Formlabs Form 4 Review

712uGiTxKSL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_ Formlabs Form 4 Review

ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4, Resin 3D Printer with 7'' 10K Mono LCD Screen, Stable LighTurbo Light Source and 70mm/h Fast Printing, Print Volume 6.04'' x 3.42'' x 6.49''

$279.99 (as of December 21, 2024 21:00 GMT +00:00 - )

Are you considering stepping into the world of 3D printing, or are you already an enthusiast looking to upgrade your current setup?

Table of Contents

Formlabs Form 4 Review: A Game Changer in 3D Printing

The Form 4 is the latest offering from Formlabs, a company that has been a pioneer in the field of inverted stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing since 2011. This new machine promises to be the fastest from Formlabs yet, thanks to its new, lighter engine and a shift from a scanned laser beam to a projected light source. But is it worth the investment?

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Unboxing and First Impressions

When you unbox the Form 4, you’ll notice that it’s well-packaged and easy to set up. The machine itself is sleek and sturdy, with a metal frame around the base of the acrylic hood and a glass panel with a 3D ‘wave’ surface, known as a Release Texture. This texture helps to break the suction between the build platform and the resin tray, making it easier to detach freshly built layers. The Form 4 also features a fine resolution (50 microns per pixel) LCD mask and a beefy mechanical drive for the new mixing arm.

A New Level of Speed and Efficiency

The Form 4 is claimed to be between two and four times faster than its predecessor, the Form 3. This is due in part to the new projected light source, which exposes each layer in one go, rather than scanning it line by line. The machine also warms up the resin more quickly and performs pre-print calibration faster. Additionally, new resins optimized for the printer are designed to further accelerate the user’s workflow.

Feature	Form 4	Form 3
Print Speed	40 mm/h	11 mm/h
Print Resolution	50 microns per pixel	25 microns per pixel
Build Platform	200 x 125 mm	145 mm square

Design and Build Quality

The Form 4 has a sturdy metal frame and a glass panel with a 3D ‘wave’ surface. The machine also features a fine resolution LCD mask and a beefy mechanical drive for the mixing arm. The build platform is more rectangular, measuring 200 x 125 mm, and offers a maximum build height of 210 mm. The Form 4 also features a physical power switch, allowing you to power down the machine to save energy when not in use.

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Pre-processing Parameters

Formlabs’ proprietary software, Preform, is used to set up print jobs with the requisite support structures and resin curing parameters. The software supports mesh files in .stl, .obj, and .3mf formats, and jobs can be saved as .form files. However, neutral ‘analytic’ formats, such as .step or .iges, are not supported.

Printing Performance

The Form 4’s print performance is dominated by its speed. The machine can almost be watched as the build platform eases its way out of the resin bath. However, we did experience some issues with autogenerated supports becoming detached in clear resin. We fixed the issue by adding a few more support points.

Additional Features

The Form 4 features a camera for checking on prints remotely, which can be accessed via Formlabs’ online dashboard. The camera can also take a time-lapse sequence of parts emerging from the resin, although this slows down the print.

Form Wash and Cure UV Oven

The Form 4 is compatible with the Form Wash v2, a large tank of solvent with an agitating rotor in the base and a lift mechanism that holds the build platform and print with a mesh basket for loose components. The machine is also compatible with the Cure UV oven, which remains the same.

Conclusion

The Form 4 is a game-changer in the world of 3D printing. Its speed and efficiency make it an ideal choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike. While it may have a higher price point than some other machines on the market, the Form 4’s performance and build quality make it well worth the investment.

Key Takeaways

The Form 4 is the fastest 3D printer from Formlabs yet, thanks to its new, lighter engine and a shift from a scanned laser beam to a projected light source.
The machine is ideal for professionals and enthusiasts who need high-quality prints quickly.
The Form 4 features a sturdy metal frame, a glass panel with a 3D ‘wave’ surface, and a fine resolution LCD mask.
The machine is compatible with the Form Wash v2 and the Cure UV oven.
The Form 4’s print performance is dominated by its speed, but may require additional support points for complex prints.

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