Form 3 SLA 3D Printer
The Form 3 offers high quality surface finish and feature resolution unmatched by standard filament based 3D printing machines. Formlabs offers several acrylic based methacrylate photopolymer resins in a variety of colors and a selection of engineering materials with properties similar to ABS, polypropylene, and rubber. If you have a need for specific Formlabs material that we don’t have in stock, we will work with you to find a solution.
Understanding the Technology
The Form 3 is best suited for objects that require high feature detail and smooth surfaces such as sculptures and product mockups. It is not ideal for parts that require extremely tight tolerances, moving mechanisms, or parts with walls thinner than 0.5 mm or greater than 5mm thick.
The Form 3 does not have a dedicated material to create support structures. Instead it generates removable supports from the same material as the model. After 3D printing the supports are simply peeled away from the part. This will leave some scarring at the contact points so if perfection is your goal you will need to spend some time sanding the part for a flawless surface.
Form 3 Specifications
The Form 3 is a high resolution Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer. SLA 3D printers build up 3d models by selectively curing a photosensitive resins using laser light. Typical layer resolution is between 25 and 100 micron with feature detail down to 0.3 mm.
- Technique – SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus)
- Build Volume – 145 mm x 145 mm x 175 mm (5.7 in x 5.7 in x 6.9 in) / 224 ci
- Layer Thickness – 25, 50, 100 microns (0.001, 0.002, 0.004 in)
- Laser Spot Size (FWHM) – 85 microns (0.0033 in)
- Print Speed – 1-3 cm/hour along the Z axis when printing at 100 microns
Availablity and Pricing
The Fabrication Underground’s 3D printing service is available to all U of M faculty, students, and staff in support of their academic and research needs. Our Form 3 rate is $5.75 per hour. We accept U of M shortcodes for payment only; no cash or credit cards.
Get more from the Form 3 SLA
Additional learning materials are available in the Ground Connection Knowledge Base.