Form 1+ High-Resolution 3D Printer

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method for fabricating a physical object from a digital model. Whereas traditional “subtractive manufacturing” cuts material away from a solid piece of material (i.e. wood carving or metal machining) to create an object, 3D printing adds layer upon layer of material to gradually build an object. For a simple visualization, imagine placing successive circular sheets of paper on top of one another until the stack becomes a three dimensional cylinder.

WHY IS THE FORM 1+ BETTER THAN OTHER 3D PRINTERS?

The Form 1+ is a high-resolution desktop machine that matches the print quality of large, industrial printers at a far lower cost. The Form 1+ uses stereolithography (SLA) technology to achieve a professional print quality that plastic extrusion printers just can’t match. Stereolithography is the gold standard for accuracy and resolution in 3D printing. Our custom PreForm software and single button interface make the entire print experience simple, intuitive, and enjoyable. Learn more about the Form 1+ printer.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STEREOLITHOGRAPHY/SL AND PLASTIC EXTRUSION/FDM?

Plastic extrusion, or fused deposition modeling (FDM), is the most common desktop 3d printer technology; FDM printers melt plastic and use an extruder to print each layer with molten plastic. The vast majority of desktop plastic extrusion machines lack the finish and resolution for professional-grade output. SL can outperform the print quality of even high-end FDM machines. In our photopolymer-based process, a high precision system directs a laser across a tray of liquid resin and causes a thin layer to solidify. Until now, a professional SL printer has been far out of reach for the individual designer.

The Form 1+

WHAT IS THE RESOLUTION OF THE PRINTER?

Different 3D printer manufacturers use different metrics to define “resolution”, but layer thickness is one commonly cited standard. The Form 1+ can create layers as thin as 25 microns, which is much finer than other desktop machines. Minimum feature size, on the other hand, refers to the thinnest wall or finest point, which can be as small as 300 microns on the Form 1+. The Form 1+’s laser beam can move in steps of fewer than 10 microns, creating extremely precise movements and an impressively smooth surface finish that FDM machines can’t match.

WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE FORM 1+’S BUILD VOLUME?

The build envelope dimensions are 125 x 125 x 165 mm (4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 in). For larger models, you may be able to print multiple segments.

HOW FAST DOES THE FORM 1+ PRINT?

The build speed is comparable to FDM machines when comparing layer thickness and density. As a general rule, the build speed is 1-3 cm/hour along the Z axis when printing at 100 microns. Our rook, as an example, takes around 2 hours to print at 100 micron layer-height. Recently, we added a 200 micron layer-height setting that works with our Clear resin to reduce print times. The same rook at 200 microns takes 45 minutes to print. To calculate the print speed of any specific part, please download our PreForm application, load the model, and calculate the print time.