![]() The new cartridge-based system allows the printer to refill itself automatically as needed. In Formlabs’ first-generation printer, creating large objects was a bit of an issue, since the printer had to be stopped periodically and have its resin tank replenished. It’s not just a minor, evolutionary upgrade from the first generation - it’s a complete overhaul that’s intentionally designed to address all of the major pain points associated with SLA printing. In terms of design, the Form 2 is arguably the most thoughtful, user-friendly SLA printer on the planet. If you know how to use a touchscreen and follow basic directions, you’ll have no trouble whatsoever. When you hit the sweet spot, the Form 2 will know - so if you set it on a perfectly level to begin with, you might not even need to complete this step.Īll in all, this is one of the simplest setup processes we’ve ever experienced with a 3D printer. While you do this, the printer’s touchscreen displays the digital equivalent of a circular bubble level using internal sensors to guide you through the process. A special disc-shaped tool allows you to adjust the individual height of each of the printer’s four feet. It used to be that you poured sticky resin into the tray, but with the Form 2, you simply grab a resin cartridge, slide it into the slot located at the aft of the printer, and then pop open the top to allow airflow. Step one is loading the printing material. Setup and configurationĭespite the fact that the Form 2 creates objects in a fundamentally different way than a filament-based 3D printer, its setup process more or less follows the same set of steps. Along with Formlabs’ accompanying mobile app, this connectivity makes it possible for the printer to send alerts when your print starts, finishes, or requires attention. You can connect it via Wi-Fi now, too, rather than USB. With the Form 2, everything can be controlled right from the printer’s big, beautiful touchscreen, right on the machine. ![]() To change settings on the Form 1, you had to connect a laptop running Formlabs’ PreForm software. While this makes the printer a bit slower than it would be otherwise, it also makes it dramatically more reliable and far less prone to printing errors.Ī myriad of little interface and usability upgrades also make the Form 2 easier to use. After each new layer is created, the Form 2 performs a “slide peel” to detach the newly-formed layer from the print bed, and then runs a wiper blade through the resin tray to remove any hardened particulate that may have been left behind. Why does a 50 percent more powerful laser only translate to 30 to 40 percent faster printing? Formlabs also changed the printing process. ![]() Formlabs has basically taken all the flaws and shortcomings of the first-gen printer and systematically addressed them through a series of major design changes. It’s not just a small upgrade like the Form 1+ was - it’s a complete and total overhaul. Now, the company is back with a new and improved SLA printer that’s poised to take the 3D printing scene by storm yet again. The Form 1 ended up being a massive success on Kickstarter, gathering up nearly $3 million before the campaign concluded. At the time, this printer (called The Form 1) was one of the first consumer-oriented stereolithography (SLA) printers the world had ever seen – instead of creating objects by squirting molten plastic through a nozzle, it used a laser to ‘grow’ objects out of a pool of photo-reactive resin. In 2013, a little-known startup by the name of Formlabs made a huge splash on Kickstarter with the release of a groundbreaking new 3D printer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |