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Formlabs launches the new Form 3 and Form 3L LFS™ 3D printers
Apr
A few weeks ago, Formlabs officially launched its new stereolithography 3D printers: the Formlabs Form 3 – the successor to the Formlabs Form 2 and the Formlabs Form 3L – a large format stereolithography 3D printer. In the course of this launch, we were able to reduce the price of the Formlabs Form 2. But what is the difference between the new Formlabs 3D printers and the Formlabs Form 2? We would like to explain this briefly and concisely in this article.
Formlab Form 2 – more affordable than ever before
Although Formlabs has announced the Form 3 and Form 3L, there are still some good reasons to buy the Form 2. On the one hand, Formlabs continues to support the Form 2 and further improve it with software updates. The biocompatible dental resins (Dental SG Resin, Dental LT Clear Resin, Digital Dentures) can currently only be used on the Form 2. Validation for the Form 3 is still pending. The Formlabs Form 2 is a proven 3D printer with a wide range of materials, of which over 40,000 machines have been sold. In addition, the Formlabs Form 2 is now cheaper than ever to buy. Is your budget still insufficient or would you like to expand your existing machine park? Then now is the time to buy a Formlabs Form 2!
Differences between the Form 2, Form 3 and Form 3L
After the presentation of the latest 3D printers from Formlabs (Form 3 and Form 3L), you may be wondering how the new Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) 3D printers differ from the previous Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers.
Here we will focus on the improvements that have been made to the Form 3: How the stereolithography printing process and the exposure unit have been improved and what has been done to make the new printers even more intuitive and reliable. In order not to go beyond the scope of this article, we will focus on the two desktop 3D printers – the Formlabs Form 2 and Form 3.
Is the build space of the Form 2 or Form 3 too small for you? Are you looking for a high-resolution large-format 3D printer? Then you should take a look at the Formlabs Form 3L. With a build volume of 335 × 200 × 300 mm, it has five times the build volume of the Form 3.
LFS vs. SLA 3D printer
Formlabs SLA technology
Formlabs was the first manufacturer to bring SLA 3D printing to the desktop around five years ago. Formlabs achieved this by reversing the printing process, whereby the object is pulled out of the tank. As a result, Formlabs required considerably less space and the machines are significantly cheaper than industrial SLA 3D printers – with comparable print quality.
However, this reverse SLA 3D printing also has a disadvantage. Relatively large peeling forces are generated when the object is removed from the surface of the tank (peeling process). As a result, it is not possible to print very large components, which is why the installation space is limited and relatively strong or large support structures are required that are firmly attached to the object. This also limits the use of flexible materials.
Formlabs LFS Technology
Low-force stereolithography was developed to overcome the disadvantages of peel forces. The LFS technology will be used in the Formlabs Form 3 and Formlabs Form 3L. The key element for this further development is the elastic layer at the bottom of the resin tank, which allows easy and gentle release during printing.
The reduction of peel forces leads to a number of improvements and benefits:
Higher surface quality due to reduced stress on the objects during the printing process even at 100 µm layer resolution
Smaller contact points and finer support structures for more efficient post-processing and finishing of the printed products
Increased reliability when printing all materials; especially with highly viscous materials and materials with low strength in uncured state.
Exposure unit
The Form 2 uses two galvanometers for the X-Y positioning of the laser beam, after which it is guided from the rear of the printer via a stationary mirror to the printing plane. This exposure unit meets the accuracy requirements for many applications and has proven its worth.
The light processing unit (LPU) installed in the Form 3 and Form 3L was developed with the aim of achieving even greater precision and reliability. In addition, the system should also be scalable – i.e. suitable for larger installation spaces. For this reason, the exposure unit in the LFS 3D printers is located in a separate closed unit (LPU). This moves in the X direction, while a galvanometer controls the laser beam in the Y direction. The laser beam is then directed onto a parabolic mirror via a folding mirror. Finally, the laser beam always strikes perpendicular to the construction plane. In combination with a spatial filter, this results in a sharper and cleaner laser spot with no beam deviation – regardless of the size of the build space. To increase the printing speed, a galvanometer with a higher frequency was also installed in the LPU.
Further features and improvements of the Formlabs Form 3
Trouble-free printing
Additional sensors in the Formlabs Form 3 3D printer ensure optimum printing conditions. Errors are better detected and you are notified if the printer needs your attention.
Various components are now designed so that you can easily replace them yourself.
Thanks to remote control, the prepared Form 3 can be started from anywhere (not just from the local network).
The Form 3 hardware now has a hood that can be opened flat against the wall, a parking position to protect the optics motor from resin exposure, and components that can be easily replaced by the user.
Compatibility between Form 2 and Form 3
The Formlabs Form 2 and Formlabs Form 3 are basically compatible. The print preparation is carried out in the PreForm software. The material cartridges are also the same, so you can use the same materials on both the Form 2 and the Form 3.* Even the Form Wash and Form Cure accessories for automated post-processing are compatible, as the same build platform is used in both printers.
*Formlabs plans to continue developing materials that are compatible with both printers. On the other hand, some future materials will be designed exclusively for the Form 3.
Which Formlabs 3D printer to choose?
Do you want to get started with stereolithography 3D printing? Then we recommend the Formlabs Form 2 or the Formlabs Form 3.
Are you already using the Formlabs Form 2? Then you can now increase your capacity with additional Form 2s or add Form 3s to keep up with the latest technology in the future.
Are you looking for a large-format 3D printer? Then the Formlabs Form 3L is of interest to you, as it offers five times the build volume of the Form 3 with the same precision.
