This video reviews the Formlabs Form 4 and Form 4L resin 3D printers, highlighting their high detail, speed, and material options compared to filament printing. The video discusses the ease of use of the printers, the automated support generation in Preform, and the benefits of resin printing for rapid prototyping and production. The video also covers the washing and curing process required for resin prints, and concludes with a discussion of the Zero Mouse project, which is now 3D printed using Formlabs black resin. The Form 4 printer will cost you around $5,500 USD, the 4L will cost $20,000 for the entire kit.
Upgrading 3D Printing: A Review of the Formlabs Form 4 and 4L Resin Printers
0:00:18 Introduction to 3D Printing Types: The video contrasts filament 3D printing with resin 3D printing, emphasizing the superior detail and resolution of resin printers.
0:01:19 Resolution: Resin 3D printers offer significantly higher resolution than filament printers, making them suitable for intricate designs like mouse scroll wheels.
0:02:02 Formlabs Form 4 and 4L: The reviewer highlights the Formlabs Form 4 and Form 4L printers as examples of high-quality resin 3D printers used by companies like NASA and Microsoft.
0:02:23 Print Speed Advantages: Resin printers can print an entire layer at once, allowing for faster printing of multiple objects simultaneously compared to filament printers.
0:03:13 Machine Size: The Form 4L has a massive build plate for large-scale resin 3D printing, rivaling enterprise-level machines.
0:03:31 Ease of Setup: Setting up the Formlabs printers is quick and easy.
0:04:03 Quality of Design: The Formlabs printers are well-made with convenient features.
0:04:31 Preform Slicer: Preform offers easy-to-use software with automated support generation for quick print preparation.
0:04:56 High-Speed Printing: For printing a large number of objects, resin printers offer a significant advantage in printing speed.
0:05:31 Resin Cartridge: The Formlabs printers use a convenient cartridge system for dispensing resin.
0:05:55 Material Options: The wide range of available resins makes these printers suitable for a variety of applications, including biomedical uses.
0:06:58 Post-Processing: Resin prints require washing with a solvent (IPA) and curing with UV light. Formlabs simplifies this process with automated washing and curing stations.
0:08:15 Zero Mouse Project: The Zero Mouse project utilizes Formlabs black resin. It is now 3D printed using Formlabs black resin.
0:08:33 Layer Lines: Layer lines can be optimized based on the print and support orientation and the degree used.
0:09:41 Production Output: A single Form 4L can produce a large number of parts per day, with the potential to scale up production by adding more machines.
0:11:15 Market Placement: Form 4 is set at $5,500 and 4L costs $20,000, putting them as proumer-level machines at a proumer price.
0:11:50 Prototyping Speed: The high speed of prototyping is worth the high price of the printer.
0:12:11 Final Notes: These printers are interesting and have incredible capabilities.