Formlabs Expands SLA/SLS Ecosystem With New Materials, Postprocessing Tools

Formlabs is expanding its additive manufacturing (AM) ecosystem with new workflows and applications, and an improved user experience. The additions include two new materials as well as SLA and SLS postprocessing tools that can enable new 3D printing applications to make it easier and more efficient to achieve final, consumer-ready parts.

New Resin Unlocks New Applications for Foundries

Formlabs has added new Clear Cast Resin to expand investment casting applications. The company says this resin features best-in-class thermal expansion which will enable foundries to cast designs in-house in record time to reduce costs, decrease turnaround times and improve iterating flexibility. The material is versatile and accurate within 0.25 mm, delivering reliable casting shells with minimal cracking.

“The whole [Formlabs] ecosystem and support system made sense to us. The fit and finish of the printers, the software, it seems better than everything else in the price point by a long shot,” says John Farr, vice president of Technology at Diversified Metalsmiths. “The Clear Cast parts slotted straight into the workflow, [and] the amount of time saved with 3D printing where I push a button and go off to do something else, then skip the machining and handwork after the cast, will make up for the cost of 3D printed patterns.”

Additional SLA and SLS Postprocessing Tools

The company also offers new SLA and SLS postprocessing solutions to optimize 3D printing workflows:

• Formlabs Resin Washing Solution: A nonflammable solution for cleaning resin off of 3D printed parts, the Resin Washing Solution cleans while dissolving twice as much resin before becoming saturated, compared to IPA. It’s safe for any workspace and reduces the need for frequent top-offs, thereby lowering cost per washed part.

• Fuse Blast Polishing System: This drop-in upgrade for the Fuse Blast cleans and polishes parts straight from the Fuse Sift, enabling users to add a smooth, semigloss, scuff-resistant and dye-ready surface finish to SLS printed parts.
• Fuse Sift Glovebox Bundle: Fuse Sift Glovebox Panel and Fuse Parts Carrier are paired into an easily installed bundle for the Fuse Sift which streamlines part extraction and minimizes powder exposure, thereby improving workplace and operator cleanliness for a faster, more comfortable and ergonomic workflow.

Certified Material and Open Material Mode for Form 4 and Form 4B

Formlabs says its first third-party certified material, BEGO VarseoSmile TriniQ Resin, is a versatile ceramic-filled biocompatible material featuring excellent accuracy and an efficient workflow for permanent and provisional restorations and bridges. As a 3D printing resin indicated for permanent bridges, this material can expand the applications for dental 3D printing with Form 4B printers. Formlabs has also released Open Material Mode for the Form 4 generation of printers. Originally introduced on the Form 3 generation of printers as a part of its open platform suite of solutions, Open Material Mode is a software add-on that enables a Formlabs SLA printer to print with any 405-nm resin.