Formlabs Form 2

Exceptional-quality desktop 3D printing

$3,499 Manufacturer Formlabs, formlabs.com Info Bold SLA 3D printer, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connections, self-heating tank

Formlabs is established as the leading manufacturer of Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers. These printers use a resin, rather than a filament, that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light. The main build platform of an SLA printer is suspended over a resin tank, so as the print is mapped out by the laser, the print is built upside-down, and looks like it’s being pulled (albeit very slowly) right out of the resin. The resin itself arrives in a specially shaped bottle that is dropped into the back of the printer. Once in place, the resin automatically pours into the tank as the printer is primed before use.

The Form 2 is fully Wi-Fi compatible so when it comes to printing you have the choice of tethering the printer to your computer by means of a USB, network cable or via Wi-Fi. Setting up the Wi-Fi connection using the small interface is quick and easy enough, and once done you can send prints from the software without the need to reconnect physically.

As with the vast majority of new printers, the Form 2 arrives with its own software: PreForm. The software handles the majority of the printer’s settings and enables you to quickly select quality as well as the material type. On importing a 3D model, the software will instantly detect if there are any issues with its integrity, and will repair them automatically. We found that the software did an incredible job eliminating intersecting faces, and repairing any that are missing without issue.

Once the print completes it can then be removed from the build plate. Compared to a filament printer, the process of print removal is a little more involved and time consuming; the whole process from start to finish can take about 24 hours for the print to fully harden, but the end result is worth it. Print times are also slower than a filament printer, but only by about 10-20% depending on the model. The Form 2 is designed for anyone needing a high-end 3D print solution and is ideal for those needing to produce prototypes, small product runs or detailed quality models or jewelry designs. The process of producing a print is more time-consuming, messy and expensive than a filament printer, but the results are exceptional.

the bottom line. If you’re looking for the best possible finish and quality from a desktop 3D printer then, at present, there is nothing else that comes close to the standard set by the Form 2. Alastair Jennings