Jan
We are pleased to introduce the new Formlabs Resin Pumping System and the new 5 liter cartridges for the Form 3 series ecosystem. This reduces the price of resin when using larger quantities. This makes professional 3D printing even more accessible by significantly reducing the cost per part. Lower unit costs make SLA 3D printing (stereolithography) competitive with other manufacturing processes. This makes it easier for companies to take advantage of the wide range of materials, geometric freedom and outstanding surface quality of Formlabs printers.
The Resin Pumping System is an accessory for the Form 3 series. It delivers 5 liters of resin to the printer without having to change the cartridge. This improves operational efficiency, streamlines workflow and reduces waste by 86%. The Resin Pumping System allows Formlabs SLA users to print more parts, more often, with less handling and at a lower cost per liter.
Discounts on consumables are now available, both when purchasing 5 liter resin cartridges and when talking to our team about your specific needs. Volume discounts are available for both 1 liter cartridges and 5 liter containers. These discounts start at 30 liters and increase with the quantity ordered. This means lower unit costs than ever before with Formlabs professional desktop 3D printers.
Thanks to the price reductions for the 5 liter cartridges and the Resin Pumping System, as well as the discounts for larger quantities, the cost per part can be reduced. This means that your Form 3+ or Form 3L can work continuously and supply you with the parts you need at an even lower price.
Discover the Formlabs material library to find the right resin for your application. It may already be available in a 5-liter cartridge. Then all you need is the Resin Pumping System to get started. Otherwise, we will be happy to assist you in evaluating and creating a customized pricing structure for your needs.
How the Formlabs Resin Pumping System works
The Resin Pumping System consists of a resin pump, which is connected to a 5-liter cartridge via connecting hoses. It also has a special resin card that tracks material consumption and displays warnings when the resin level is low.
The resin pump is inserted into the cartridge shaft of the Form 3/B/+ or Form 3/B/L, with a hose connecting the external 5-liter resin cartridge. Commissioning the resin pumping system is extremely simple:
- Insert the resin card into the slot of the resin pump.
- Remove the lid from the 5-liter cartridge and replace the transfer lid.
- Loosen the silicone cap of the transfer lid and connect the resin pump to the resin cartridge using the hose.
- Unscrew the drip cap of the resin pump.
- Insert the resin pump into the cartridge slot of the printer.
The Resin Pumping System keeps the printer’s resin tank continuously filled. This means you can print five times longer before you have to change the cartridge, which interrupts your workflow.
Easily switching between the high-quality materials in the extensive material library has always been a key advantage of Formlabs SLA printers. This does not change with the Resin Pumping System. For customers who don’t want to miss out on the ease of switching between materials, separate connection hoses for each resin can be purchased at a reasonable price. The resin itself does not come into contact with the resin pump, so no cleaning is required when changing materials.
The combination of resin pumping and automation system
Formlabs launched the automation ecosystem around the Form Auto in early 2023. This is a new approach that enables high-productivity 3D printing at scale, reduces unit prices and improves the management of machine fleets. The Resin Pumping System is a key element in making the automation system truly independent of manual intervention. Once the Form Auto has removed the print job using Build Platform 2 ‘s Quick Release Technology, the new print starts automatically. This process can now run unattended for five times longer, enabling continuous, unattended production operation over several days.
The Form Auto not only ensures that production does not come to a standstill, but also takes over the night shift and the weekend shift when you get off work. There’s no need to schedule changes of construction platforms as it runs flawlessly. The system is particularly suitable for small components and medium-sized production series of up to 1000 parts or more. It is also suitable for dental laboratories, dental practices and orthodontic laboratories, for example for the production of dental arches. It allows you to scale up production without incurring additional labor costs.
The combination of Resin Pumping System and Fleet Control gives users an overview of their entire production process – but with fewer indications of material changes. Together, the Resin Pumping System and the Automation System enable small companies to grow and large companies to become more efficient and innovative.
