Formlabs, a global leader in 3D printing, announced today the release of two next-generation SLA materials designed to bring resin 3D printing closer to true end-use manufacturing. The newly introduced Tough 1000 Resin and the significantly enhanced Tough 2000 Resin join the existing Tough 1500 Resin to form the company’s new Tough Resin Family. This portfolio of resilient engineering materials is built to withstand harsh conditions, repeated impact, and ongoing wear, while producing parts with a crisp, dark matte finish on Form 4 Series printers.
Engineered to mirror the performance of widely used thermoplastics, each Tough resin is named for its tensile modulus and tailored to match the characteristics of well-known industrial plastics. Tough 1000 Resin is the most ductile and impact-resistant of the three, offering performance similar to HDPE. Tough 1500 Resin delivers a balanced combination of stiffness and flexibility, comparable to polypropylene. Tough 2000 Resin provides the highest strength and rigidity in the family, closely resembling ABS.
“Formlabs’ goal has always been to deliver any part at the push of a button,” said Max Lobovsky, Formlabs co-founder and CEO. “Achieving that requires more than fast printing. It demands materials that can endure the same real-world stresses as the products we use every day. With the new Tough Resin Family, SLA printing now offers the strength and resilience of trusted thermoplastics.”
Users testing the new materials have already reported strong performance in demanding applications. Adam Warren, Draftsman and Mechanical Designer at Cool Machines, noted, “The end-use products we create must survive severe cold-weather testing. These parts take serious abuse, and Tough 1000 holds up.”
Formlabs also introduced Form Cure L V2, a large-format post-curing unit compatible with printers such as the Form 4L. The system cures most parts in under 60 seconds, offering significantly faster and more efficient post-processing within a smaller footprint. Early customers have seen immediate improvements in throughput. “We were shocked by how fast the cure times were across all materials, even the engineering resins,” said Agostino Lobello, Product Development Engineer at Radio Flyer. “The speed allowed us to work more efficiently and get finished parts to our engineers much sooner.”
Alongside these hardware and material updates, Formlabs has released PreForm 3.54, which brings new workflow enhancements for both the Form Series and Fuse Series printers. Improvements include updated support generation, new measurement tools, more reliable CAD assembly importing, refined build packing, and a smoother user interface. These updates reduce setup time and allow teams to stay focused on design and problem-solving rather than file preparation.
Formlabs develops the tools that enable anyone to bring ideas to life. Headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, and operating globally, the company is trusted by engineers, designers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers and decision-makers across industries. Its product ecosystem includes SLA and SLS 3D printers, post-processing equipment, advanced software, and more than 45 materials supporting diverse applications. In 2024, Formlabs was recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies in Manufacturing.
