Formlabs Launches the New Ultra-Fast Large-Format SLA Printer Form 4L and Developer Platform

The new Developer Platform offers enhanced flexibility and control, unlocking new workflows, applications, and material options. The new printer helps realize great ideas, free from limitations of scale or complexity.

Somerville, Massachusetts – October 15, 2024 – 3D printing leader Formlabs today announced the launch of the ultra-fast new large-format Form 4L and Form 4BL 3D printers, along with the highly anticipated open platform for SLS and SLA, helping users break free from constraints of scale, application, or complexity to realize great ideas. Additionally, Formlabs introduced new printer accessories, two new SLS materials, five new popular features in PreForm, and new post-processing solutions to help users scale up, increase output, enhance cost-effectiveness, optimize performance, and strengthen control capabilities.

Form 4L: Large-Format SLA 3D Printer with Industry-Leading Print Speed
Formlabs has extended the high-speed performance of the Form 4 to the large-format Form 4L and biocompatible version Form 4BL, achieving extremely high speed, reliability, and print quality throughout the entire process from prototyping to production, regardless of scale.

The Form 4 is based on the company’s next-generation Low Force Display™ (LFD) printing engine, providing unparalleled reliability, with a print success rate of up to 99% compared to other SLA 3D printers. This advantage is complemented by a build volume nearly five times larger than the Form 4, allowing Form 4L users to solve significant problems and print smaller parts in bulk. Key features of the Form 4L include:

Ultra-Fast Print Speed: Large prints take no more than 6 hours, with a print speed of up to 80 mm/hour.
Large Parts: The build volume is nearly five times larger than that of the Form 4.
High Capacity: The scale and speed of the Form 4L support users in printing thousands of small parts daily at lower costs.
Low Waste: The new resin cartridge design reduces plastic waste by 63% and accelerates resin distribution.
Industry-Leading Materials: Compatible with over 23 materials, featuring durability, hardness, biocompatibility, flame resistance, and more specific application characteristics.
New Accessories: Resin mixers, resin tanks, build platforms, Resin Pumping System, and post-processing tools like Finish Kit and Form Wash L further enhance the ecosystem.

Formlabs COO Dávid Lakatos stated, “We believe that by providing freedom and flexibility, we can help users turn great ideas into reality and drive innovation. The Form 4L can help users solve more important problems at lightning speed, allowing them to realize great ideas without worrying about scale or complexity.”

Radio Flyer’s product design engineer Agostino LoBello commented, “The first thing we did after receiving the Form 4L printer was to print a seat for the Stingray Ride-On and showcase this accurate 3D print at a supplier meeting. The speed and dimensional accuracy of the Form 4L have brought a significant change to our workshop.”

Opening the Formlabs Platform for Developers and Large-Volume Users

Formlabs officially offers an open platform to enhance user control and flexibility. New software, integration options, and material pricing complement the company’s industry-leading material library, allowing users to control how they realize their ideas. With the Developer Platform, users gain new freedom and flexibility to create any material using the 3D printers best suited for professionals.

Through the Developer Platform, Formlabs has launched new software and material pricing, including:

Open Material Mode (OMM) – Break free from all limitations and use any licensed material.
Print Settings Editor (PSE) – Adjust print settings for optimal performance, available for free on every machine.
API and Integration – Work as desired; connect any software you want to use and start printing.
Reduced Material Pricing – General purpose materials priced at $79, further expanding application ranges.
Bulk Pricing for Production – Bulk pricing for powder and resin materials, as well as the Resin Pumping System, enhancing the economics and scalability of high-quality 3D printing.

Formlabs co-founder and CEO Max Lobovsky stated, “Formlabs’ mission is clear: to make professional-grade 3D printing accessible. The open platform marks the beginning of a new chapter for Formlabs, providing everyone with a better 3D printing experience. The Developer Platform signifies a transformation for our entire platform, aimed at providing users with control advantages and unique properties of third-party SLS and SLA materials. This transformation will break down barriers and welcome all innovators to explore endless new possibilities to realize great ideas.”

New SLS Powders
Additionally, Formlabs has introduced advanced new SLS materials: Nylon 12 White Powder and Nylon 12 Tough Powder, to expand the application range of finished parts, enabling Fuse users to take on more demanding projects.

Nylon 12 White Powder – Features the versatility and biocompatibility of Nylon 12 Powder, formulated to produce high-contrast and customizable white parts.
Nylon 12 Tough Powder – Offers best-in-class refresh rates among Formlabs’ nylon materials while providing excellent toughness and dimensional accuracy, ideal for producing parts with high durability and reduced warping.

With the launch of the Form 4 in April 2024, Formlabs’ new printing engine significantly increases 3D printing speeds, ushering in a new era of additive manufacturing. Users will see a doubling of resin usage, increased printing speeds, reduced cost per part, and the large build platform of the Form 4L will enhance existing user output and expand 3D printing into new industries and application cases.

New Features in PreForm
As Formlabs opens its platform, the company has also launched a new version of the PreForm software, which introduces the following features for task and model preparation, in response to strong user demand:

Shared Print Settings: Enable collaboration, allowing users to share and apply fine-tuned print settings in FPS file format.
Task and Model Preparation Features: Users can quickly create more reliable prototypes:
- Hollow models
- Drain holes
- Part textures
- Part labels
- Part support structures