Formlabs resin 3d printer

Types of 3D Printers, Materials, and Applications

3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM) technologies create three-dimensional parts from computer-aided design (CAD) models by successively adding material layer by layer until physical part is created.

While 3D printing technologies have been around since the 1980s, recent advances in machinery, materials, and software have made 3D printing accessible to a wider range of businesses, enabling more and more companies to use tools previously limited to a few high-tech industries.

Today, professional, low-cost desktop and benchtop 3D printers accelerate innovation and support businesses in various industries including engineering, manufacturing, dentistry, healthcare, education, entertainment, jewelry, and audiology.

All 3D printing processes start with a CAD model that is sent to software to prepare the design. Depending on the technology, the 3D printer might produce the part layer by layer by solidifying resin or sintering powder. The parts are then removed from the printer and post-processed for the specific application.

See how to go from design to 3D print with the Form 3 SLA 3D printer. This 5-minute video covers the basics of how to use the Form 3, from the software and materials to printing and post-processing.

3D printers create parts from three-dimensional models, the mathematical representations of any three-dimensional surface created using computer-aided design (CAD) software or developed from 3D scan data. The design is then exported as an STL or OBJ file readable by print preparation software.

3D printers include software to specify print settings and slice the digital model into layers that represent horizontal cross-sections of the part. Adjustable printing settings include orientation, support structures (if needed), layer height, and material. Once setup is complete, the software sends the instructions to the printer via a wireless or cable connection.

Some 3D printers use a laser to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic, others fuse small particles of polymer powder at high temperatures to build parts. Most 3D printers can run unattended until the print is complete, and modern systems automatically refill the material required for the parts from cartridges.

With Formlabs 3D printers, an online Dashboard allows you to remotely manage printers, materials, and teams.

Depending on the technology and the material, the printed parts may require rinsing in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to remove any uncured resin from their surface, post-curing to stabilize mechanical properties, manual work to remove support structures, or cleaning with compressed air or a media blaster to remove excess powder. Some of these processes can be automated with accessories.

3D printed parts can be used directly or post-processed for specific applications and the required finish by machining, priming, painting, fastening or joining. Often, 3D printing also serves as an intermediate step alongside conventional manufacturing methods, such as positives for investment casting jewelry and dental appliances, or molds for custom parts.

The three most established types of 3D printers for plastics parts are stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), and fused deposition modeling (FDM). Formlabs offers two professional 3D printing technologies, SLA and SLS, bringing these powerful and accessible industrial fabrication tools into the creative hands of professionals around the world.

Stereolithography was the world’s first 3D printing technology, invented in the 1980s, and is still one of the most popular technologies for professionals. SLA 3D printers use a laser to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic in a process called photopolymerization.

SLA resin 3D printers have become vastly popular for their ability to produce high-accuracy, isotropic, and watertight prototypes and parts in a range of advanced materials with fine features and smooth surface finish. SLA resin formulations offer a wide range of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties to match those of standard, engineering, and industrial thermoplastics.

Resin 3D printing a great option for highly detailed prototypes requiring tight tolerances and smooth surfaces, such as molds, patterns, and functional parts. SLA 3D printers are widely used in a range of industries from engineering and product design to manufacturing, dentistry, jewelry, model making, and education.

Rapid prototyping
Functional prototyping
Concept modeling
Short-run production
Dental applications
Jewelry prototyping and casting

Learn More About SLA 3D Printers

Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing uses a laser to cure liquid photopolymer resin into solid isotropic parts.

SLA parts have sharp edges, a smooth surface finish, and minimal visible layer lines.

Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers use a high-power laser to sinter small particles of polymer powder into a solid structure. The unfused powder supports the part during printing and eliminates the need for dedicated support structures. This makes SLS ideal for complex geometries, including interior features, undercuts, thin walls, and negative features. Parts produced with SLS printing have excellent mechanical characteristics, with strength resembling that of injection-molded parts.

The most common material for selective laser sintering is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties. Nylon is lightweight, strong, and flexible, as well as stable against impact, chemicals, heat, UV light, water, and dirt.

The combination of low cost per part, high productivity, and established materials make SLS a popular choice among engineers for functional prototyping, and a cost-effective alternative to injection molding for limited-run or bridge manufacturing.

Functional prototyping
End-use parts
Short-run, bridge, or custom manufacturing

Learn More About SLS 3D Printers

SLS 3D printers use a high-powered laser to fuse small particles of polymer powder.

SLS parts have a slightly rough surface finish, but almost no visible layer lines.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), is the most widely used type of 3D printing at the consumer level. FDM 3D printers work by extruding thermoplastic filaments, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PLA (Polylactic Acid), through a heated nozzle, melting the material and applying the plastic layer by layer to a build platform. Each layer is laid down one at a time until the part is complete.

