Formlabs Has a 3D Printer for Normies
Formlabs has launched the Form Studio 1, its first 3D printer aimed at consumers, priced at $699. The resin-based printer brings the company’s detailed stereolithography printing to a lower price point, making it more accessible to hobbyists and home users.
The printer is about the size of a small fridge, and buyers may also want the separately sold $199 wash unit, which takes up similar space. Formlabs-branded resin starts at $29 a bottle; the company says its own materials are certified for low emissions and that its internal print failure rate is about 2 per cent. An early test produced a clean print in 17 minutes, though a full review is still to come.
- Formlabs’ first consumer printer costs $699.
- The resin printer can produce detailed models.
- A wash unit costs $199 and needs extra space.
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3D printing turns a digital design into a physical object by building it up layer by layer. Many home printers use plastic filament, while stereolithography printers use light to harden liquid resin, which can capture fine details but needs careful handling and cleaning.
Formlabs is a company known for making stereolithography printers for professional and industrial users. Its move into a lower-priced home model brings this type of printing within reach of more hobbyists, though the printer and optional washing equipment take up considerable space.
The cost of using a resin printer also includes materials and post-print cleaning. Resin is liquid before printing and the finished object needs to be washed; the company says its own resins are certified for low emissions.