The 'new wave' of 3D printing

Form 2 is Formlabs’ second­ generation desktop stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer. The Form 2 is claimed to have 40% larger build volume that its predecessor, the Form 1+. It also features a 50% more powerful laser said to yield better print resolution, touch-screen controls and W-Fi connectivity which offers customer notifications and mobile alerts and allows printing progress to be monitored across multiple printers on desktop, mobile or tablet.

Formlabs’ integrated resin system automatically refills the resin tank during the printing process, allowing for bigger prints, less mess and longer tank life. Form 2’s peel mechanism and heated resin tank are claimed to create a reliable print process for large, solid parts with intricate details.

Max Lobovsky, co­founder of Formlabs, said: “We believe that this is the ‘next wave’ of the 3D printing industry: high resolution output with a simple user experience packaged in a desktop footprint. In many ways, 3D printing technology is following a similar path to the desktop computer. It started with mainframes, was adopted by the hobbyist and then evolved into the powerful desktop machines everyone uses today.”

The form 2 is available with an update to the PreForm software which features one-click printing, which helps to simplify the printing process.