# What's wrong with my printer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Support & Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [May 9, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107 "2014-05-09T20:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/1 "2014-05-09T20:47:59Z")
I submitted a support ticket 3 days ago was first contacted this morning but no guesses yet and I am in a hurry to figure this out.  I think there is a problem with the laser focus.  The resin was fresh and well shaken and the tank is brand new.  It seems the laser is more of a flashlight than a laser by looking at the results.  I always print overnight so I wasn’t watching.  What does this look like? ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/JhePYYb9oXuFHuxPnXxR9bCtK/?name=PreForm+Screenshot.jpg) ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/7AHN9t8J02BHQ8rrGGDrPDrFw/?name=IMG_5918.JPG) ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/LGaz9BBN6IFFSdwH3SXiRdtYh/?name=IMG_5917.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![DavidRosenfeld](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/davidrosenfeld/32/3570_2.png) [@DavidRosenfeld](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/DavidRosenfeld)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/2 "2014-05-10T00:08:51Z")
Josh, Sorry,  that is easy and unfortunate. Your laser has failed. I would not waste your resin trying to test different things out.  I would wait for Formlabs to get with you to troubleshoot. Formlabs has a name for those things but I refer to them as skin tags. Good luck David ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/3 "2014-05-10T01:21:28Z")
Thanks for the help.  This is the first time I tried to print for someone else and he is needing an answer why I can not print it, so your help is much valued.  Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/4 "2014-05-10T01:36:53Z")
Dave, will you print the file for me?  It will take 48.6ml and 5h40min.  I would email you the file and send $70 via paypal to cover the printing and shipping. ---
**Author:** ![DavidRosenfeld](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/davidrosenfeld/32/3570_2.png) [@DavidRosenfeld](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/DavidRosenfeld)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/5 "2014-05-10T02:10:30Z")
Josh, I would love to be able to print the part for you.  But after my 4th laser failure I currently do not have a Form 1 printer to print with. I can print the part on a different type of printer.  It is an Invision LD.  Let me know if you are interested. Sorry, David ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/6 "2014-05-10T02:43:11Z")
Darn.  It needs to be a Form1 like mine so he knows if the fitting is durable enough to have me do more in the future. Anybody have a working Form1? lol ---
**Author:** ![ReadyGo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@ReadyGo](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/ReadyGo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/7 "2014-05-12T17:00:05Z")
Yo David! I’ve had the exact same probs with my3d printer – whats up with that?! ---
**Author:** ![SamJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SamJ](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/SamJ)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/8 "2014-05-12T18:16:30Z")
Those of you having issues with your machine, please write in to [support@formlabs.com](mailto:support@formlabs.com)! We have a fantastic team who’ll help you out. In terms of an additional resource for 3D printed parts, I’d recommend that you check out 3D Hubs, which has a number of Form 1s listed. ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/9 "2014-05-12T18:49:23Z")
I have been broke down two weeks and counting. ---
**Author:** ![SamJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SamJ](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/SamJ)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/10 "2014-05-12T19:00:22Z")
I stand by them 🙂 I’m sorry your machine is having trouble, Josh – and it looks like there has been some back-and-forth in the support queue. Did you get the email from Friday? I’m sure Meagan will be back in touch shortly – it’s very useful to have photos (or just link our support team to the post here, as sometimes things are not as easily cross-referenced as one might hope.) I’ll pass it on. ---
**Author:** ![reglioadam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@reglioadam](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/reglioadam)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 6:25am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/11 "2014-05-13T06:25:02Z")
I have the same problem with you. Did you solve this problem?  That will be very nice for your sharing. At the same time, I do need an explanation  to this situation, and a viable way to make my form work again. Now my form still work badly, just like yours . At the same time, I write in to support, but still no specific solution . I checked everything that the support told me, I just feel helplessness about my printer, and have no idea what to do… ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/fzZQx5HmQYguKs6uLtPhvS2s9/?name=10.JPG) ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/oNedjI6N3XFSw5XEqNF70T2o0/?name=11.JPG) ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/1Z6vAm6TogndWDdM6bP7Yo64A/?name=final-3.JPG) ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/hhiTsPxiWchqY5phXzpo5El81/?name=final.JPG) ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/3yeRdFSfkSej4DUUcNjgeHieP/?name=2.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![TeckWeeTan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/teckweetan/32/122_2.png) [@TeckWeeTan](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/TeckWeeTan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/12 "2014-05-14T01:02:41Z")
@David, 4th laser failure?? Wow… I’m having similar problems and going thru support now. I know that the Formlabs support staff are great but it doesn’t quite solve the root cause of poor printer reliability. **At this rate, the laser module seems more like a perishable than the resin tanks.** I’ve had good prints for quite a while and it seems like the laser only has a life of 3-4months. I’ve only made maybe 20 prints? Total build time of less than 300hours? I think Formlabs mentioned that the laser is good for thousands of hours initially… Is there anyone who still has a printer that survived all the way with regular usage?.. ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/tzgF3BEp7hef6UxyO2lzshd5l/?name=trouble1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TeckWeeTan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/teckweetan/32/122_2.png) [@TeckWeeTan](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/TeckWeeTan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/13 "2014-05-14T01:03:28Z")
Forgot to mention that failures like this are a nightmare for non-US users… We can’t just ship the whole thing back every 3 months. ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/14 "2014-05-14T02:37:39Z")
Yes it seems lasers only last 3 months.  My laser went bad before my first tank did!  I was very lucky to have submitted the support ticket just 3 days before my warranty expired!  I didn’t realize how close I was cutting it!  Holy \*\*\*\*.  What does this cost out-of warranty?  Four breakdowns a year is very bad!  Do the new lasers come with a new warranty? ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/15 "2014-05-15T15:03:57Z")
_frustrated_ Communication is unimaginably slow. ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/16 "2014-05-15T19:34:34Z")
Update… I was sent a shipping label for FedEx.  There is no FedEx staff within 60 miles. ![](https://support.formlabs.com/attachments/token/5ZpQomeJhbQ17kM8xIt2Bgva1/?name=2014-05-15+14.05.20.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DavidRosenfeld](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/davidrosenfeld/32/3570_2.png) [@DavidRosenfeld](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/DavidRosenfeld)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/17 "2014-05-15T20:05:10Z")
I would just call FedEx for a pickup.  Let them deal with fetching the box from your house. ---
**Author:** ![JoshK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@JoshK](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/JoshK)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/18 "2014-05-15T20:13:48Z")
I didn’t know they did that, cool!  Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![YuchiHuang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/74df32/32.png) [@YuchiHuang](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/YuchiHuang)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/19 "2014-05-21T14:51:47Z")
David, you mentioned that you replaced the laser for several times. Did you do that by yourself? Could you please tell me where I can buy that laser part and other accessories related to the replacement. Thanks a lot. Yuchi ---
**Author:** ![DavidRosenfeld](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/davidrosenfeld/32/3570_2.png) [@DavidRosenfeld](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/DavidRosenfeld)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107/20 "2014-05-21T23:19:04Z")
I never replaced the laser.  Formlabs replaced the machine under warranty. [Next page](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-printer/1107.md?page=2)