What Type Of 3d Printer Is A Formlabs Form 3
The Form 3+ refines Formlabs patented LFS technology to consistently deliver presentation-ready parts with unbelievable surface finish. The next generation of stereolithography 3D printing, LFS technology accurately resolves fine features by delivering a clean, uniform laser spot across the entire print surface.
How does the Form 3 work?
Is Formlabs publicly traded?
Despite this emerging trend, and the potential investment Formlabs stands to raise by becoming publicly listed, Lobovsky has reportedly ruled out going public in this way.
Form 3+ Vs Form : Comparing Formlabs Desktop 3d Printers
With the release of the latest Formlabs 3D printerthe Form 3+ and Form 3B+you may be wondering how our re-engineered Low Force Stereolithography print engine differs from desktop stereolithography printers like the Form 2, which has become a staple in the workflows of tens of thousands of designers and manufacturers across industries.
In this post, well spell out the main improvements weve made in the SLA printing process over the years, starting with the launch of LFS in 2019, and then our latest refinements packaged with the Form 3+. You will learn why we re-engineered the stereolithography print process and optics engine, and what has changed to make the latest printers the most intuitive, reliable Formlabs printers yet. Well focus on the differences between our desktop 3D printers, the Form 3+ and the Form 2.
- If youve never used a Formlabs 3D printer before and are looking for the latest in affordable, professional 3D printing, we recommend getting started with the Form 3+.
- If youre looking for a large-format 3D printer, the Form 3L is the best choice, with five times the build volume of the Form 3+.
- Read our Ongoing Support Statement for information on our commitment to continuing to provide industry-leading support and consumables for the Form 2.
Request a Free Sample Part
Curious to see the quality of the Form 3+ firsthand? Pick an application and we’ll ship a sample part printed on the Form 3+ to your office.
Formlabs Form 2 Sla 3d Printer Starter Kit
Product SKU: F2-WS-PKG-1
This product has been discontinued.The Desktop 3D Printer That Set the Standard
The Form 2 delivers high-resolution parts at a fraction of the cost and footprint of industrial 3D printers. Scale your prototyping and production in-house with desktop stereolithography.
- Laser Spot Size: 140 Microns
- Laser Power: One 250 mW laser
- Build Volume :14.5 × 14.5 × 17.5 cm
- Layer Thickness: 25 300 microns
- Printer Dimensions:34.5 × 33 × 52 cm
- Form 2 SLA 3D Printer
- Finishing Kit with Tools
- 1L Standard Resin
- Power Cord
Add additional Resins and Resin Tanks to your order.
Recommended Reading: How To Use Canon Pixma Printer
Formlabs Form 2 Sla 3d Printer Complete Package
Product SKU: F2-CMPLT-PKG-W1
This product has been discontinued.The Desktop 3D Printer That Set the Standard
The Form 2 delivers high-resolution parts at a fraction of the cost and footprint of industrial 3D printers. Scale your prototyping and production in-house with desktop stereolithography.
Stronger Parts, Less EffortThe complete package comes with Form Wash and Form Cure. Automate Cleaning with Form Wash: While youre away, parts are precisely agitated in IPA, getting every nook and cranny perfectly clean. Unlock Peak Performance with the Form Cure: The Form Cure is finely tuned to bring parts to their maximum mechanical properties.
- Laser Spot Size: 140 Microns
- Laser Power: One 250 mW laser
- Build Volume :14.5 × 14.5 × 17.5 cm
- Layer Thickness: 25 300 microns
- Printer Dimensions:34.5 × 33 × 52 cm
- Form 2 SLA 3D Printer
- Finishing Kit with Tools
Form 2 By Formlabs 3d Printer In

Are you looking for a reliable choice among SLA 3D printers that is economical too? If that is the case, there is no reason to ignore Form 2. As you must know that 3D printers are available for cheaper prices as well, usually the FDM ones, the quality is a great concern. Form 2 is capable of delivering stunning results and most of the tasks configured automatically.
Affordability
- Hassle-free setup and first test print
- Combination of hardware and software is amazing, and their tuning is awesome.
