The Dusty FieldPrinter prints full-scale layout directly onto flat, rigid, and stable surfaces. This article lists the surfaces and floor types the FieldPrinter can print on, how the surface affects ink choice, and the surface conditions — flatness, stability, slope, and porosity — that limit results. Use it when you're planning a job on an unfamiliar floor or deciding which ink to run.

Surfaces the FieldPrinter Can Print On

The FieldPrinter is designed to print on surfaces that are flat, rigid, and stable. The core supported materials are:

The ink and the FieldPrinter are both rated by the ink manufacturer for "construction layout printing on jobsite surfaces, including concrete, plywood (HDO/MDO), steel, and other common construction substrates."

Surface not on this list? Because surface types and coatings vary widely, run a small print test on your specific surface before committing to a full layout. Dusty cannot guarantee ink adhesion, permanence, or erasability on materials outside the tested list.

Flatness, Stability, and Slope

Beyond the material, the shape and steadiness of the surface determine whether you get clean lines.

The surface must be flat and rigid

The FieldPrinter follows the physical contour of the floor. An uneven slab — ridges, dips, humps, or patchwork — produces wavy or distorted lines because the robot rides over the irregularity. If a printed line follows a visible slope or bump, the issue is the surface, not the robot.

A surface that flexes or vibrates causes the same problem in a different way. On a surface that isn't stable or rigid, the laser tracker can be knocked off level — even by someone walking nearby — which shifts the whole layout and produces wavy lines. Plant the tripod firmly, keep the bubble centered, and keep vibration sources (lifts, compressors, heavy foot traffic) away from the tracker.

Slope limits

The FieldPrinter monitors its own tilt and adjusts automatically:

• Printing: it prints on slopes up to about 5.8° (roughly a 10% grade). For perspective, a standard ADA-compliant ramp is about 4.8°. Above ~5.8°, the FieldPrinter will not print and will halt if it detects the grade is too steep.
• On any slope greater than 1°, it rotates to park its wheels across the slope before going idle, and it warns you about low battery earlier because holding position draws extra power.

For full behavior and iPad alerts on grades, see Operating the FieldPrinter on Slopes.

Matching Ink to the Surface

Ink performance depends on the surface material, its porosity, its moisture, and the temperature. Choosing the wrong ink for a surface can cause faded lines, beading, bleeding, poor adhesion, or clogging — problems that re-printing will not fix.

How porosity affects the ink

Surface porosity changes how the ink absorbs and how sharp the line looks:

• Highly porous or saturated surfaces absorb more ink and can cause increased bleeding or feathering, so lines look less crisp.
• Smooth, low-porosity concrete holds ink on the surface, so lines stay sharp. On unsealed concrete, any residue left after cleaning also tends to be more visible on a smooth slab — it contrasts against the surrounding surface — whereas on porous concrete, scrubbing and brooming spread the ink so residue blends in. This is about how noticeable leftover residue is, not how strongly the ink bonds.
• Ghosting or faint residue is possible on both porous and coated surfaces after cleaning.

Engineered wood (plywood / OSB)

Engineered wood panels print well, but the wood's own chemistry and any factory-applied markings can interfere with certain inks. On OSB and similar panels, use pigment or solvent-based ink rather than a water-dye ink for reliable, visible lines.

Advanced surface: roofing membrane (TPO)

The FieldPrinter has printed on TPO roofing membrane during rooftop solar-layout pilots, but this is a demanding, non-standard surface with several constraints to plan around:

• Stability: membrane roofs flex and are easily disturbed; the tracker can drift off level from someone walking nearby, causing wavy lines.
• Slope: most commercial "flat" roofs are pitched ~1–3% for drainage, so surveyed control with correct elevations is important.
• Seams and expansion joints can be raised enough (¼"+) to be hard for the robot to cross and can interrupt linework.
• Ink: water-based ink does not adhere well to smooth membrane; solvent-based ink is preferred, and high heat/humidity can still cause it to clog. Clear coat is often not permitted by the membrane manufacturer.

Ink Permanence and Erasability

Dusty ink is built to be visible and durable during layout, but it is not intended to be permanent, and how easily it comes off depends on the ink type and the surface.

• Water-based ink can typically be removed with mild detergent and water (e.g., Dawn) or an off-the-shelf degreaser, plus scrubbing, pressure washing, or normal foot traffic and sweeping. It lasts roughly 2 months in direct sunlight and longer indoors.
• Solvent-based ink is formulated for permanent marking. It is not considered erasable by standard cleaning; removal may require aggressive chemicals or mechanical abrasion (grinding), which can affect the surface finish.
• Porosity and coatings matter: on unsealed concrete, leftover ink is more visible on smooth, low-porosity slabs — the residue contrasts against the surface rather than blending in as it does on porous concrete — so a smooth slab can look harder to fully clean even when the ink isn't bonded more strongly. Ghosting can remain on both.
• Clear coat greatly increases permanence — apply it for longevity, but understand it can make marks permanent.

Because surfaces and coatings vary so widely, Dusty cannot guarantee permanence or erasability. Always test removal on a small area first, and align with the GC on ink-removal expectations before printing. For concrete specifically, see How to Erase or Remove Dusty Ink (When Possible).

A Note on Ink Safety

Per the ink Safety Data Sheets, solvent-based ink is a flammable liquid (UN1210, Class 3). Keep it away from heat, sparks, and open flames, use it in a well-ventilated area, and store cartridges sealed in a cool, ventilated space away from direct sunlight. Both inks can irritate skin and eyes — avoid direct contact. Refer to the Ink Safety and Technical Data Sheets for full handling and first-aid information.

Prepare the Surface Before Printing

For reliable results on any supported surface:

• Broom-sweep the print area and clear it of equipment, debris, and material.
• Make sure the surface is dry (or use solvent ink on slightly moist concrete). Printing is prohibited during active rain, and there must be no standing water — if it's too wet to snap a chalk line, it's too wet to run the FieldPrinter.
• Keep drive wheels clean so they don't slip.
• Test ink on a small area when working on unusual, coated, or engineered-wood surfaces.

Related Articles

• What Is the Best Ink to Use for Different Environmental Conditions and Flooring Types
• FieldPrinter Water and Solvent-Based Ink Types and Best Practices
• How to Remove Dusty Ink from Concrete
• Operating the FieldPrinter on Slopes
• Wavy or Distorted Lines During Printing
• Layout in a Tilt-Up Environment; Key Differences & Best Practices
• Requirements for Operating the FieldPrinter on a Jobsite