FDM 3D printers are well-suited for basic proof-of-concept models, as well as quick and low-cost prototyping of simple parts, such as parts that might typically be machined. However, FDM has the lowest resolution and accuracy when compared to SLA or SLS and is not the best option for printing complex designs or parts with intricate features. Higher-quality finishes may be obtained through chemical and mechanical polishing processes. Industrial FDM 3D printers use soluble supports to mitigate some of these issues and offer a wider range of engineering thermoplastics, but they also come at a steep price.

Basic proof-of-concept models
Simple prototyping

Learn More About FDM 3D Printers

FDM 3D printers build parts by melting and extruding thermoplastic filament, which a printer nozzle deposits layer by layer in the build area.

FDM parts tend to have visible layer lines and might show inaccuracies around complex features.

Having trouble finding the best 3D printing process for your needs? In this video guide, we compare FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies, the most popular types of 3D printers, across the most important buying considerations.

Each 3D printing process has its own benefits and limitations that make them more suitable for certain applications. This video compares the functional and visual characteristics of FDM, SLA, and SLS printers 3D printers to help you identify the solution that best matches your requirements.

Do you need custom parts or prototypes fast? Compared to outsourcing to service providers or using traditional tools like machining, having a 3D printer in-house can save weeks of lead time. In this video, we compare the speed of FDM, SLA, and SLS 3D printing processes.

Comparing the cost of different 3D printers goes beyond sticker prices—these won’t tell you the full story of how much a 3D printed part will cost. Learn the three factors you need to consider for cost and how they compare across FDM, SLA, and SLS 3D printing technologies.

As additive manufacturing processes build objects by adding material layer by layer, they offer a unique set of advantages over traditional subtractive and formative manufacturing processes.

With traditional manufacturing processes, it can take weeks or months to receive a part. 3D printing turns CAD models into physical parts within a few hours, producing parts and assemblies from one-off concept models to functional prototypes and even small production runs for testing. This allows designers and engineers to develop ideas faster, and helps companies to bring products more quickly to the market.

Engineers at the AMRC turned to 3D printing to rapidly produce 500 high-precision drilling caps used in drilling trials for Airbus, cutting the lead time from weeks to only three days.

With 3D printing, there’s no need for the costly tooling and setup associated with injection molding or machining; the same equipment can be used from prototyping to production to create parts with different geometries. As 3D printing becomes increasingly capable of producing functional end-use parts, it can complement or replace traditional manufacturing methods for a growing range of applications in low- to mid-volumes.

Pankl Racing Systems substituted machined jigs and fixtures with 3D printed parts, decreasing costs by 80-90 percent that resulted in $150,000 in savings.

From shoes to clothes and bicycles, we’re surrounded by products made in limited, uniform sizes as businesses strive to standardize products to make them economical to manufacture. With 3D printing, only the digital design needs to be changed to tailor each product to the customer without additional tooling costs. This transformation first started to gain a foothold in industries where custom fit is essential, such medicine and dentistry, but as 3D printing becomes more affordable, it’s increasingly being used to mass customize consumer products.

Gillette's Razor Maker™ gives consumers the power to create and order customized 3D printed razor handles, with the choice of 48 different designs (and counting), a variety of colors, and the option to add custom text.

3D printing can create complex shapes and parts, such as overhangs, microchannels, and organic shapes, that would be costly or even impossible to produce with traditional manufacturing methods. This provides the opportunity to consolidate assemblies into less individual parts to reduce weight, alleviate weak joints, and cut down on assembly time, unleashing new possibilities for design and engineering.

Nervous System launched the first-ever 3D printed ceramic jewelry line, consisting of intricate designs that would be impossible to manufacture using any other ceramic technique.

Product development is an iterative process that requires multiple rounds of testing, evaluation, and refinement. Finding and fixing design flaws early can help companies avoid costly revisions and tooling changes down the road. With 3D printing, engineers can thoroughly test prototypes that look and perform like final products, reducing the risks of usability and manufacturability issues before moving into production.

The developers of Plaato, an optically clear airlock for homebrewing, 3D printed 1,000 prototypes to fine tune their design before investing in expensive tooling.

3D printing accelerates innovation and supports businesses across a wide range of industries, including engineering, manufacturing, dentistry, healthcare, education, entertainment, jewelry, audiology, and more.

Rapid prototyping with 3D printing empowers engineers and product designers to turn ideas into realistic proofs of concept, advance these concepts to high-fidelity prototypes that look and work like final products, and guide products through a series of validation stages toward mass production.

Applications:

Rapid prototyping
Communication models
Manufacturing validation

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Manufacturers automate production processes and streamline workflows by prototyping tooling and directly 3D printing custom tools, molds, and manufacturing aids at far lower costs and lead times than with traditional manufacturing. This reduces manufacturing costs and defects, increases quality, speeds up assembly, and maximizes labor effectiveness.

Applications:

Jig and fixtures
Tooling
Molding (injection molding, thermoforming, silicone molding, overmolding)
Metal casting
Short run production
Mass customization

Learn More

3D printers are multifunctional tools for immersive learning and advanced research. They can encourage creativity and expose students to professional-level technology while supporting STEAM curricula across science, engineering, art, and design.

