The 3D printing industry has witnessed exponential growth and technological upgrades with companies embracing its revolutionary benefits across various sectors. Marking a significant milestone in the evolution of additive manufacturing, Formlabs launches Form 4, a 4th generation desktop resin 3D printer. Form 4 was launched on 15th May 2024 by Formlabs and Imaginarium at Hotel Tip Top International, Wakad, Pune.
Form 4 revolutionizes 3D printing by targeting heightened productivity and reduced time to market, particularly within the healthcare sector. With an impressive speed increase of up to five times faster than its predecessor, Form 3, it streamlines part production to an average of two hours. This advancement caters to a diverse range of professionals, from product designers and engineers to manufacturers and dentists, who all witnessed the live demonstration of Form 4.
By integrating Formlab‘s innovative Low Force Display™ (LFD) printer engine, Form 4 establishes a new benchmark in additive manufacturing. Its comprehensive features include an expanded materials library, an automated post-processing system, and an intuitive user interface. Depending on the material, Form 4 facilitates printing speeds ranging from two to five times faster than Form 3+, allowing for efficient repetitive prototype production or batch manufacturing utilizing mSLA technology. With a remarkable vertical print speed of up to 100 mm per hour, Form 4 ensures swift production, with most products completed within two hours and small parts within minutes.
Form 4 Advantage: Reliability and Affordability
Ramnish Sharma, Country Manager, Formlabs India, stated, “In recent years, industries like automotive and aerospace have been pioneers in adopting technology. However, we’ve witnessed a significant shift where now, across sectors including consumer goods, electronics, automotive, aerospace, medical, and dental, there’s widespread adoption of these technologies. Formlabs has played a crucial role in this by making these once expensive technologies affordable and accessible to engineers across various industries. This widespread adoption is driven by the need for faster product launches, where 3D printing has become integral not only in prototyping but also in production, batch production, and gathering customer feedback. It’s leading the charge in bringing innovative products to market swiftly.”
Form 4 is lauched with a promise on reliability and cost-effectiveness. Featuring durable material tanks capable of enduring over 75,000 layers and light processing units accommodating more than 1 million layers, it ensures longevity and consistent performance. Moreover, with a significant reduction of 40% in resin costs, along with a 30% increase in print volumes and a remarkable 3.5x higher throughput, Form 4 delivers substantial savings of up to 40% in cost per part. Its unmatched print success rate is attributed to advanced functionalities such as precision heating, force detection, and foreign object detection, cementing its position as an industry leader in reliability and affordability.
Amod Satarkar, Vice President Sales, Imaginarium, emphasized, “At Imaginarium, our focus has always been on unlocking the potential applications of emerging technologies. When companies like Formlabs develop new technologies and products, our role is to introduce them to a wide range of users, tailor them to specific applications and materials, and help users derive the maximum value from these innovations. Thus, Imaginarium is constantly seeking out new challenges and applications to ensure that we can effectively deliver the value that Formlabs aims to provide through their products.”
Enriched Materials Library: Expansion of Material Capabilities
Formlabs expands the capabilities of its Form 4 ecosystem through an enriched materials library. This includes four newly reformulated general-purpose resins, designed to print at speeds 2-5 times faster than those of Form 3. Additionally, specialized resins cater to specific needs, such as a rapid prototyping resin for swift model production and an accurate dental resin for orthodontic applications.
Furthermore, Form 4 introduces six new resins, including precision models conducive to intricate designs. Validated for use with over 17 performance materials from Formlabs’s extensive library, Form 4 assures versatility and adaptability. Particularly noteworthy is Form 4B’s compatibility with 15 additional biocompatible materials, fostering innovation within the dental and medical sectors.
The launch of Form 4 marks a significant advancement in 3D printing technology, heralding a new era of productivity and efficiency across industries. With Formlabs and Imaginarium at the forefront of innovation, the future of additive manufacturing looks promising, empowering users to realize their creative visions and drive transformative change in their respective fields.
Formlabs, headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, is renowned for its innovative contributions to 3D printing materials and hardware. Their commitment to excellence has earned them recognition as one of the world’s most innovative manufacturing companies by Fast Company in 2024. Collaborating with Formlabs is Imaginarium, a leader in advanced digital manufacturing technology. With an extensive housing the largest set up of 3D printers in the country, Imaginarium has been instrumental in disrupting the manufacturing sector by providing end-to-end solutions for enterprises across 50 industries.