Form Labs has launched a new MSLA (resin) 3D printer, called the Form Studio 1.
The Form Studio 1 starts at a far lower price point than the company’s other machines, and is available in 4 limited edition colors – graphite, violet, teal, and aqua.
The new Form Studio 1 MSLA 3D printer is described as delivering “professional resin printing for anyone,” with “most parts” printed in “less than 2 hours.”
Form Labs says their resin is “safe, low-odor, rigorously tested,” with UL Greenguard Gold certification.
Thanks to their “unmatched reliability,” users can expect to see 99% print success.
They’re worked to lower the learning curve, saying “pro results, no expertise required,” and that the Studio 1 printer is “so intuitive that anyone can learn to print in 10 minutes.”
The Studio 1 comes complete with Form Labs’ PreForm and Form Mobile software packages.
Note: “Form Studio 1 is not compatible with third-party slicers or print preparation software.”
Post-processing has been “simplified,” with a new “all-in-one” compact processing unit for washing and curing resin prints.
The Form Studio 1 is launching with a price starting at $699, and the post-processing unit (Form Studio Wash Cure) is $199.
Looking at Form Labs’ tech specs, compared to the Form 4 that starts at $2625, the new Form Studio 1 has a slightly larger build volume (20 x 12.5 x 23.5 cm, taller by 1″), lower power (6 mW/cm² vs 16 mW/cm²), faster max print rate, finer pixel size (35µm vs 50µm), lower accuracy, and fewer LEDs in the backlight array.
They say it’s “safe for desktop use,” when used with VOC Extractor ($179) and specific resins.
Here they show what a printing setup might look like, with the printer, washing and curing station, and VOC fume extractor.
The Form Studio 1 lacks some features, such as a resin mixer, and is compatible with fewer general purpose and functional materials (9 vs 22 resin types).
The price is $699 for the graphite color printer, and $749 for the aqua, violet, and teal versions, which feature a flex build platform for quicker part removal compared to standard.
Add in the washing and curing combo unit, and the price is $948. If you want Form Labs’ separate washing and curing stations, the price is $1647.
Service plans are $99 for 1 year, $199 for 3.
You’ll need resin – your first basic “Alpha” reason will be $29.
So you’re looking at $1106 for the graphite printer, combo wash and cure station, VOC extractor, and first bottle of Alpha resin, or $1156 for any of the other limited edition colors.
That’s still far from the starting price for Form Labs’ other resin 3D printers.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t reported on SLA/MSLA printers in a while or are less familiar, but I don’t see the catch.
It works with fewer of Form Labs’ resins. I’m not sure that’s a big deal.
As someone who has steered clear of the cheap resin printers that have flooded online marketplaces, I really like the idea of UL Greenguard certification even though it requires the VOC extractor and use of specific Form resins.
This looks to be a fantastic move by a brand that’s well-established and reputable in the 3D printing space.