Applications:

Models for STEAM curricula
Fab labs and makerspaces
Custom research setups

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Affordable, professional-grade desktop 3D printing helps doctors deliver treatments and devices customized to better serve each unique individual, opening the door to high-impact medical applications while saving organizations significant time and costs from the lab to the operating room.

Applications:

Anatomical models for surgical planning
Medical devices and surgical instruments
Insoles and orthotics

Learn More

High definition physical models are widely used in sculpting, character modeling, and prop making. 3D printed parts have starred in stop-motion films, video games, bespoke costumes, and even special effects for blockbuster movies.

Applications:

Hyper-realistic sculptures
Character models
Props

Learn More

Jewelry professionals use CAD and 3D printing to rapidly prototype designs, fit clients, and produce large batches of ready-to-cast pieces. Digital tools allow for the creation of consistent, sharply detailed pieces without the tediousness and variability of wax carving.

Applications:

Lost-wax casting (investment casting)
Fitting pieces
Master patterns for rubber molding

Learn More

Hearing specialists and ear mold labs use digital workflows and 3D printing to manufacture higher quality custom ear products more consistently, and at higher volumes for applications like behind-the-ear hearing aids, hearing protection, and custom earplugs and earbuds.

Applications:

Soft silicone ear molds
Custom earbuds

Learn More

The market for 3D printing materials is wide and ever-growing, with printers for everything from plastics to metals, and even food and live tissue in development. Formlabs offers the following range of photopolymer materials for the desktop.

Standard 3D printing materials provide high resolution, fine features, and a smooth surface finish ideal for rapid prototyping, product development, and general modeling applications.

These materials are available in Black, White, and Grey with a matte finish and opaque appearance, Clear for any parts requiring translucency, and as a Color Kit to match almost any custom color.

Explore Standard Materials

3D printing materials for engineering, manufacturing, and product design are formulated to provide advanced functionality, withstand extensive testing, perform under stress, and remain stable over time.

Engineering materials are ideal for 3D printing strong, precise concept models and prototypes to rapidly iterating through designs, assess form and fit, and optimize manufacturing processes.

Explore Engineering Materials

Medical resins empower hospitals to create patient-specific parts in a day at the point of care and support R&D for medical devices. These resins are formulated for 3D printing anatomical models, medical device and device components, and surgical planning and implant sizing tools.

Explore Jewelry Materials

Jewelry resins are formulated to capture breathtaking detail and create custom jewelry cost-effectively. These resins are ideal for jewelry prototyping and casting jewelry, as well as vulcanized rubber and RTV molding.

Explore Jewelry Materials

Specialty Resins push the limits of 3D printing, featuring advanced materials with unique mechanical properties that expand what’s possible with in-house fabrication on our stereolithography 3D printers.

Explore Specialty Materials

In recent years, high-resolution industrial 3D printers have become more affordable, intuitive, and reliable. As a result, the technology is now accessible to more businesses. Read our in-depth guide about 3D printer costs, or try our interactive tool to see if this technology makes economic sense your business.

Calculate Your Savings

New to 3D printing? Explore our guides to learn about the key terms and specific characteristics of 3D printing to find the best solution for your business.

For further questions,

Explore 3D Printing Resources

Formlabs 3D Printing Materials Library

Advanced 3D printing materials designed to deliver beautiful results.

Need help selecting the right material from our catalog? Try our interactive material wizard.

Recommend Me a Material

Explore Libraries

General Purpose

Outstanding performance. Excellent detail.

Custom-formulated to deliver the highest-quality output, our Standard Resins capture astonishing detail without sacrificing strength.

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Engineering Resins

Functional prototyping materials.

Our library of versatile, reliable Engineering Resins is formulated to help you reduce costs, iterate faster, and bring better experiences to market.

Learn More

Dental Resins

Professional materials for digital dentistry.

Formlabs Dental Resins enable high precision, low-cost digital production of a range of dental products in-house, including surgical guides, orthodontic models, retainers, and aligners.

Learn More

Jewelry Resins

High-detail materials for jewelry design and clean investment casting.

Prototype impressive concept models and manufacture distinctive pieces with sharp resolution and the best surface finish on the market, from idea to fitting to casting.

Learn More

Medical Resins

3D Printing Materials for Healthcare.

Access a library of over 20 materials available on one powerful desktop 3D printer, the Form 3B+. Our technology has been validated in FDA-cleared workflows and we develop and manufacture our own biocompatible materials in an ISO 13485 certified facility.

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Production-Ready Materials for the Fuse 1 generation printers.

Balancing strength and detail, our powders for selective laser sintering (SLS) are highly capable materials for both functional prototyping and end-use production of complex assemblies and durable parts with high environmental stability.

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SAMPLE REQUEST

See and feel Formlabs quality firsthand. We’ll ship a free sample part to your office.

Request a Free Sample Part

Material Selector

Our interactive material wizard helps you make the right material decisions based on your application and the properties you care the most about from our growing library of materials.

