Formlabs is a 3D printing technology developer and manufacturer. The Somerville, Massachusetts-based company was founded in September 2011 by three MIT Media Lab students. The company develops and manufactures 3D printers and related software and consumables. It raised nearly $3 million in a Kickstarter campaign and created the Form 1, Form 1+, Form 2, Form Cell, Form 3, Form 3L, Fuse 1, Fuse 1+ and Form Auto stereolithography and selective laser sintering 3D printers and accessories.[2]
History
Formlabs was founded by Maxim Lobovsky, Natan Linder, and David Cranor, who met as students at the MIT Media Lab while taking a class called "How to Make (almost) Anything". The founders also drew on their experience with MIT'sCenter for Bits and AtomsFab Lab program, as well as Lobovsky's experience with the Fab@Home project at Cornell University.
Formlabs was officially founded in September 2011 to develop the first desktop-sized, easy-to-use, and affordable stereolithography 3D printer. Formlabs received early seed funding from investors including Mitch Kapor, Joi Ito, and Eric Schmidt’s Innovation Endeavors.
In November 2012, Formlabs was sued by the industrial 3D printing giant 3D Systems that claimed rights to the stereolithography technology that the Form 1 uses.[3] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2014, after the two parties settled.[4]
In October 2013, Formlabs closed an additional $19 million Series A round of financing led by DFJ Growth, joined by Pitango Venture Capital, Innovation Endeavors, and returning angel investors.[5]
In 2015, Formlabs opened their second office in Berlin, Germany.[6] In August 2015, Michael Sorkin, former co-founder of iGo3D, joined Formlabs to serve as the managing director of their European headquarters.[7]
In August 2016, Formlabs raised $35 million in series B funding led by Foundry Group.[8]
In April 2018, Formlabs raised $30 million in series C funding led by Tyche Partners, with investors including the municipally-owned Shenzhen Capital Group.[9] The company said it would use the funding to expand its product portfolio and scale operations to meet increasing customer demand, particularly from Asia.[10]
In August 2018, Formlabs raised $15 million from New Enterprise Associates, valuing the company at over $1B. As part of that fundraising round, Jeff Immelt was appointed to the company's board of directors.[11]
In May of 2021, Formlabs raised a $150 million Series E round from the Softbank Vision Fund 2, bringing the valuation to $2B.[12]
In September of 2024, Ford Motor Company utilized Formlabs 3D printers to prototype various components for its upcoming Electric Explorer SUV.[13]
Products
Form 1
In October 2012, Formlabs publicly announced its first product, the Form 1 3D printer, in a Kickstarter campaign that raised a record-breaking $2.95 million in funding[14] making the Form 1 one of the most highly funded crowdfunding projects up until that time. Form 1 3D printers began shipping to backers in May 2013 after months of delayed production.[15][16] The Form 1 used a 3D printing process known as stereolithography, wherein liquid resin is cured, or hardened, into a solid material by the application of laser light. Although previously available in larger, more expensive machines, the Form 1 offered stereolithography in a smaller, more affordable desktop-class device.
