alternative trays and can the chips in the cartridges be modified somehow? I think since 2018 when I got my machine ive printed maybe 5 litres through it. I guess I made a bad descision going with a Formlabs product - I was presuming it would be the amount of use and not time that would require me to repair ort replace the machine
Do they have a trade in plan for new models? I´ve 2 Form 2 printers, one of them never used after received as a RMA change, and the other one with les than 5 litters printed.
Any chance you can help us fix the resin sensor error?
I can’t use closed mode at all, can’t use the wiper, can’t use the heated vat nor the auto fill features. I tried everything in your suggestions and even took the printer apart to clean with ipa to no avail.
Please if there is a fix can you let us know?
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Since I wrote this, i had suspected that a combination of preform software and printer firmware were to blame. I have been loading and flashing new firmware from the list MattiaMercante provided. AND IT WORKED! I managed to install preform 3.0.0 which then prompted me to update my printer’s firmware. it now auto filled and stopped right on the fill line. The sensor worked as well which is good as i had ordered a FDC1004 to re solder onto the sensor board (don’t have to do that anymore) and it’s currently printing the optics test. I’m super happy however, the true test comes with the optics test print results.
Thank you
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Hi, just wondering if you had any error codes pop up before you were able to successfully update your software and firmware? I’ve got the ongoing error 029 and wondering if this would fix it.
Hi blekk,
I had errors all the time. the tank wouldn’t auto fill and it resulted in my resin sensor errors. I found that filling up the tank manually before starting helps is it will then auto fill the rest of the way.
Thanks fir your reply. I might look at following your steps to see if it clears the 029 error 
Hello Everyone,
On behalf of the Formlabs team, thank you for continuing to trust us with your 3D printing needs. The Form 2 turns 10 years old this year and we are thrilled so many of them are still delivering value to our loyal customers. We have also incorporated some of the most loved features of the Form 2 - rigid tanks, mechanically coupled mixer arm and Open Material Mode* - into the Form 4 that prints at 4-10x the speed of a Form 2.
We announced in December of 2022 that we would support the Form 2 through at least 2023 and have continued to support it well beyond that date. We plan to continue to support Form 2 to the best of our ability. We wanted to provide an update on what you can expect going forward for Form 2 support:
- Resin Tanks: We expect to continue selling Form 2 resin tanks until the end of 2025. There is no shelf life for Resin Tanks, so you can confidently stock up on them before the end of 2025.
- Build Platforms: Form 2 uses the same build platform as Form 3 generation printers. We will continue selling these build platforms through at least January 2028. See Ongoing support for the Form 3 and Form 3B.
- Materials:
- Black V4, White V4, Clear V4: These legacy materials entered the sunsetting process in October 2024, at which point we notified users of these materials by email. After the end of 2025, these materials will no longer be available to purchase. Note: These materials were replaced for the Form 3 generation with Black V4.1, White V4.1, and Clear V4.1 Resins, which are not compatible with Form 2.
- The shelf life of most Formlabs resins (including Black V4, White V4, and Clear V4) is 24 months, so you can confidently stock up before the end of 2025 with materials that should be usable through 2027. See here for exact shelf life of every Formlabs resin.
- All other resins available on Form 2: We are continuing to produce and sell these resins today. We may start sunsetting any resin in the future based on new product availability and existing demand. If and when we decide to sunset any resin, we will provide advance notice to existing customers and channel partners.
- Replacement parts: We will stop selling replacement parts when current supply runs out. For most parts we should have supply through the end of 2025
- Printers: We no longer have Form 2 printers available for purchase or replacement.
- Support: We will continue to provide technical support until at least the end of 2025. However, please be aware that we are no longer actively developing new software features or hardware accessories for the Form 2, so we are more limited in the support we can provide. The Form 2 knowledge base will be kept up indefinitely, where users can find many troubleshooting resources for the Form 2 to help resolve issues that may arise.
Thank you for your loyalty to Formlabs. We look forward to continuing our work with you and your company in the future.
Curious about what’s new with the Form 4? Read our blog post to explore unmatched Speed, Accuracy, and Reliability to Redefine 3D Printing.
*There is a fee to purchase Open Materials Mode for the Form 3 or Form 4
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