Recommend Me a Material

Data Sheets

Download safety and technical data sheets for all Formlabs materials.

Handling & Safety

Resin should be handled with care. Proper handling will ensure safe printing and efficient use. Our resins have been designed to be similar or safer to handle as other household chemicals or adhesives. Formlabs materials do not contain volatile solvents so special ventilation is not required. Skin contact should be avoided.

The Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are up to date for every resin product and follow the latest government guidelines. Always consult the SDS as the primary source of information to understand safety and handling of Formlabs materials. For more information about handling resin, learn more tips for resin maintenance in our Help Center.

Technical Data

Plastics are complex materials, and finding the right one for your specific application requires balancing multiple attributes. Our library of resins is ideal for product development, rapid prototyping, and a variety of specialized applications. Download our Technical Data Sheets to explore the mechanical properties of each material.

Material
– Select –BioMed AmberBioMed BlackBioMed ClearBioMed WhiteBlackCastableCastable WaxCastable Wax 40CeramicClearColor BaseColor PigmentsCustom TrayDental LT ClearDental LT Clear V2Dental SGDigital DenturesDraftDurableESDElasticElastic 50AFlexibleFlexible 80AFull Materials LibraryGreyGrey ProHigh TempIBTModelModel V3Nylon 11Nylon 11 CFNylon 12Nylon 12 GFPU Rigid 1000PU Rigid 650Permanent CrownReboundRigid 10KRigid 4000Soft TissueSurgical GuideTemporary CBToughTough 1500Tough 2000White
Language
– Select –BulgarianChineseCroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEstonianFinnishFrenchGermanGreekHungarianIrishItalianJapaneseKoreanLatvianLithuanianMalteseNorwegianPolishPortugueseRomanianRussianSlovakSlovenianSpanishSwedishTurkish

Technical Data Sheets

There is no technical data sheet available for the chosen material.

Safety Data Sheets

There is no safety data sheet available for the chosen material.

3D printer types, materials, etc.

Affordable, reliable Formlabs 3D printers for office and workshop use set the industry standard for professional 3D printing for businesses around the world. Scale your prototyping and manufacturing with cost-effective, high-resolution models and print-quality industrial 3D printers.

Industry Leading LFS
(Low Force Stereolithography) Desktop 3D Printer

Learn more about Form 3

First affordable high volume resin 3D printer

Learn more about Form 3L

Scalable multi-printer solution

Industrial power of selective laser sintering in your workshop

Explore Fuse 1

3D printing or Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies are used to produce three-dimensional physical products from models created using a computer-aided design (CAD) system by sequentially adding material layer by layer.

Although 3D printing technologies have been around since the 1980s, only recent advances in machinery, materials and software have opened up the possibilities of 3D printing to a wider range of companies - previously only a few high-tech industries used such tools.

Today, affordable professional desktop and workshop 3D printers make it easier for businesses across industries to innovate. Such industries include engineering, manufacturing, dentistry, healthcare, education, entertainment, jewelry, and audiology.

Any 3D printing process begins with the creation of a CAD model, which is exported to software to prepare the design for printing. Depending on the technology used in the 3D printer, models are made layer by layer by curing a photopolymer resin or by sintering a powder. The models are then removed from the printer and post-processed depending on the intended use.

3D printers create objects from 3D models, mathematical representations of 3D surfaces created using computer-aided design (CAD) software from 3D scan data. The design is then exported to an STL or OBJ file, which is read by the 3D printing software.

3D printers come with software for setting print parameters and the ability to analyze the digital model in layers, which are horizontal sections of the printed object. Customizable print options include model orientation, support structures (if required), layer height setting, and resin type. Once the settings are complete, the software sends instructions to the printer via a wireless or cable connection.

Some 3D printers use a laser to turn liquid photopolymer resin into hardened plastic, others create objects by sintering small particles of polymer powder at high temperatures. Most 3D printers can perform the printing process without an operator, and modern systems automatically refill the material needed to create objects from cartridges.

Depending on the technology and material, printed models may require rinsing with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to remove uncured polymers from their surface, final polymerization to stabilize mechanical properties, manual processing to remove supporting structures, or cleaning with compressed air or an appropriate apparatus to remove excess powder. Some of these processes can be automated with accessories.

3D printed objects can be used immediately or after post-processing and necessary finishing by machining, decorating, painting, fastening or joining. Often 3D printing also serves as an intermediate step, being used in combination with traditional manufacturing methods such as casting blanks for jewelry and dental prostheses, or molds for custom products.

Can't find the 3D printing technology that best suits your needs? In this video tutorial, we compare Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technologies in terms of the top factors to consider when purchasing.

Each 3D printing technology has its own advantages and disadvantages, making them better suited for different applications. In this video, we compare the functional and visual performance of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printers so you can find the solution that best suits your needs.

Do you need to produce custom models or prototypes quickly? Compared to hiring a third party or using traditional methods such as machining, having your own 3D printer cuts lead time by weeks. In this video, we compare print speeds using 3D printing technologies such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).

