Introducing the Formlabs, Form 3 and Form 3L printers

iMAKE3D, an authorized Formlabs partner, are pleased to announce the release of two new hardware products that will help usher in a new era for industrial 3D printing: Module 3the latest printer in the desktop printer series e Form 3Lthe first affordable industrial resin 3D printer, are available for pre-order

Formlabs’ new 3D printers use Low Force Stereolithography (LFS)™ technology, giving us incredible print quality, lighter substrates, and a platform for advanced materials and applications.

As you well know, Formlabs 3D printers are the solution for a wide range of industries thanks to proven performance but also ease of use, obviously the new printers also work on the same system.

Introducing the Formlabs, Form 3 and Form 3L printers

New software features such as the ability to send print files remotely and manage a print line open up new possibilities for working across teams and locations. The emphasis was on uptime, which needed to be continuous, for high print volumes, so advanced sensors, alerts and user-replaceable components were added. In conclusion, the Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) printing process increases the print volume by 5 times compared to desktop 3D printers available so far.

Formlabs continues to expand access to powerful industrial technologies and provide you with unprecedented levels of reliable print quality for a production engine that can grow with your business.

Read on to learn more about how LFS 3D printing works and why the stereolithographic 3D printing process has been redesigned.

Register for the April 9 webinar for an in-depth demonstration of the technology behind low-force stereolithography (LFS) printing. Learn from a Formlabs expert how the Form 3 printer can fit into your workflows.

From accessible to universal

The Formlabs Form 2 printer has made industrial-grade part production accessible by reducing hardware, material and labor costs, with the goal of putting stereolithography in the hands of more companies than ever before.

With one of the largest materials science teams in the industry, Formlabs offers an advanced portfolio of more than 20 products material that meet the specialized needs of the sector and enable companies such as Gillette produce final and functional components at a price accessible to end consumers. Today, Formlabs users are driving how 3D printing grows, from a single machine to 24/7 digital manufacturing, from a prototyping tool to an indispensable business driver.

The Form 3 and Form 3L 3D printers take the printing process to another level, through the innovations it brings, namely: easy support removal, improved accuracy and reliability, faster printer maintenance and new opportunities to print part parts in a much higher volume and with the most advanced materials. Formlabs takes industrial-grade 3D printing from affordable to universal by creating an in-house manufacturing platform that is reliable and versatile enough to build a business on.

Brief introduction to the low force stereolithography (LFS) process

The first Formlabs 3D printers had a much smaller and more affordable setup than existing industrial SLA machines. The reverse SLA process behind the Form 2 printer reduces footprint and cost, but places significant forces on the part during printing. The printer records this through rigorous calibration, the forces exerted on the printed part result in limitations on materials and print volume, and the parts require robust support structures to print successfully.

With the introduction of low-force stereolithography (LFS), Formlabs has completely changed our approach to resin-based 3D printing by dramatically reducing the forces exerted on parts during the printing process.

LFS 3D printing uses a flexible tank and linear illumination to provide incredible surface quality and printing precision. Lower printing forces allow printing with easily removable support structures. Furthermore, this process opens up a wide range of possibilities for future developments, such as advanced production-ready materials.

Inside the Form 3 and Form 3L printers is a completely redesigned optical engine. Light Processing Unit (LPU) which contains a system of lenses and mirrors, with the role of providing accurate and repeatable prints.

Inside the LPU, a galvanometer positions the high-density laser beam in the Y direction, passes it through a spatial filter, and directs it towards a folded mirror and a parabolic mirror to consistently deliver the beam perpendicular to the build plane.

The next generation of industrial 3D printing

Formlabs 3D printers, Module 3 AND Form 3Lthey were built to ensure long and consistent uptime and allow the user to focus more on the design and creativity of their work. The implemented sensors detect and maintain an optimal printing process and when errors occur and user intervention is required, the user receives notifications.

In the rare event that the printer requires user intervention, the system is designed for easy maintenance. The light processing units, resin tank, rollers and optical glass are user-replaceable components, reducing the time required to send them in for maintenance to replace these components.

Innovation in error detection and handling makes the user experience hassle-free.

The intuitive and redesigned interface of the printer’s print preparation software, cloud management tools and touch-screen interface make the 3D printer easy to use without the need for prior training.

The latest update of of the PreForm slicer It’s free and includes tons of new features that open up new possibilities for implementing 3D printing technology into your workflow.

Start printing even when you’re not at home with remote printing, work with a row of printers organized in PreForm and manage teams and permissions from the Dashboard.

A structured procedure for widespread use

The modular design of the light processing unit (LPU), uniform linear illumination and low forces of the flexible tank ensure that low force stereolithography (LFS) printing technology can continue to develop in the area of ​​3D printing, built around the same powerful printing engine.

The Formlabs Form 3L printer, the first affordable large-scale resin printer, quickly produces large 3D printed parts thanks to two lightweight processing units working simultaneously along an optimized print path.

For the first time, companies will be able to print large parts in their own factory at a lower cost and faster. For large productions, the Form 3L 3D printer multiplies its yield with each print. Therefore jewelers can print 150 rings at the same time and dental laboratories can print 40 dental arches at a time.

Both the Form 3 and Form 3L 3D printer use the same resin cartridges as the Form 2. The Form 3L printer has the ability to hold two resin cartridges to prevent interruption of the printing process for high-volume par

Formlabs is committed to providing any business with the tools to access high-quality manufacturing. Module 3 AND Form 3Lbuilt on Low Force’s advanced technology Stereolithography (LFS), represents the next step towards universalizing high-quality industrial desktop 3D printing and introducing affordable, large-scale 3D printing for the first time.

Start with a single printer and add capacity as demand grows, or start building a multi-printer fleet for high-volume printing now. No matter the size of your business or what stage of production you’re focused on, Formlabs has the versatile hardware, software and materials you need to grow your business.