With the release of the latest Formlabs Form 3 and Form 3L resin 3D-printers, Formlabs is adding a new resin 3D-printing technology to its fleet. The so-called Low Force Stereolithography (LFS)™ print engine differs from desktop stereolithography (SLA) printers like the Form 2.
Image by Formlabs: The Form 2 (left) vs. the Form 3 (right).
The Formlabs Form 2 SLA printer has peel forces that affect the print as it separates from the surface of the tank. The build volume is limited and sturdy support structures are required. The Form 2 was designed to deal with the forces of the peel process and produce high quality parts. Making industrial quality parts available for more businesses at an affordable price point.
The Low Force Stereolithography technology that powers the Form 3 was developed to reduce peel forces and increases part quality and reliability. The key improvement is the flexible film at the base of the tank. This flexible film allows for a softer peel between layers during printing.
Table 1: technical specifications of the Formlabs Form 3 vs the Formlabs Form 2.
| Formlabs Form 3 | Formlabs Form 2 | |
| Laser Power at Print Plane | 120 mW | 96 mW |
| XY Resolution | 25 microns 0.001 in |
n/a |
| Laser Spot Size | 85 microns (0.0033 in) | 140 microns (0.0055 in) |
| Laser Wavelength | 405 nm wavelength | 405 nm wavelength |
| Laser Specifications | EN 60825-1:2007 certified Class 1 Laser Product |
EN 60825-1:2007 certified Class 1 Laser Product |
Differences between the Formlabs form 2 and form 3.
According to Formlabs, this decrease in peel forces brings several key benefits.
- – Better surface quality, with less visible layer lines and lower surface roughness supports a smooth surface finish even at 100 microns layer thickness.
- – Light-touch support structures with thinner support tips, parts are easily teared away from the supports for faster cleanup and finishing.
- – Better print success, most noticeably for materials with high viscosity and low green strength.
how much is a form 2?
The Formlabs Form 2 is not manufactured anymore. In some time the stock is sold-out and this printer is not available anymore. In some specialized shops, a refurbished Form 2 is available at around $2400 / €2400 for instance from Dynamism or Lay3rs. The original price of the Formlabs Form 2 was $3500.
how much is a form 3?
The Formlabs Form 3 comes in different sizes, the latest pricing and specifications can be found on the Formlabs resin website.
- Formlabs Form 3+ at € 3899
- Formlabs Form 3L at € 9999
- Formlabs Form 3B+ at € 4799
- Formlabs Form 3BL+ at € 12999
Formlabs Form 2 & Form 1+ compatible resins
There are several Liqcreate resins Compatible on the Formlabs Form 2 and Form 1+, these are:
- – Liqcreate Strong-X
- – Liqcreate Clear Impact
- – Liqcreate Hazard Glow
- – Liqcreate Deep Blue
- – Liqcreate Stone Coal Black
More information about these materials and how to work with them on the Formlabs Form 2 can be found in this link.
Support
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