3D printer cost comparison goes beyond labeled prices, which do not give you an idea of the actual cost of a 3D printed model. Learn about the three factors to consider to learn about costs when using 3D printing technologies such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).

With traditional manufacturing processes, a model can take weeks or months to complete. 3D printing turns CAD models into physical objects within a few hours: in this way, products and their combinations can be created based on one-time conceptual models, as well as functional prototypes, and even small production runs can be tested. This enables developers and engineers to develop ideas faster and helps companies bring products to market faster.

3D printing eliminates the need for expensive injection molding or machining tools and equipment; the same equipment can be used to create parts of various geometries, from prototyping to production. As 3D printing becomes more relevant in the production of functional end products, it can complement or replace traditional manufacturing methods for a growing range of small to medium volume products.

From shoes and clothing to bicycles, we are surrounded by uniformity as businesses strive to standardize products and make production more economical. 3D printing allows you to change only the digital design and adapt each product to the client's requirements without additional equipment costs. Because of this, 3D printing has found its way into industries where custom fit is key, such as medicine and dentistry, but as 3D printing becomes more accessible, it is increasingly being used to mass-modify consumer products.

3D printing can create complex shapes such as overhangs, microchannels and organic shapes that would be expensive or even impossible to produce with traditional manufacturing methods. This makes it possible to form combinations from fewer individual parts, reduce weight, reduce the number of weak joints and reduce assembly time, which opens up new possibilities in the field of design and construction.

Product development is a cyclical process consisting of several stages of testing, evaluation and adjustment. Finding and fixing flaws in templates early on can help companies avoid costly redesigns and additional tooling during the manufacturing process. With 3D printing, engineers can thoroughly test prototypes that look and work like final products before they go into production, and reduce the risks associated with usability and manufacturing complexity.

By creating the necessary prototypes and 3D printing special tools, molds and production aids, manufacturing companies can automate production and optimize workflows at a much lower cost and in much faster time than traditional manufacturing. Thus, production costs are reduced and defects are prevented, quality is improved, assembly is accelerated and labor productivity is increased.

Digital Dentistry reduces the risks and uncertainties associated with human error, enabling consistent quality and accuracy at every step of the workflow, and improving the quality of patient care. 3D printers can produce a range of high quality custom products at low cost, providing exceptional fit and reproducible results.

3D printers are versatile tools for creating immersive learning and research environments. They stimulate creativity and introduce students to professional-level technology, enabling the implementation of the STEAM method in the fields of science, technology, art and design.

Affordable, professional-grade desktop 3D printing helps clinicians create medical devices that meet the needs of each individual and increase the effectiveness of treatment. At the same time, the organization significantly reduces time and money costs: from laboratories to operating rooms.

High-resolution printed physical models are widely used in digital sculpting, 3D character modeling and prop making. 3D-printed models have been featured in animated films, video game characters, theatrical costumes, and even special effects for blockbuster films.

Professional jewelers use the power of CAD and 3D printing to rapidly prototype, customize jewelry to customer specifications and produce large batches of castings. Digital tools allow you to create dense, highly detailed models without the tedious, error-prone production of stencils.

Formlabs offers two professional 3D printing technologies: stereolithography and selective laser sintering, making these powerful and user-friendly industrial production tools available to creative professionals around the world.

Stereolithographic (SLA) 3D printing uses a laser to turn liquid photopolymer resin into solid isotropic models.

The most common method is inverted stereolithography, in which a platform is lowered into a reservoir of polymer, leaving only a thin layer of liquid between the platform and the bottom of the reservoir. The galvanometers direct the laser through a transparent window under the resin tank to obtain a 3D cross section and selectively cure the resins. The model is formed from successive layers less than a hundred microns thick. If necessary, the protruding parts are supported by support structures attached to the platform. When the layer is completed, the model is lifted from the bottom of the tank to allow fresh polymer to flow under it, and the platform is lowered again. The process is repeated until the print is complete.

rapid prototyping;
functional prototyping;
concept modeling;
small-scale production;
manufacture of dental products;
Jewelry prototype making and casting

rapid prototyping;

functional prototyping;

concept modeling;

small-scale production;

manufacture of dental products;

jewelry prototyping and casting

Learn more about stereolithographic 3D printing

Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers use a powerful laser to sinter small particles of polymer powder into a solid structure.

A thin layer of powder is applied to the top of the platform inside the build chamber and the printer preheats the powder to just below the melting point of the feedstock. The laser scans the cross section of the 3D model and forms a solid object by mechanically fusing the particles. The unsprayed powder supports the model during printing and eliminates the need for special support structures. The platform is lowered into the build chamber one layer, typically 50-200 microns thick, and the recoater applies a new layer of powder from above. The laser then scans the next slice of the model and the process is repeated for each layer until the model is complete.

functional prototyping;
production of final models;
small-scale production and customization.

functional prototyping;

production of final models;

small-scale production and custom-made products.

