Formlabs / OpenFL

API for the Form 1 / 1+

OpenFL

This repository contains an API for interfacing with the Form 1/1+ 3D printer.

Contact: [e-mail]

Summary

OpenFL provides a number of distinct features for doing interesting non-standard things with a Form 1/1+:

1. A special version of PreForm that allows setting of custom material settings:
   1. custom laser powers
   2. custom laser speeds
   3. custom motor speeds
2. Python bindings for talking with the printer, including reading and writing machine-code ("FLP" files) to/from the printer.
3. A Python API for manipulating FLP files.
4. A special firmware which adds:
   1. a wait-on-pin command to allow a print to pause for outside input
   2. a write-serial command and a write-serial time command to allow logging and to allow the printer to notify other electronics of events

Notes:

• The OpenFL version of PreForm, that allows exposure to be customized, does not require custom firmware or the Python tools.
• The custom PreForm is not required to use the Python tools.
• The custom firmware is required to use the Python printer API.
• The custom firmware is compatible with other versions of PreForm.

Quickstart

PreForm

In order to use all of the firmware features and to set custom material files for Form 1/1+, you need a special version of PreForm, available here:

• https://downloads.formlabs.com/PreForm/Release/2.3.3/PreForm_2.3.3_release_OpenFL_build_2.dmg
• https://downloads.formlabs.com/PreForm/Release/2.3.3/PreForm_setup_2.3.3_release_OpenFL_build_2.exe

Use that version of PreForm to update the firmware. Next, you can load the custom material file, Form_1+_FLGPCL02_100.ini from the PreForm UI and print with it by selecting the "Load Custom Material..." button:

For more details, see Material file detailed description.

Python tools

To install dependencies, run

pip install -r requirements.txt

Then, have a look through the examples subfolder.

Advanced FLP commands are documented in ADVANCED.md

Modifying prints

A print can be read from the printer. Each layer is a "block" on the printer, which can be read as a FLP.Packets object, which is a Python list.

Here's an example interaction with an uploaded print:

>>> from OpenFL import Printer, FLP
>>> p=Printer.Printer()
>>> assert 0 in p.list_blocks() # If this fails, then there are no layers on the printer
>>> layer = p.read_block_flp(block=0)
>>> assert isinstance(layer, FLP.Packets)
>>> assert isinstance(layer, list)
>>> layer[:11] # This will be different depending on the print
[<XYMoveClockRate(60000 Hz) at 0x106f41610>,
 <LayerDone() at 0x106f415d0>,
 <ZCurrent(80) at 0x106f41650>,
 <TiltCurrent(80) at 0x106f416d0>,
 <ZFeedRate(4000 usteps/s) at 0x106f41710>,
 <ZMove(2000 usteps) at 0x106f41790>,
 <WaitForMovesToComplete() at 0x106f417d0>,
 <WaitForMovesToComplete() at 0x106f41750>,
 <ZFeedRate(4000 usteps/s) at 0x106f41810>,
 <ZMove(-1960 usteps) at 0x106f41850>,
 <WaitForMovesToComplete() at 0x106f41890>]
>>> print layer[9]
0x03 ZMove -1960
>>> layer[9].usteps
-1960
>>> layer[9].usteps = 42
>>> layer[9]
<ZMove(42 usteps) at 0x106f41850>

alternately, you could do:

>>> layer[9] = FLP.ZMove(usteps=42) # Overwrite packet

or

del layer[9] # Delete packet from list
layer.insert(9, FLP.ZMove(usteps=42)) # Insert packet

because FLP.Packets is a Python list (i.e., it inherits list) so you can append, insert, concatenate, etc.

Finally, the block can be pushed back to the printer:

p.write_block(0, layer)

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

SEE NOTICE FILE.

Copyright

Copyright 2016-2017 Formlabs

Released under the Apache License.