- Great slicer software
- Post-processing is a must for every print.
- Speed isnt fast when compared to the FDM printers.
- Changing resin is difficult and messy
- Consumables cost such as resin price and tank price are expensive
- Product
Linux, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows |
XY accuracy |
---|
145 × 145 × 175 mm 5.71 × 5.71 × 6.89 in |
Max. build volume |
350 × 330 × 520 mm 13.78 × 12.99 × 20.47 in |
Weight |
100240 V 1.5 A 50/60 Hz 65 W |
Heated print bed |
Formlabs have always stunned users by manufacturing amazing SLA 3D printers. Form 2 is no exception. With great features and various inbuilt capabilities for higher resolution printing, FormLabs Form 2 has gotten into the top list of most popular choices of 3D printers.
It delivers great power and potential for realizing complex designs and helping professionals through the production processes.
With the ability to print in small batches, the 3D printer is suitable for many applications. Designing prototypes, dentures, jewelry are few, to begin with.
Don’t Miss: How To Override Epson Printer Replace Ink
Enhanced Light Touch Supports
“The improvements to the light-touch supports that break away are game-changing. There is no way to describe the first time you take a part and pull at it and it just seamlessly pops completely free. It takes the stress out of building and cleaning parts and lets us keep our focus on design and creation.”
Justen England, Managing Director, Delve
Formlabs Form 2 Compatible Resins
Although Formlabs has an open mode for 3rd party resins, it is not a truly open machine. Unlike the Form 1 and Form 1+, the laser settings cant be adjusted in the Form2. This means that resin manufacturers like Liqcreate have to adapt their materials to the laser settings available in the machine. This is one of the main reasons why some of our resins work on the Form2, while others wont work properly. A list of compatible materials and settings can be foundhere.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Brother Printer Back Online
Formlabs Form 2 3d Printer Review: A Great Buy For Medical 3d Printing
Entry posted by Dr. Mike·May 26, 2016
Hello Dr. Mike here and welcome to my review of the Form 2 3D printer by Formlabs. The Form 2 is Formlabs newest desktop stereolithography printer. It is a great asset for medical 3D printing with many user friendly features and an acceptable price.
My full review is included here in both video and text. You can shown in the video. The Form 2 printer is available to purchase. The previous generation . However, the Form 2 represents a better value.
Stereolithography is a 3D printing method where a laser hardens liquid resin in a vat one layer at a time. This is different from fused deposition modeling where plastic filament is heated and extruded through a nozzle to make the 3-D print. Stereolithography is capable of producing highly detailed 3-D prints with a layer thickness of 25 µm. This is four times finer than the 100 µm layer thickness for the latest MakerBot Replicator.
Form 2 Unboxing and Set UpMy Form 2 arrived in a series of boxes at my front door. I do a lot of 3-D printing so I ordered extra bill platforms and resin tanks. Resin cartridges came in their own separate box. As you can see I also ordered extra resin cartridges.
This is the result of my first print, which is a hollow vascular model. This is my second print which is a section of lumbar spine printed in clear resin.
- Larger build volume, 14.5 x 14.5 x 17.5 cm
- Heated tank
- automated resin system
- wireless connectivity
Formlabs Form 2 Overview
The Formlabs Form 2 is a desktop resin 3D printer from Formlabs, a manufacturer with headquarters in Massachusetts.
Formlabs Form 2 is the latest version of the Form 1, the manufacturers first 3D printer. The Formlabs Form 2 offers a bigger build volume than its predecessor and features a more powerful laser.
Formlabs now manufactures the Form 3 and Form 3L.
Don’t Miss: Why Is My Printer Not Responding
Stereolithography 3d Printing Technology
The FormLabs Form 2 is the second SLA 3D printer I’ve worked with. Though it’s a big step up from the first, the XYZPrinting Nobel 1.0, it shares the same 3D printing technology called stereolithography . This technology is completely different from another popular 3D printing technique, called fused filament fabrication .
