You normally do not need to run an advanced calibration before the first Form Studio 1 print. Put the printer on a stable, level surface, complete touchscreen onboarding and leveling, install the tank, build platform, and shaken cartridge correctly, then use PreForm with the material settings supplied by Formlabs. Run manual calibration only when the printer reports a sensor problem, parts do not adhere, the base is overcompressed, or hardware has been replaced.
What you need before turning on the Form Studio 1
Set up the printer where it can remain stable and level throughout a print. Formlabs recommends at least 36 cm (14.2 in) of convenient width, 33 cm (13 in) of depth, and 79 cm (31.1 in) of height. These dimensions are clearance recommendations, not a statement of the printer’s overall operating envelope, so leave enough room to open the cover, insert consumables, and remove the build platform.
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| Preparation | What to have or do |
|---|---|
| Workspace | Stable, level surface with at least 36 cm width, 33 cm depth, and 79 cm height of convenient clearance. |
| Handling protection | Disposable, non-reactive nitrile or neoprene gloves and paper towels. |
| Washing | A suitable wash solvent ready before the first print. Formlabs lists isopropyl alcohol for rinsing parts and cleaning liquid resin; TPM or Formlabs Resin Washing Solution can be used with compatible wash systems. |
| Resin storage | Keep resin in a clean, dry place out of direct sunlight. |
| Software | Install PreForm on the computer that will prepare and send the print. |
| Packaging | Keep the original packaging in case the printer ever has to be transported for service. |
Do not cover the printer during a print. Keep gloves and paper towels available whenever you handle liquid resin, the tank, the cartridge, or a freshly printed part.
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Remove the shipping protection, connect the power cable, and switch the printer on at the rear. Follow the touchscreen prompts instead of skipping the initial setup. The first-run workflow establishes the network and firmware state and guides you through leveling.
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1. Close the cover before initializing
If the onboarding sequence does not appear, close the printer cover. Formlabs notes that the printer may not initialize while the cover is open. Once the cover is closed, allow the touchscreen to continue its startup process.
2. Connect to the network and update firmware
Complete the internet-connection screens and firmware setup. Firmware should be current before you use any of the alignment or fine-tuning tools. If you want remote status tracking, sign in to or create a Formlabs Dashboard account and add the printer; Dashboard access is optional for printing locally.
3. Level the printer from the touchscreen
Run the leveling workflow shown on the touchscreen and follow each prompt. Leveling is part of normal first setup. It is not the same as the exception-based resin-level, build-platform alignment, or Z-axis procedures described later.
Install the resin tank, build platform, and cartridge
Wear gloves when handling liquid resin or any component with uncured resin on it. Work slowly: a tank that is not seated flat, a platform that is not latched, or a cartridge that is not vented can prevent a print from starting or adhering correctly.
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Insert the resin tank
- Remove the tank’s packaging and lid.
- Hold the tank with its spout pointing away from you.
- Place it flat between the printer’s blue latches.
- Close both latches so the tank is secured.
Do not force a latch. If the tank does not sit flat, remove it, check that packaging has been removed, and reseat it before continuing.
Install the build platform
- Lift the build-platform latch.
- Align the platform with the mount.
- Push the platform fully into place.
- Lower the latch to lock it.
The platform must be clean for a first print and for any later alignment procedure. Resin residue or debris can change the relationship between the platform and tank.
Load and vent the resin cartridge
- Shake the resin cartridge to redistribute its contents.
- Lower it into the rear slot until the top of the cartridge is level with the printer.
- Open the cartridge vent cap before starting a print.
Never remove the cartridge’s rubber bite valve. The vent cap is the part that must be opened for printing; the bite valve remains installed.
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Do you need to calibrate before the first print?
For a new printer, the normal path is onboarding, leveling, correct consumable installation, and a supported material profile in PreForm. Formlabs states that the Form Studio 1 is pre-calibrated for build-platform parallelism and that supported materials use validated print settings intended to avoid calibration trial and error. You should not begin by changing offsets or running alignment tools without a symptom that calls for them.
