# Tank Heat Maps on Preform **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Requests & Ideas\ **Created:** [October 10, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375 "2017-10-10T18:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LeoPizzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@LeoPizzo](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/LeoPizzo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/1 "2017-10-10T18:37:53Z")
hello I would find it very useful to be able to visualize on the working surface of Preform the tank thermal maps as in the attached image What do you think about it? Saluti Riccardo ![002](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/2X/a/a477329b1d2a112e039bd1825f8d3e487d383aef.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gjgomes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@gjgomes](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/gjgomes)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/2 "2017-10-10T20:27:25Z")
> [@Heat maps in Dashboard instead of Preform?](http://forum.formlabs.com/t/heat-maps-in-dashboard-instead-of-preform/12118): > > I think the new heat maps look perfect - except - why are they in Dashboard instead of Preform? I think that taking advantage of them by comparing an image and guessing where to place objects really diminishes the usefulness of them. > [@Display a heat map on the build platform to show most printed areas (PreForm)](http://forum.formlabs.com/t/display-a-heat-map-on-the-build-platform-to-show-most-printed-areas-preform/12937): > > I saw the tested review of the form 2 and they said that it’s good practice to print on different areas of the build platform, that way the laser isn’t always hitting the same spot on the tank. I just got the form 2 this week and right now i’m just rotating my prints around the platform. I’m not sure if PreForm has this feature, but I was thinking that there could be a setting to show a heat map sort of view of the build platform to show the most frequently printed on areas. That way it’ll gi… > [@PreForm - Tank Heat Map](http://forum.formlabs.com/t/preform-tank-heat-map/12593): > > Good morning; We recently got our Forms 2 printer and have been printing away the last few days. With only one failed print and 13 good ones I am happy with the press and print method. Coming from the FDM printer there is a lot of new things of getting used to. Surface finish is very nice but we still have some issues with part accuracy and warpage but ill make a separate forum post for that. This is my first post so i figured ill start off easy; The FormLabs Dashboard website has the Tank He… A good idea, I think most people agree with it, I imagine it is on the radar but not that critical to FL. Also, just a friendly reminder to search the forums and check out the suggested posts from FL when you are posting. You can usually get the answers faster that way. ---
**Author:** ![LeoPizzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@LeoPizzo](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/LeoPizzo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 5:57am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/3 "2017-10-11T05:57:31Z")
> [@gjgomes](#): > > A good idea, I think most people agree with it, I imagine it is on the radar but not that critical to FL. Also, just a friendly reminder to search the forums and check out the suggested posts from FL when you are posting. You can usually get the answers faster that way. OK thanks Riccardo ---
**Author:** ![b\_sullivan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@b\_sullivan](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/b_sullivan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/4 "2017-10-11T20:32:17Z")
This would be huge! As I’ve detailed in another thread, we do not have access to the heat maps nor the web portal. Storing this information directly on the printer and allowing preform to access it and position prints accordingly would be great. ---
**Author:** ![LeoPizzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@LeoPizzo](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/LeoPizzo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/5 "2017-10-12T05:53:13Z")
Hi for me it would be very useful. Work in jewelry and would allow me to position the pieces making the best use of the tank ---
**Author:** ![ijeffray](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/ijeffray/32/20502_2.png) [@ijeffray](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/ijeffray)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/6 "2018-09-19T16:41:09Z")
“Me too”. If it’s worth having the heat map in the dashboard, it’s worth having it in PreForm. It should be simple to implement, surely. ---
**Author:** ![Guzumaki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/guzumaki/32/13163_2.png) [@Guzumaki](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Guzumaki)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/7 "2018-09-19T23:46:45Z")
+1 for this! It would be super helpful. ---
**Author:** ![MMo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@MMo](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/MMo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 9:07am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/8 "2018-11-21T09:07:52Z")
+1! We have to do quality check now separately in Dashboard. But it is difficult to compare the buildplate in PreForm with the Dashboard, going back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![DGalakt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DGalakt](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/DGalakt)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/9 "2018-12-08T18:18:08Z")
+1 this is a very good idea indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Multiscale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Multiscale](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/Multiscale)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/10 "2019-01-15T04:25:23Z")
Agreed. This would be a great feature. ---
**Author:** ![3dbruno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/9f8e36/32.png) [@3dbruno](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/3dbruno)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 9:08am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/11 "2020-10-11T09:08:08Z")
Really, this would be a great useful feature. ![PreForm](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/3X/1/c/1cc0e8bb47809523bda6cd51cf1ebc948537ab54.JPG) ---
**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:** [October 12, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/tank-heat-maps-on-preform/15375/12 "2020-10-12T01:27:11Z")
I suggested this many, many years ago when I got my Form1+. It should be easy to do. It’s making use of capabilities that are already implemented. For whatever reason, FL just doesn’t seem to think it’d be of benefit to users. But I tend to print small models. I worry about wearing out one area of the tank. So I tend to keep track of where I’ve printed and then use less-printed regions for the next print…