With FFF, the printer builds an object layer by layer from the bottom up on the print platform, similarly to icing a cake or using caulking. With SLA, however, the printer’s print platform dips itself into a container full of liquid resin and slowly pulls up a solid 3D object, upside down. More specifically, as the print platform lowers itself into the resin glass tank, an ultraviolet laser light, from underneath the see-through tank, shines on it. Exposed to the laser light, the resin cures, solidifies and sticks to the platform. As more resin is exposed to the laser light, the pattern is created and joins the layer above. As more and more layers are being created, the build platform slowly — very slowly — moves upward, finally pulling the entire object out of the tank as the print process is finished.
A freshly printed chess set that took some 20 hours to create.
To help with the cleanup, the Form 2 is bundled with a Finish Kit that includes enough tools for the job.
Form 3b+ Vs Form : Comparing Formlabs Dental Desktop 3d Printers
With the release of the latest Formlabs 3D printersthe Form 3+ and Form 3B+you may be wondering how our re-engineered Low Force Stereolithography print engine differs from desktop stereolithography printers like the Form 2, which not only introduced dental labs and clinics to the benefits of 3D printing in the first place, but has become a staple in the workflows of tens of thousands of dental practices and labs.
In this post, well spell out the main improvements weve made in the SLA printing process over the years, starting with the launch of LFS in 2019, and then our latest refinements packaged with the Form 3B+. You will learn why we re-engineered the stereolithography print process and optics engine, and what has changed to make the latest printers the most intuitive, reliable Formlabs printers for dental professionals yet. Well focus on the differences between our desktop 3D printers, the Form 3B+ and the Form 2.
Before we start, some notes:
- If youve never used a Formlabs 3D printer before and are looking for the latest in affordable, professional dental 3D printing, we recommend getting started with the Form 3B+. You can watch our free deep-dive webinar to learn more.
- If youre looking for a large-format 3D printer to increase your output of dental models, the Form 3BL is the best choice. With five times the build volume of the Form 3B+, this printer is great for dental labs that require high-throughput. You can watch our free deep-dive webinar to learn more.
Don’t Miss: How Do I Make My Printer Driver Available
Familiar Material Library New Ways To Print
Due to advances in LFS, certain materials will only be printable on the Form 3 or Form 3+. The first of these is ESD Resin, a material designed for manufacturers to reduce risk and increase yield on their electronics manufacturing lines. ESD Resin is a cost-effective solution for producing static-dissipative parts designed for use on the factory floor.
Formlabs continues to support the Form 2, and new materials continue to ship with support for it. However, it is not a guarantee that future materials will be compatible with the printer, as advanced workflows may require LFS.
First Off Let’s Talk About What’s New

Linear illumination: The higher-powered laser from the LPU coupled with the parabolic mirror provides a crisp completely perpendicular curing source during the LFS 3D printing process. This helps to create high detail prints and easy to remove support structures
The redesigned Form 3 resin tank: The bottom of the Form 3 resin tank is a dual-layer film that creates a robust surface that can withstand print failures. This film also enables a massive reduction in peel forces while printing.
Mixer: Each Form 3 resin tank includes a mixer that improves print consistency by clearing the build area and mixing the resin . However, the Form 3 mixer only goes across the build area once before the print starts where the Form 2 wiper did so between each layer.
Light Processing Unit : This interchangeable assembly located in the main printer body holds almost every optical component of the printer into a small metal housing unit. The LPU contains the laser, mirrors, and motors that control the beam path. Formlabs has made this part easy to replace because with the Form 2 you were required to send your printer to Formlabs if you had this issue.
You May Like: How To Connect Hp Wireless Printer
Form Wash And Form Cure
On May 5, 2017, Formlabs announced the Form Wash and the Form Cure. Together with the Form 2, they complete the SLA engine. The Form Wash is a washing machine used to automatically clean liquid resin off of printed 3D models. The Form Cure is an ultraviolet postcuring system. After printing, the build platform on the Form 2 can be removed and installed on the Form Wash, which uses an impeller to agitate 3D printed parts in isopropyl alcohol. The Form Cure heats parts up to 80 degrees Celsius and uses thirteen 405 nanometer UV LEDs.