Learn more about selective laser sintering

The market for 3D printing materials is broad and growing: printers are being used to print everything from plastics to metals, and even potentially food and living tissue. Formlabs offers the following range of photopolymer materials for desktop 3D printing.

Standard 3D printing materials provide high print resolution, excellent model performance and a smooth surface, ideal for rapid prototyping, product development and simulation.

Standard resins are available as Black, White, Gray resins for a matte finish and opacity, Clear for translucent prints, and a Color Kit to match virtually any color.

View standard 3D printing resins

These are 3D printing materials for engineering, manufacturing and product design. They offer advanced functionality, withstand numerous test tests, work under stressful conditions and do not lose strength over time.

Engineering resins are ideal for 3D printing strong and accurate concept models and prototypes to quickly evaluate design quality, shape and fit, and optimize manufacturing processes.

Explore Engineering Resins

Dental Resins are empowering dental labs and dental practices to quickly, cost-effectively, and outsource a range of dental products, from dental models to biocompatible surgical guides, splints and orthodontic models of thermoformed retainers and aligners.

Explore dental resins

Jewelry resins are designed to enhance detail and cost-effectively create custom jewelry. These polymers are ideal for prototyping and jewelry casting, as well as rubber vulcanization and cold vulcanization.

Explore Jewelry Resins

Ceramic Resin is an experimental material that pushes the boundaries of 3D printing. It is designed to 3D print stone-like textures and then fire them into a ceramic product. It can be used to make ceramic models for engineering surveys or create unique pieces of art.

Experience Formlabs print quality first hand and find the right material for you.

Review of Formlabs Form 3 photopolymer 3D printer. Formlabs 2 VS Formlabs 3

Hello, Friends! 3DTool is with you!

Formlabs is one of the world's leading manufacturing companies in the field of additive manufacturing. Form 3D Printers became famous in 2011, when a young team of developers began their journey in the laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, a serious approach became visible already from the first attempts, since the technical task was to create the most automated device that does not require the user to have special skills in working with 3D printers and its settings. We must pay tribute to the team, they coped with the task « to excellent ” and after a successful campaign on “ Kickstarter ”, the first 3D printer from the manufacturer FormLabs – Form 1 was presented to the public. Of course, the printer had certain childhood diseases and rough edges, but the precedent set in SLA technology certainly stirred up the market. In today's review, we got a representative of the third version of this equipment - Formlabs Form 3 . Let's take a closer look at what Form 3 is, where and how it can be used, and what are the advantages over analogues on the market SLA 3D printers.

1. What is Formlabs Form 3?

Form 3 photopolymer 3D printer with a rich history of predecessors, a competent approach to development and one of the best, if not the best in its class. Thousands of previous Formlabs models have worked successfully in every industry imaginable and have performed well. Form 3 first of all, it is powerful and easy to use, highly automated SLA (LFS) 3D printer . By using proprietary FormLabs cartridges with different properties, the risk of printing errors is minimized. Everything is thought out for the user.

So what is Form 3 ?

Form 3 is a professional-grade desktop stereolithographic 3D printer for adequate money. This is a great and thoughtful design, convenient and smart software. As well as a real ecosystem FormLabs includes: Form 3 3D printer, Pre-Form software, photopolymers of various properties and types, Form Wash and Form Cure post-processing systems, as well as a powerful user community. FormLabs Form 3 is an automated working solution for SLA (LDS) 3D printing of out of the box, requiring no special knowledge from the user. Follow the instructions on the screen and everything will work by itself. Working with various photopolymer 3D printers , our 3Dtool engineers said unanimously: this 3D printer - Iphone, among the variety of models SLA / DLP 3D printers . Those. everything is also convenient and thoughtful, reliable as in products from Apple .

2. An overview of photopolymer resins from FormLabs.

Thanks to a wide range of photopolymers with different properties, Form 3 is used everywhere, where high surface quality and ease of use are required.

Starting from engineering workshops, prototyping departments, continuing with hobbyists and collectors of miniatures and wargames, and ending with medicine - dentistry and surgery. Let's start in order:

Hobbies and prototyping.

In the basic version, the printer comes with one polymer cartridge - Standard Gray . It allows you to achieve high quality printing, while not requiring excessive post-processing. It is enough to wash the product with isopropyl alcohol from the excess of uncured photopolymer.

Photopolymer resin "Standard" comes in several colors and is considered "basic", it is used, for example, in prototyping or prototyping of any parts that do not require special properties, but with a high-quality surface of the part. This is the basic type of photopolymers Formlabs .

If necessary, you can also use a transparent version of the material. If you need to print elements with a certain light transmission. For example, a display on the body of the device, or a transparent glazing of a car model. This material is also optimized for printing master models for subsequent casting in silicone.

The color of the resin also affects its properties.

For example, Gray Standard resin is suitable for models with fine details, while White Standard resin is suitable for parts that require an extremely smooth surface.

Another material in this range is Draft Resin, which is specifically honed for really fast SLA 3D printing at 300 microns (or 0.3mm) if you need fast results in a limited amount of time.

