{"id":9553,"date":"2019-06-13T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2019-06-13T14:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulprospector.com\/knowledge\/?p=9553"},"modified":"2024-01-31T11:46:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T17:46:21","slug":"pe-a-force-unto-itself-low-force-stereolithography-lfs-3d-printer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/9553\/pe-a-force-unto-itself-low-force-stereolithography-lfs-3d-printer\/","title":{"rendered":"A Force Unto Itself: Low Force Stereolithography"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo
Lower forces deliver consistent part accuracy and surface quality<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Formlabs is a Massachusetts-based company that entered the market for desktop stereolithography 3D Printers seven years ago.<\/p>\n

Using a technology called Inverted Stereolithography (Inverted SLA), the company\u2019s Form 2 3D printer offered a much smaller and more affordable setup than existing industrial SLA machines. However, it was at the expense of exerting significant forces on the part during printing. The printer accounts for this with heavy calibration, but heightened peel forces introduce limitations around materials and build volume. The parts require sturdy support structures to print successfully.<\/p>\n

Introducing the Form 3 Desktop 3D printer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Now, the Form 3 is being touted as a next generation Desktop 3D printer that uses so-called Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) technology–an upgraded form of Inverted SLA. The Form 3 is commercially available from June 2019 and will ultimately replace the Form 2. In LFS, the force exerted by the printer on the material during the printing process is minimal.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
The Light Processing Unit (LPU) contains a system of lenses and mirrors to deliver accurate, repeatable prints.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The machine comprises two key components–a flexible tank, and a scalable Light Processing Unit (LPU) which provides linear illumination. Together, these produce parts with better part detail and surface finish. The process is more accurate, more reliable and easier to maintain.<\/p>\n

It supports large part printing. Large parts can be printed quickly using a proprietary material called Draft Resin, with accuracy suitable for prototyping. With a layer thickness of 300\u00b5m, it is three to four times faster than other standard resins. (Formlabs offers an advanced library of more than 20 materials.)<\/p>\n

LFS uses a Light Processing Unit with a resin tank, optical window and rollers. All parts are easily replaceable. A flexible film bows gradually as the part is lowered, reducing pressure and allowing for light-touch supports that can be easily peeled away–aiding clean part removal, one of the biggest problems with SLA systems.<\/p>\n

Redesigned optics provide precisely controlled linear illumination. A single galvanometer positions the high-density laser beam in the Y direction, passes it through a spatial filter and directs it to a fold mirror and parabolic mirror. This results in the beam always being perpendicular to the build plane, as opposed to being at an angle.<\/p>\n

\n

Need help with your research?<\/h3>\n

Prospector can help speed along your research with technical datasheets and access to global equipment suppliers.<\/p>\n

Create your free account today!<\/a><\/h3>\n
\n

Form 3 and 3L specifications<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"The-Formlabs-Form-3-Learn
The Formlabs Form 3 and 3L low force stereolithography machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Form 3 is very similar to the Form 2 in terms of look and build, with a print volume of 145 x 145 x 185mm and a laser spot size of 85\u00b5m. LFS scales to a build volume five times larger with the Form 3L, which features a build volume of 335 x 220 x 300mm and uses two LPUs. Both machines use the same material cartridges as the Form 2, while the 3L can hold two cartridges to accommodate large parts. New software features, such as the ability to send print jobs remotely and manage a shared print queue, open up new ways to work across teams and locations.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nFORM 3<\/strong><\/td>\nFORM 3L<\/strong><\/td>\nFORM 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Technology<\/strong><\/td>\nLow Force Stereolithography<\/strong><\/td>\nLow Force Stereolithography<\/strong><\/td>\nInverted Stereolithography<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Build Volume (W \u00d7 D \u00d7 H, cm)<\/strong><\/td>\n14.5 \u00d7 14.5 \u00d7 18.5<\/td>\n33.5 \u00d7 20 \u00d7 30<\/td>\n14.5 \u00d7 14.5 \u00d7 17.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Layer Thickness (Axis Resolution, \u00b5m)<\/strong><\/td>\n25 \u2013 300<\/td>\n25 \u2013 300<\/td>\n25 \u2013 300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
XY Resolution, \u00b5m<\/strong><\/td>\n25<\/td>\n25<\/td>\nn\/a<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laser Spot Size, \u00b5m<\/strong><\/td>\n85<\/td>\n85<\/td>\n140<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Resin Cartridges<\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Table 1 The uprated Formlabs range of desktop 3D printers<\/em><\/strong><\/h6>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Formlabs is a Massachusetts-based company that entered the market for desktop stereolithography 3D Printers seven years ago. Using a technology called Inverted Stereolithography (Inverted SLA), the company\u2019s Form 2 3D printer offered a much smaller and more affordable setup than … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":9557,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[1238],"class_list":{"0":"post-9553","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-plastics-2","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nImproved 3D printer uses Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) technology<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Formlabs' desktop 3D printer uses Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) technology to produce parts with better part detail and surface finish.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/9553\/pe-a-force-unto-itself-low-force-stereolithography-lfs-3d-printer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Improved 3D printer uses Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) technology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Need a large part 3D printer? 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