Form 3 Form 3b Form 3l And Form 3bl
On April 2, 2019, Formlabs announced the 4th Generation of their SLA printers, the Form 3 and Form 3L, designed for use by artists, designers, and other professionals. The Form 3 offers a larger print area than the Form 2 as well as Low Force Stereolithography , a new SLA technology developed by Formlabs that promises smoother surface finish and more detailed prints. The Form 3L utilizes the same optics engine as the Form 3, including LFS, with five times the build volume. Additional improvements include an upgraded optics engine, modular components to simplify repair and integrated sensors to improve print success and usability. This earned it the title of Best Resin Printer of 2019 by The Mediahq.
On November 12, 2019, Formlabs launched the Form 3B, a variant of the Form 3 specially designed for the dental industry. Unlike the Form 3, the Form 3B is compatible with Formlabs’ array of specialty dental materials. The only exception is Form 3 printers designated “Early 2019” which retain the dental material capabilities from its initial release.
In 2020, the company launched Form 3BL, which features the larger platform of the Form 3L, along with the material capabilities of the Form 3B.
You May Like: How To Connect Canon Ts3322 Printer To Wifi
Formlabs Form 3 Vs Form 2
Learn about What’s New, What’s The Same, and The Improvements made with the new Formlabs Form 3 LFS 3D Printer.
Today we’re going to dive into the new Formlabs Form 3 LFS 3D Printer compared to the previous Formlabs Form 2 SLA 3D Printer.
We will take a look at what’s new, what’s the same, and some of the improvements made to the print quality and more thanks to the LFS or Low Force Stereolithography found in the Form 3.
Build Volume | 5.7 x 5.7 x 7.3 in | 13.2 x 7.9 x 11.8 in | 5.7 x 5.7 x 6.9 in |
Layer Thickness |
Excellent Design Expensive Resin
The Form 2 comes mostly preassembled and looks like a rectangle box standing upward. Like most SLA 3D printers, it has a large see-through orange plastic hood on top that keeps its resin tank from the the outside world during a print job. This hood is attached to the printer, but you can easily open it up to access the inside.
Out of the box, you just need to open the hood, install the included print platform, resin tank and resin cartridge the printer is now complete. The Form2 is well-designed all of its parts snap into its body quite easily. During a print job, the printer automatically detects the type of resin and draws it from the cartridge to fill the resin tank before the print platform lowers itself into the tank as the base for the resin to adhere to.
The printer includes one print platform, one resin tank and one resin cartridge. If you just want to print one type of resin, there’s no need to get an extra resin tank. However, if you plan to print multiple types of resin, or resin of different colors, it’s a better idea to get an extra resin tank for each resin type/color. This is because you don’t want to mix resin types and colors together and since the resin is very sticky, it takes a long time to clean the parts. Not only that, but cleaning the tank is not recommended since you might accidentally scratch its bottom which will interfere with the laser beam during a print job.
Read Also: How To Connect My Hp Printer To Internet
How To Print In Open Mode On The Formlabs Form2
Formlabs has provided documentation how to select open mode in the Form 2. In the video below at 2:40 it is demonstrated on the 3D-printer how to select open mode. These are the steps to enable open mode on toe Formlabs form 2:
- Ensure that the Form 2 is not running a print job.
- Insert a clean build platform and resin tank.
- On the printers touchscreen, tap the printer icon on the home screen. The Your Printerscreen appears.
- Tap Settings > Open Mode. The Open Modescreen appears.
- Toggle Open Modeto ON. The toggle turns blue.
To start a print job in open mode, fill the resin tank manually with the selected resin. Look at the table here, which settings to use. Slice the file in the correct settings and your printer starts.
Liqcreate would like to thank Robot Mama for making this instruction video and tutorial.
It should be noted that Formlabs does have some restrictions when printing in open mode. These restrictions include: Auto refill is disabled, heater is disabled, wiper is disabled and the print job will pause after 100ml material usage for a manual refill. You have to refill and command the printer to continue. Sometimes this pause leads to a thick layer line visible on the object, therefore we advise to -If possible- to slice parts op to 100ml to avoid this. Even with these restrictions, the Form2 can make perfect parts in open mode!