formlabs Form 3BL, Manual, Page: 60 / 63

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Term Meaning
Film tensioner A motor pulls outward on the tank side walls to create a taut film surface
in the resin tank.
Flush cutters Snip to separate prints from their supports. Cut with the flat side on the
prints’ surface for minimal support marks.
Glass optical window A narrow piece of anti-reflective coated glass that is surrounded by the
slider. The glass optical window protects the sensitive mirrors inside the
LPUs from dust and other contamination. Maintain a clean glass optical
window to prevent print failures.
Heater The resin in the resin tank is heated by hot air blown out of the right
side of the printer, next to the resin cartridges. The warm air in the print
chamber heats the resin, and the air temperature is sensed by a thermal
sensor at the air intake.
Interlock magnets The interlock sensor detects these magnets to determine when the
cover is closed. This safety mechanism triggers the Cover Open
message on the touchscreen and disables the lasers when the cover
is open.
Laser Short for “Light Amplification” via “Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” The
lasers are the source of curing energy in the printer with a wavelength of
405 nm, and a maximum output of 250 mW per laser. The Form 3BL is a
Class 1 laser product.
Leveling disc Slide the leveling disc included around one of the leveling feet and
rotate to raise or lower the printer.
Leveling feet Each corner of the printer is supported by a rubber foot that is threaded
into the bottom of the machine. When prompted by the touchscreen, use
the leveling disc to raise or lower each foot to ensure that the printer is
acceptably level.
LevelSense An ultrasonic sensor, located above the rear right-hand corner of the
resin tank detects the amount of resin in the resin tank.
Light Processing Units
(LPUs)
These two interchangeable assemblies contain the lasers and the
mirrors that control the path of the laser, ensuring a clean, crisp laser
spot. The LPU housing holds two LPUs.
Light Processing Unit (LPU)
cable
A flat, flexible cable that connects the LPU to the motherboard.
Light Processing Unit (LPU)
housing
The aluminum housing for the optics engine moves left and right,
traveling along the X-axis ball screw. The LPUs, slider, and mixer are all
controlled within the LPU housing.
Low Force
Stereolithography (LFS)™
An advanced form of stereolithography (SLA) with integrated image
processing to deliver an ideal laser spot and cure solid isotropic parts
from liquid resin.
Mixer Each resin tank includes a mixer that improves print consistency by
clearing the build area and circulating the resin. The mixer moves with
the LPU housing via
magnetic coupling and rests at the right side of the resin tank when
not in use. Scrapers on the top and bottom of the mixer clear the build
platform and flexible film, respectively.
Motherboard The main circuitry through which all systems in the printer communicate.