This is followed by a line of engineering photopolymers.

Functional samples.

Engineering materials are represented by a wide range of photopolymers with various useful mechanical and isotropic properties. First of all, these materials are used in functional prototypes, in complex products that require different physical properties from its elements and, if necessary, to make something that will be actually used and work, and not just demonstrate the concept itself.

The first three materials are Resin Gray Pro Resin , Rigid Resin and Durable Resin . The first, as you might guess, is an improved version of the standard material and allows you to perform lightly loaded mechanisms with rubbing parts, has low shrinkage and good viscosity.

The second type of resin is Riged Resin , a high hardness reinforced composite, excellent for thin wall applications and various blades and fans.

The third type of resin - Durable Resin , resembles nylon in properties, it should be used in parts loaded with friction.

Three special materials follow - Elastic Resin , Flexible Resin and Hight Temp Resin . You can already guess from the name that the first two are Formlabs elastic resins with slightly different stiffnesses and appearance, but their main area of application is where the production of flexible products is required.

Elastic Resin is the softest 50A Shore A engineering resin in the Formlabs line. It is great for prototyping models usually made from silicone. Elastic Resin should be chosen for models that will need to bend, stretch, compress and withstand repeated cycles without breaking.

Flexible Resin is used primarily for low-deformation flexible models. With a hardness of 80A Shore and a soft touch matt black finish, this polymer is the choice for ergonomics in larger assemblies. It is ideal for cushioning and damping, wearable and consumer product prototypes, handles, grips and pads.

High Temp Resin - high temperature photopolymer resin from FormLabs, the main property of which is heat resistance up to 238 degrees Celsius. This photopolymer is also very durable and can be used in thermally stressed environments.

The most common of the engineering materials is Tough Resin, its balanced strength characteristics perfectly withstand variable loads. It is quite light but does not lose strength and can be used, for example, for a quadrocopter frame.

Jewelry and stencils.

Formlabs offers two resin options for this application.

These are burnt out photopolymer resin and burnt out wax.

Castable Wax Resin is a 20% wax polymer that provides reliable casting with zero ash and clean burnout. It accurately renders complex elements and produces the smooth surface that stereolithographic 3D printing is known for. The printed models are durable, do not need additional illumination, and are ready for try-in and investment casting immediately after printing.

Castable Resin differs from the previous material in a new and original formula for investment casting. The burn-off curve for this resin is different from the standard wax burn-off curve. That allows you to use it when working with particularly thin elements of injection models and better optimize the process itself.

Medicine. Surgery and dentistry.

One of Formlabs' most sought-after product lines is dentistry. The company offers several types of biocompatible resins.

For example, Dental Model is a high-precision printing material for creating models of dentures and the production of transparent aligners. The main advantage of the material is a low degree of shrinkage, which allows printing products with clear edges and contacts within ± 35 µm. It is ideal for printing crown and bridge models, clear aligner models, orthodontic models, diagnostic models, dental implant models.

Another biocompatible resin used in dentistry is Dental SG. This material is highly heat resistant and can be disinfected in autoclaves. Due to its characteristics, it is used to 3D print precise surgical templates, allowing dentists to accurately position implants.

guides and templates for drilling teeth and jaws.

Another material for dentistry is Dental LT Clear Resin. Long lasting clear biocompatible photopolymer for printing tires and nightcaps.

Also, when creating prostheses and other dental products by pressing, they use the already familiar Castable Wax Resin , which is used in the manufacture of cast caps and intraosseous parts of implants, cast crowns and crowns made by pressing and cast partial removable frames of dentures.

3. Formlabs Form3 Features, Package Contents and Appearance.

Let's start with the specs first:

3D printing technology : Low Force Stereolithography (LFS)
Material 3 Print D: Photopolymer resins
Resolution XY: 25 µm
Laser spot size: 85 µm
Laser power: One 250 mW laser
Power Requirements: 100-240VAC current, 2. 5 A, 50/60 Hz, 220 W
Print Volume (W x D x H): 14.5 x 14.5 x 18.5 cm
Layer thickness: 25 – 300 µm
Resin Supply System: Automatic
Layer thickness: 25 – 300 µm
Resin cartridges: 1
Support structures: Auto-generated
Operating temperature: Automatic heating up to 35 °C
Network interfaces: Wi-Fi (2.4, 5 GHz), Ethernet (1000 Mbit), USB 2.0
Printer control: 5.5" interactive touch screen 1280 × 720 resolution
Notifications: Touch screen alerts, SMS/email via Dashboard, Two status LEDs, Speaker for audible alerts
Software: PreForm Slicer

For comparison, Form 2 had a smaller working area - only 175 mm in height, and also had a less advanced material mixing system. The Form 3 also uses a completely new laser optical system to illuminate the photopolymer.

The package, however, has not changed much. A standard set of various cuvettes for product processing, a huge bag of disposable gloves and the necessary tools.

And if you do not see the printer with your own eyes, you might think that it has not changed at all.

No matter how!