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| Situation | Normal action |
|---|---|
| First use with no error message | Complete onboarding and leveling, install the consumables, and print with the validated material settings. |
| Printer reports no resin, incorrect resin quantity, or a LevelSense error | Run Resin Level Sensor calibration with the supplied calibration card. |
| Base is flattened or shows overcompression | Inspect the platform and tank, use Align build platform when appropriate, and then consider positive Z-axis fine tuning in 50 µm steps. |
| Part is absent, detached, or repeatedly fails to adhere | Verify the platform and tank are clean, use Align build platform for a parallelism problem, and then consider negative Z-axis fine tuning in 50 µm steps. |
| Failure began after Light Processing Unit (LPU) replacement | Run Align build platform. |
| Persistent failure after the prescribed adjustments | Reset fine-tuning values and contact Formlabs Support. |
“Incorrect calibration will lead to print failures.” — Formlabs, resin-level sensor calibration support guidance.
That warning applies to the sensor procedure when a calibration problem is indicated; it is not a recommendation to recalibrate every new machine.
Calibrate the resin-level sensor (LevelSense) only when indicated
LevelSense measures the amount of resin available for printing. Its board is above the back-left corner of the tank. Use this calibration when the printer’s readings, dispensing behavior, or LevelSense messages indicate that the measurement is wrong.
What to prepare
- Remove all consumables from the printer.
- Find the supplied calibration card in the tool caddy.
- Keep the printer completely still while the routine runs.
Touchscreen procedure
- On the touchscreen, open Settings > Tools > Calibration > Resin Level Sensor.
- Tap Start.
- Place the supplied calibration card where the screen illustration shows.
- Tap Next and review the confirmation screen.
- Tap Calibrate.
- Do not move the printer until the routine finishes.
- When Calibration successful appears, tap Close.
- Remove the card and return it to the tool caddy.
Afterward, reinstall the tank, platform, and cartridge using the normal installation steps. If the error returns, do not compensate by guessing a resin quantity; document the message and contact Formlabs Support.
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Align the build platform for parallelism problems
Align build platform is an exception tool for overcompression, non-adherence caused by platform parallelism, or work performed after replacing the LPU. The printer needs the build-platform and LPU surfaces to remain parallel for dimensional accuracy and reliable printing.
Required conditions and tools
- Updated firmware.
- An idle printer.
- Clean nitrile gloves.
- A completely resin-free build platform.
- A tank that has been covered and removed.
- The resin cartridge removed.
- Four alignment shims.
- The 4 mm hex key from the tool caddy.
Alignment procedure
- Open Settings > Tools > Align build platform on the touchscreen.
- Place the four alignment shims on the LPU as shown by the printer’s instructions.
- Insert the clean, resin-free build platform.
- Loosen each alignment screw by half a turn with the 4 mm hex key.
- Allow the printer to lower the platform onto the shims.
- Press the platform flat as directed by the workflow.
- Tighten the alignment screws in two passes rather than tightening one screw fully before the others.
- Allow the printer to calibrate the Z limit.
- Remove the shims and reinstall the tank and cartridge.
- Print a small test model to check the result.
Running this tool resets any existing Z offset. Treat the next print as a fresh verification rather than assuming a previous fine-tuning value still applies.
Use Z-axis fine tuning only for repeatable dimensional or adhesion errors
Z-axis fine tuning is advanced troubleshooting, not a first-run requirement. Use current firmware and current PreForm, change the offset in 50 µm increments, and print a small test model after every change. Changing several values at once makes it impossible to tell which adjustment affected the result.
| Observed behavior | Direction to test | Adjustment size |
|---|---|---|
| Overcompression or a base flattened against the platform | Positive offset, which raises the platform | 50 µm per change |
| Non-adherence or a part that detaches | Negative offset, which lowers the platform | 50 µm per change |
After each adjustment, inspect the small test model before attempting a larger or more valuable job. If parts still never adhere or continue shifting, reset the fine-tuning settings and contact Formlabs Support rather than continuing to widen the offset.
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Prepare and send the first print in PreForm
PreForm is where you prepare the model, choose its orientation and supports, inspect the result, and send the print to the Form Studio 1. Use a simple, well-supported model for the first job. Keep it small enough that you can inspect the platform, support contact points, and finished surface without committing a large amount of resin or a long print time.
Prepare the model
- Open PreForm.
- Import a printable 3D model.
- Orient the model so its surfaces and support strategy are appropriate for resin printing.
- Generate supports.