Reduce costs
Formlabs has continuously improved its product and business strategy since the introduction of the first industrial-grade desktop 3D printers. The aim is to make the production of high-quality parts not only simple, but also affordable for all industries.
Nevertheless, high-quality SLA 3D printing can still be more expensive per part than conventional manufacturing techniques. The cost of the resin in particular can deter customers from using SLA materials for all applications. The ability to purchase 5 liters at a time with the Resin Pumping System makes material costs much more affordable. In addition, customers who order large quantities of resin can benefit from an additional volume discount when purchasing multiple 5-liter resin containers.
1st example: 1000 swivel arms (Grey Resin) in 3 days
| Setup | With the automated ecosystem | Without the automated ecosystem |
|---|---|---|
| Required printers | 10 | 28 |
| Cartridge change | 2 | 12 |
| Required manpower | 1 | 1 |
| Cost per part* | 1.73 CHF | 2,62 CHF |
* Calculation includes equipment and labor costs and depreciation.
2nd example: 1000 dental arches (Draft Resin) in 1 day
| Setup | With the automated ecosystem | Without the automated ecosystem | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required printers | 4 | 6 | ||
| Cartridge change | 2 | 14 | ||
| Required manpower | 1 | 2 | ||
| Cost per part* | 1,68 CHF | 2,90 CHF |
* Calculation includes equipment and labor costs and depreciation.
Lower material costs open up new opportunities for the use of additive manufacturing. Conventional manufacturing methods are more affordable for many products, but can limit creativity, increase lead times and create a more complicated supply chain. Thanks to in-house 3D printing, these issues can be addressed. In particular, the lower unit costs made possible by the 5-liter cartridges and volume discounts make SLA 3D printing competitive with conventional methods, even at higher volumes.
Formlabs printers are designed to help our customers innovate – and like any other tool, they pay for themselves by making your workflows easier and more cost-effective. The time to ROI depends on the print volume. But for customers processing between 2-4 liters of resin per month, the Resin Pumping System pays for itself in less than four months.
Increase operational efficiency
Changing cartridges by hand often interrupts the workflow. These interactions add up even for customers who have several or even just one printer in continuous operation and can be a real obstacle to overall efficiency.
In contrast, with the Resin Pumping System you can print five times longer without having to change cartridges. This allows for continuous printer uptime while reducing user interaction, so you can focus on more important tasks.
In addition, the resin pumping system simplifies resin storage and reduces space requirements by 58% compared to the use of 1 liter cartridges. In addition, the 5-liter resin containers are easier to store, take up less space and help to avoid situations where dozens of half-empty cartridges take up valuable shelf space.
The desktop size of the Form 3 series in particular has made it possible for product designers, engineers and manufacturers to integrate industrial-quality 3D printing into their workspace – on their desks in the workshop, in the office or even in the home office. But the management of consumables can reduce the benefits of the desktop workflow. With the help of the Resin Pumping System, material management becomes more efficient and every centimeter of space is used optimally.
Reduce waste
Not only will material management before printing and manual intervention become more efficient, but so will the disposal process. The Resin Pumping System reduces cartridge and packaging waste by 86%. Especially for users with high throughput, 1-liter cartridges often form a considerable part of the waste. Therefore, switching to 5-liter resin containers is an easy way to reduce plastic waste and the need for disposal.
Now even lower unit costs with Formlabs 3D printers
Now even lower unit costs with Formlabs 3D printers
Choosing Form 3 Series printers for your work is easier than ever thanks to the new Resin Pumping System and volume discounts. When comparing 3D printers to other manufacturing methods or other 3D printer manufacturers, the price per liter or material cost is an important factor to consider.
With the 5L cartridges and the staggered discounts, Formlabs offers the highest price reductions for resin to date. At the same time, the Resin Pumping System reduces labor and frees up valuable time for other activities. These workflow optimizations for the Form 3 Series allow you to focus on your projects instead of worrying about costs and printer maintenance. Contact us to discuss your needs and find out if you can benefit from volume discounts. Visit our online store to order the Resin Pumping System and Resine in 5 liter cartridges.