Form 3 is noticeably different from its predecessors, which it replaced. First of all, the dimensions are striking. It is clearly larger than the old model, primarily due to the improved mixing and lighting system, but more on that later.

The control display has moved to the middle of the front panel. Removed all unnecessary buttons, now the printer is controlled exclusively from the touch panel.

Added a convenient opening handle on the protective cap and a very stylish Formlabs logo in the lower left corner.

The sides of the printer are empty, on the back wall there are well-known connectors:

Ethernet, USB, power connector and service information with printer serial number.

When you open the lid, you can see a solid ball screw, a convenient print platform bracket with branded fasteners, a modified cuvette and a mixing system that now works on two levels.

4. Form 3 Key Features

What has changed in the new device in terms of the technical part?

First of all, the approach to working with the material has changed. Although Form 3 is called an SLA 3D printer, in fact, the new technology is called LFS (Low Force Stereolithography)

Which uses a flexible cuvette and additional linear illumination, like on scanners, to achieve the ideal print quality and reliability.

The laser illumination system of the device has also undergone a major change:

The use of a new more powerful laser with a high beam density, a special spatial filter and parabolic lenses made it possible to achieve, together with improved layer registration and additional surface illumination, really impressive results.

With the same layer thickness and standard parameters, the Form 3 noticeably outperforms the previous From2 model in terms of surface smoothness and line accuracy.

Also, the device has acquired several new sensors that control the 3D printing process and the flow of material into the cuvette, which greatly increased fault tolerance. However, the printer still needs to be leveled using a special menu on the display during the first start. The process itself is necessary to make sure that the liquid level in the cuvette is not skewed and there will be no overflows when printing on the model. In other words, in this way the system double-checks that the printer itself is perfectly level on your table, without skew.

5. Interface and software.

The functionality of the interface has not undergone major changes.

On the left side of the screen, we can switch between different settings - Main Screen, Print Queue, Printer Status and an impressive settings menu.

In the last menu of the list, all the necessary settings are available to us. From network connection, to firmware updates and manuals for self-replacement of the LPU (additional illumination module) Yes, it is understood that the user can do it himself.

The software is a Pre-From slicer, let's connect our printer and move on to the 3D printing process. After installing the program from the manufacturer's website.

As you can see, the cartridge is already installed in the Formlabs Form 3 printer, and the printer itself is connected to the computer via a USB cable. PreForm has already automatically detected which photopolymer is installed. This is the very convenience of automating the process. You only need to load the cartridge and select the settings.

Let's load the model. We will print parts of a miniature soldier from a desktop wargame. At the same time, let's see how the printer copes with fine detail.

So let's choose a model.

Now you need to select all the parts, perform automatic repair, and then place the parts on the table. By the way, the program also does this automatically by pressing the corresponding key.

Supports are also generated automatically, but you still have full-fledged functionality for your own customization. Everything can be configured. From the thickness of the layer, to the size of the point of contact of the supporting column with the surface of the product.

We prepare all our files and send them for printing.

6. 3D printing process.

After sending the model to print, PreForm will alert us to check the process on the printer screen.

Here we only need to press the print button and wait for the process to finish. Which, by the way, will take an hour and 20 minutes. Which is pretty good for a product with a 50 micron layer thickness.

Well, the result was not long in coming! The quality turned out great. Even at 50 microns, although the printer can print at 25 microns of quality, all the detail is captured perfectly.

And here is our soldier in comparison with the factory prototype. Not a big difference.

We will print a few more products to make sure the quality of the printer.

7. Result.

Well, the printed products speak for themselves. The ring is printed with thin walls and a 50 µm layer.

The denture is 25 microns, its surface is just perfect.

The well-known couple baby Yoda and his friend the Mandalorian, 100 microns, so as not to spend a lot of time printing.

The result is excellent.

8. Summary.

Well, in summary, let's go over the main advantages of the model once again and determine where this 3D printer can be used with the greatest success.

With improved print control systems and multiple sensors, the Form 3 delivers the most consistent print experience, a huge improvement over the company's previous models.

The new polymer illumination system using additional illumination and a flexible cuvette makes it possible to achieve the best quality and the absence of sags and overflows on the surface of the model, and also has a positive effect when printing at high quality - 50 microns or less.

The expanded list of photopolymer resins expands the already extensive list of applications and deepens existing examples.

At the same time, it remains affordable both in price ( compared to industrial analogues ), and in terms of ease of learning the printing process and using the printer.

The Form 3 will make a great workbench on the table of the dental technician and dentist, as well as in the jewelry shop, or even the jewelry factory, thanks to the ability to print with high-performance burnout resins with a minimum ash content. At the same time, the use of engineering materials implies the printing of functional prototypes with various functions, which will be indispensable when working in an engineering bureau, design studio, or in a prototyping department in a large-scale production.

And thanks to its ease of use and a wide range of additional accessories, Form 3 will perfectly prove itself as a teaching tool in educational centers, CMITs and departments of prototyping and additive technologies of universities.