How Formlabs 3D Printing Is Shaping the Future of Manufacturing

If you’ve been watching the 3D printing space over the last decade, you know it’s come a long way from the days of clunky prototypes and niche hobbyists. And at the center of this evolution? Formlabs.

Formlabs has helped redefine what additive manufacturing can do across industries from sleek product design to custom medical applications.

The Evolution of 3D Printing Technology

3D printing started as a slow, expensive tool reserved for R&D labs. Fast forward to today, and it’s a mainstream solution. That shift was driven by accessibility, speed, and reliability, all traits Formlabs delivers.

Now, small businesses, schools, medical labs, and individual professionals use 3D printing daily.

Formlabs showed that 3D printers could be practical, precise, and affordable even for non-enterprise users. A single Formlabs 3D printer can offer precision and usability without the industrial price tag.

The Rise of Formlabs

Formlabs made 3D printing accessible. Their user-friendly, high-performance machines allow small businesses, engineers, and healthcare pros to create without complexity.

After launching the Form 1 through Kickstarter, Formlabs kept improving. After making improvements to the tech the Form 2 and Form 3 provided a more refined experience. Their mission: make every step from software to finishing simpler. The current Form 4 now stands out for its speed, precision, and reliability in desktop SLA printing.

For healthcare professionals, the Form 4B offers similar performance with specialized features for biocompatible printing. It’s optimized for dental and medical workflows that require precision and validated materials.

For those needing even more build volume without moving to an industrial footprint, the Form 4L delivers a powerful solution. It’s ideal for prototyping larger parts or printing multiple smaller parts in a single run.

Core 3D Printing Technologies

At the heart of Formlabs 3D printers are two main technologies: SLA and SLS.

What is SLA 3D Printing?

SLA 3D printers produce finely detailed, high-resolution parts using liquid resin and laser curing. SLA offers superb surface detail and tight tolerances.

What is SLS 3D Printing?

SLS uses a laser to fuse powder into solid parts. It allows complex shapes and batch production without support structures. SLS printers are ideal for in-house production thanks to speed and durability.

Product Line Overview

The quality of the resin tank impacts every print. Formlabs’ new printers grow with your business. Their most current line, the Form 4, is at the top of the field.

The Form 4L Printer

The Form 4L brings industrial power to the desktop. Its high-capacity resin tank supports long builds with consistent material flow. The expanded build volume allows large-scale prints with precision and the robust build platform handles big prints with excellent adhesion.

The Form 4B and 4BL Printers

With biocompatible-ready resin tanks, these printers meet patient-safety standards. They streamline dental workflows with certified medical materials. These printers integrate seamlessly into digital dental labs, cutting turnaround time.

The FUSE 1+ 30W Printer

This flagship SLS machine combines speed and reliability in a bench-top format. It is one of the few machines to produce nylon parts at scale. Its compact build volume suits small facilities but delivers production-quality results.

Resin Tank Performance

The resin tank plays a critical role in the overall quality of SLA 3D printing. A well-maintained, clean tank ensures accurate curing, reduces part defects, and supports consistent print results across builds. Whether you’re working with standard, engineering, or biocompatible materials, a dependable resin tank is essential.

Every SLA printer from Formlabs is designed with a resin tank that complements its performance needs. A fresh tank helps produce clean layers, maintain resolution, and prevent cross-contamination between resins—especially important in healthcare environments. For medical and dental applications, maintaining a dedicated, sterile tank is key to meeting regulatory standards.

Pairing your printer with tools like Form Wash ensures parts are thoroughly cleaned before moving to curing. Using Form Cure afterward delivers optimal heat and light exposure, which completes the material process and enhances final part strength. This not only improves overall surface finish but extends the life of the resin tank as well.

Benefits of Formlabs 3D Printing

High-Resolution Output

SLA delivers presentation-ready parts straight off the build platform. Where SLA users benefit from quick swaps, SLS printers skip the resin tank. SLS allows batch production without tooling, and 3D printers like the FUSE 1+ boost ROI through reduced lead times.

Speed and Accessibility

Quick resin tank swaps mean less downtime. A removable build platform also speeds up post-processing. Formlabs printers are intuitive, fast, and compact. Unlike traditional machines, these machines are easy to learn and quick to use.

Use Cases Across Industries

Industrial Use Cases

Using 3D printers to make jigs, fixtures, and housings on-demand speeds up workflows and iteration. Medical and dental companies can print surgical guides and prosthetics with precision. Many healthcare providers rely on 3D printers to improve outcomes and speed up care.

Service and Support

Why Certified Service Partners Matter

TPM technicians can inspect resin tanks during maintenance. Our support teams offer training, installs, and troubleshooting.

Complete Ecosystem for Quality

Post-processing includes the Form Cure for optimal part performance. Between products like Form Wash and cloud-based monitoring, Formlabs creates a full, efficient system. Choosing a Formlabs 3D printer means getting reliability at every step.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re prototyping or printing patient-ready parts, Formlabs offers scalability and precision. Their printers and materials make high-quality results easy.

Formlabs builds 3D printers that balance power and usability. The Form 4 continues that legacy by handling production and detail in one powerful machine. Similarly, the Form 4B stands out for its streamlined setup and certifications that make it ready for regulated environments right out of the box.

Ready to Explore Formlabs?

Curious what Formlabs could do for your shop floor, clinic, or lab? Reach out to us, we’d love to help you explore your options.