Formlabs has introduced two new 3D printing resins and a large-format curing station.
The desktop stereolithography leader says the pair of materials - Tough 1000 Resin and Tough 2000 Resin - rival the properties of thermoplastics and bring the capabilities of 3D printing ‘significantly closer to being a manufacturing method for end-use part production.’
Each of Formlabs’ Tough Resin materials, including the existing Tough 1500 Resin, are named after their tensile modulus, and are said to stand up to harsh environments, impact, and repeated wear. They each promise parts with a dark, matte surface finish and crisp details when printed on a Form 4 3D printer.
Formlabs describes each material as follows:
- Tough 1000 Resin: The toughest and most ductile material in the new Tough family, rivaling HDPE.
- Tough 1500 Resin: A balanced blend of stiffness and compliance, rivaling polypropylene.
- Tough 2000 Resin: The strongest and stiffest, rivaling ABS.
“Formlabs’ goal has always been to deliver any part at the push of a button,” Formlabs co-founder and CEO Max Lobovsky said. “But that mission depends on more than just speed and ease. We need parts that are as tough and resilient as the products we rely on every day. With the new Tough Resin Family, SLA printing now delivers the strength and durability of the world’s most trusted thermoplastics.”
The company has also announced its latest curing unit, designed for compatibility with its larger Form 4L systems. The Form Cure L V2 is said to post-cure most parts in under 60 seconds.
Completing the additive manufacturing trinity - hardware, materials and software - Formlabs has also introduced updates to its PreForm 3.54 software. The new features - including Supports V2, measuring tools, CAD assembly import improvements, improved build packing tools, and UX improvements - are designed to streamline workflows for its Form Series and Fuse Series 3D printers.
