2. Print Preparation
Going from model to printed part
Our proprietary print preparation
software, PreForm, is an intuitive,
easy-to-use, and free application! (click
here to download)
PreForm takes a 3D model as an input
(.stl OR .obj) and converts it to
instructions for the printer.
This process includes orienting,
supporting, and arranging on the build
platform.
3. Main sections of PreForm:
1. Model setup area
2. Print prep tools
3. Job setup/options
4. Job details
5. Printability check
6. Layer slider bar
PreForm Anatomy
What can be found, where?
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2 3
4
5
6
4. This is the model viewing area of PreForm!
By clicking on a model, you highlight it
blue and bring up the manipulator (sphere
with white lines). You can click and drag to
orient the model however you’d like.
Clicking/dragging on the white lines lets
you re-orient along an axis, while
clicking/dragging in the center lets you
free-rotate the model.
PreForm Anatomy
Model Setup Area
5. You can also move the model anywhere in
2D space (x-y axis) by clicking and
dragging on the model itself.
This can be done with or without the model
highlighted (you just need to click on the
model itself, not the manipulator.
PreForm Anatomy
Model Setup Area
6. This toolbar is one of the most important sections of PreForm!
1. Magic wand tool (runs through the whole print prep
process automatically)
2. Scale
3. Orientation
4. Supports
5. Layout
6. Print
PreForm Anatomy
Print Prep Tools
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2
3
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7. This section shows the options that are
currently enabled for your job. These
options include:
1. Printer type (Form 3)
2. Resin
3. Settings (Default vs Beta vs Legacy)
4. Layer thickness
When you click on this area, a window
pops up, allowing you to select your
settings.
PreForm Anatomy
Job setup/options
9. This section is pretty self-explanatory – it
contains information about your print!
Do keep in mind, one cartridge holds 1 L or
1000 mL of resin.
You can click on the number next to Print
Time to get a closer estimate of the total
time required for the print.
PreForm Anatomy
Print Details
10. PreForm runs calculations to determine
whether or not your model is printable.
This includes:
- Minima (unsupported overhangs)
- Cups (features that will form a
suction cup with the tank and
interfere with the printing process)
Your best bet is to ensure that all of the
printability calculations show a green
thumbs-up before hitting print!
PreForm Anatomy
Printability
11. This is one of PreForm’s most important and
powerful tools!
By dragging the slider up and down, you’ll be
able to scroll through the layers of the print,
giving you an idea of what the cross-section
looks like for each layer.
We use this often because knowing the
cross-section is important for determining
how much support we’ll need.
PreForm Anatomy
Layer slider
12. Of all the tools in PreForm, some of the most useful
are the 4 you see on the right side – orient, support,
layout, and print.
The magic wand, or “one click print” button will
automatically step through these four operations,
just without user input. This optimizes for a
successful print but not an ideal print.
We’ll walk through setting up a print together!
Let’s get started!
Setting up your print
13. You can import a model into PreForm one of
two ways:
1. Drag and drop
2. File > Open > Select file
Be sure the model has been imported with the
correct dimensions! If it looks way too big or
way too small, highlight your model and
navigate to Edit > Model Units and adjust
accordingly.
Step 1
Importing a file
14. Orientation is quite important in 3D printing! It
can determine how the model looks, how easy
it is for the printer to produce, and how much
support we’ll need.
We’ll cover two different ways to orient a model
in this section:
1. Auto-orientation
2. Manual orientation
Step 2
Orienting the model
15. This feature makes choosing an orientation
simple – if you’re not sure how to angle your
part in 3D space, use this option!
If you’d like to orient select models, highlight
them (hold shift for multiple models) and
choose “Auto-Orient Selected”.
PreForm will calculate an orientation for your
models and auto-apply it.
Step 2a
Auto-orientation
16. If you’d like to choose an orientation yourself,
you’ll want to follow the guidelines below:
1. Try to tilt parts at a 45° angle when
possible
2. For flat parts, tilt them ~45° on two axes
3. Avoid large flat surfaces parallel to the
platform as often as possible
4. Try to angle important features (faces on
figures, critical dimensions, fragile parts)
away from the platform when possible
Step 2b
Manual orientation
x
x
✓
17. Supporting your model is one of the most
important steps in preparing a part for printing!
Supports hold the part to the platform and
support any overhanging features on the
model.
Before we cover supporting our demo part, let’s
take a step back to one of the earlier modules…
Step 3
Supports
18. Earlier in this course, we briefly touched on the
concept of “peel force” or the force required to
peel the cured part off of the tank after each
layer.
Turns out, the peel force is proportional to the
cross-section of the layer being peeled so…
Bigger cross-section means more support!
On the right you’ll find the same model (viewed
from above) oriented both flat and standing on
its edge - notice how the cross section is much
larger when it’s flat than when on its edge!
Step 3
Supports
19. A good strategy for preparing your models to
print is to start with the layer slider bar on the
right and find the model’s largest cross-section.
Once you do so, you can make an estimate as
to how much support you’ll need to ensure that
the peel force doesn’t overcome the force
holding your parts to the supports (*if this
happens, the part will rip off supports and the
print will fail).
Once you’ve found your largest cross-section,
you’re ready to navigate the Supports window!
Step 3
Supports
Here’s the largest cross-section of our demo model.
20. Step 3
Now let’s run through the Supports menu!
By and large, you’ll want to print with a Full
Raft (unless there’s a great reason to do
otherwise) so you can leave that option as-is.
Much the same, support density should stay at
1.00 unless you have a great reason for MUCH
more or less support.
The last (and most important section) is the
touchpoint size, as this will determine how
much support our model gets.
Supports
21. Step 3
Choosing a touchpoint size is just as much an
art as it is a science – you’ll want larger
touchpoints for larger cross-sections and
smaller touchpoints for smaller cross-sections.
The next few slides will give you an idea of
about how much support different cross-
sections might need.
*Note that the values given aren’t exact, and
represent a general ratio of cross-section to
touchpoint size. When in doubt, err on the side
of caution and use bigger touchpoints.
Supports
24. For the model we’re working with, I chose
.45mm support touchpoints. Let’s auto-
generate!
Step 3
Support
25. Now for the easy part!
PreForm does a great job at arranging parts in
2D on the build platform so feel free to use the
“Layout All” button.
The software will almost always position the
parts starting along the “mixer side” because at
the start of each layer, the LPU begins its travel
on that side, saving a few minutes in motor
moves throughout the print.
Step 4
Layout
26. Congratulations – you’re ready to print!
Click that bright orange print button and select
your printer from the dropdown.
When selecting a Job Name, be sure to include
your first name and last initial!
This helps us inform anyone who uses the
printers if about issues with their prints or
anything else that might need to be addressed.
Step 5
Print!