- Inspect the support layout and the model’s contact with the build platform.
- Choose the supported resin and print settings supplied by Formlabs for the installed material.
- Send the prepared file to the printer.
The official setup guidance does not specify a required calibration model or publish a first-print performance benchmark. Choose a practical small test object rather than treating an unofficial benchmark as a required Form Studio 1 procedure.
Confirm the printer can start
If the tank, cartridge, and build platform were installed during setup, the printer can start automatically after the job is sent. If a consumable was installed afterward, confirm the relevant touchscreen prompt before printing. Check that the cartridge vent is open and that the cover is closed.
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Stay close enough to respond to a touchscreen message and to stop the job if an obvious installation problem appears. Do not move the printer while a calibration routine is running, and do not cover the printer during printing.
- Confirm the job is using the intended resin profile in PreForm.
- Check that the build platform is latched and the tank latches are closed.
- Verify the cartridge is seated level with the printer and its vent cap is open.
- Pay attention to messages about resin quantity, dispensing, or platform position.
- If the part visibly detaches or the base is severely compressed, stop treating the job as a normal first-run calibration and use the troubleshooting paths below.
Wash, cure, remove supports, and clean the printer
When the print finishes, the part still carries liquid resin. Handle it with gloves and process it before normal handling.
- Remove the build platform.
- Wash residual liquid resin from the part using isopropyl alcohol, or use TPM or Formlabs Resin Washing Solution when compatible with your wash system.
- Post-cure the washed part according to the material’s required process.
- Remove supports as needed after washing and curing, using an appropriate tool such as a metal scraper where suitable.
- Clean spilled resin and any residue from the machine and work area.
- Handle the resin tank carefully between prints and keep it protected from contamination.
Do not return a tank to service with debris or cured fragments in it. A clean platform and tank are especially important when diagnosing a later adhesion problem because contamination can resemble a calibration fault.
Troubleshoot the first print by symptom
| Symptom | Checks and corrective path |
|---|---|
| No resin or LevelSense error | Remove consumables and run Settings > Tools > Calibration > Resin Level Sensor with the supplied card. Keep the printer still during calibration. Reinstall the consumables after a successful result. |
| Base is flattened or appears overcompressed | Inspect the platform and tank for contamination or seating problems. Use Align build platform when a parallelism issue or LPU replacement is involved. If overcompression remains, test a positive Z offset in 50 µm increments. |
| Print is absent or detached | Verify that the platform and tank are clean and correctly latched. Use Align build platform for a parallelism issue. If needed, test a negative Z offset in 50 µm increments, printing a small test model after each change. |
| Failure began after an LPU replacement | Run Align build platform before attempting Z-axis fine tuning. |
| Parts shift during printing | Check platform seating, tank seating, supports in PreForm, and build-platform alignment. Avoid changing multiple calibration values at once. |
| Repeated failure after adjustments | Reset Z-axis fine-tuning values and contact Formlabs Support. Continuing to alter offsets can obscure the original fault. |
A first-print checklist
- Workspace is stable, level, and provides at least 36 cm width, 33 cm depth, and 79 cm height of convenient clearance.
- Gloves, paper towels, and a compatible wash solvent are ready.
- Resin is stored clean and dry, away from direct sunlight.
- Shipping protection is removed and the original packaging is retained.
- Cover is closed if onboarding does not appear.
- Internet connection, firmware setup, and touchscreen leveling are complete.
- Tank is unwrapped, seated flat between both blue latches, and latched.
- Build platform is aligned, fully inserted, and latched.
- Cartridge has been shaken, seated level with the printer, and vented.
- PreForm is installed, the model is oriented, supports are generated and inspected, and the supported resin profile is selected.
- No advanced calibration has been changed without a matching symptom.
- After printing, the part is washed, post-cured, supports are removed as needed, and resin residue is cleaned.
The practical calibration rule
Start with the Form Studio 1’s validated setup, not with manual offsets. Complete onboarding and leveling, install every consumable exactly as specified, and send a small supported job from PreForm. Reserve LevelSense calibration for resin-measurement errors, Align build platform for parallelism or LPU-related problems, and Z-axis fine tuning for repeatable compression or adhesion defects. That sequence preserves the factory calibration and gives each troubleshooting change a clear purpose.
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