Form 1+
Form 1+
On June 10, 2014, Formlabs released the Form 1+ 3D Printer, which replaced the Form 1 in their product line. Improvements included speed, print quality, and reliability.[17] The Form 1+ was officially sunsetted March 15, 2017.[18]
Form 2
On September 22, 2015, Formlabs announced the Form 2 printer, including a larger build volume and a wiper. It also switches to a cartridge resin system, instead of bottles that needed to be manually poured into the Form 1 & Form 1+. Third-party resins can be used with Open Mode.[19] The Form 2 was named Best Resin Printer for 2019 by Tom's Guide in their annual rankings.[20] The Form 2 is scheduled to be officially sunsetted in 2023.[21]
Form Wash and Form Cure
On May 5, 2017, Formlabs announced the Form Wash and the Form Cure. Together with the Form 2, they complete the SLA engine. The Form Wash is a washing machine used to automatically clean liquid resin off of printed 3D models. The Form Cure is an ultraviolet postcuring system. After printing, the build platform on the Form 2 can be removed and installed on the Form Wash, which uses an impeller to agitate 3D printed parts in isopropyl alcohol. The Form Cure heats parts up to 80 degrees Celsius and uses thirteen 405 nanometer UV LEDs.[22][23]
Fuse 1
On June 5, 2017, Formlabs announced the Fuse 1, a selective laser sintering 3D printer. It has a much larger build volume than the Form line of printers, a removable build chamber, and uses nylon powder.[24]
Form 3, Form 3B, Form 3L and Form 3BL
On April 2, 2019, Formlabs announced the 4th Generation of their SLA printers, the Form 3 and Form 3L, designed for use by artists, designers, and other professionals. The Form 3 offers a larger print area than the Form 2 as well as Low Force Stereolithography (LFS), a new SLA technology developed by Formlabs that promises smoother surface finish and more detailed prints. The Form 3L utilizes the same optics engine as the Form 3, including LFS, with five times the build volume. Additional improvements include an upgraded optics engine, modular components to simplify repair and integrated sensors to improve print success and usability. This earned it the title of Best Resin Printer of 2019 by The Mediahq.[25]
On November 12, 2019, Formlabs launched the Form 3B, a variant of the Form 3 specially designed for the dental industry. Unlike the Form 3, the Form 3B is compatible with Formlabs' array of specialty dental materials.[26] The only exception is Form 3 printers designated "Early 2019" which retain the dental material capabilities from its initial release.[27]
In 2020, the company launched Form 3BL, which features the larger platform of the Form 3L, along with the material capabilities of the Form 3B.[28]
In 2022 at CES, the company announced the Form 3+ and Form 3B+ which are updated versions of the Form 3/3B with improved LPU/Laser stability, better heating and monitoring of the build chamber, true light touch supports, and the new build platform 2, which uses a flexible stainless steel sheet held with magnets to a base in order to make removing the parts from the build plate faster and easier than the original build platform the first shipped with the Form 2.[29]
Form Cell
On June 5, 2017, Formlabs announced the Form Cell, a cell of Form 2 3D printers, as well as a Form Wash and a robotic gantry system. It is completely automated and can be used as a 24-hour digital "factory".[30]
PreForm
Formlabs provides a free software package called PreForm, designed to prepare 3D models for printing on the Form 1, Form 1+, Form 2, Form 3, and Fuse 1. Some of the features of PreForm include automatic model orientation and support structure generation.[31]
Nasopharyngeal Swabs
As the COVID-19 pandemic took off in March 2020, Formlabs, working with, Northwell Health and the University of South Florida developed a 3D printed nasopharyngeal swab made from biocompatible resins. After receiving FDA Class I Exempt status, Formlabs quickly went into production; its printing facility in Ohio was initially able to produce 150,000 swabs daily, and the design was released so that hospitals with their own printers can make swabs. Northwell and the University of South Florida were each immediately able produce 1,500 swabs daily with printers they already had.[32][33][34]
Form Auto
In January of 2023 at CES, Formlabs announced the successor to its Form Cell program by introducing the Form Auto. The Form Auto automates the Form 3 printer and enables users to remotely open the cover, start prints, and clear parts off the build platform.[35]
Form 4
On April 17th, 2024, Formlabs announced its fourth generation printer the Form 4.[36] This is the first Formlabs printer to use a LCD screen as opposed to lasers used in the first three generations of machines.
Form 4L
On October 17, 2024, Formlabs unveiled the Form 4L, its latest large-format SLA printer. This model is notable for being the first to utilize an LCD screen instead of lasers, enhancing printing speed and efficiency. The Form 4L also features a developer platform that allows users to customize materials and workflows for specific applications.[37]
Documentary
Formlabs is featured in Print the Legend,[2] a documentary that tells the stories of several leading companies in the desktop 3D printer industry. The film premiered at SXSW in March 2014, and was released internationally on Netflix[38] on September 26, 2014.
^Formlabs Is 3D Printing More than 100,000 COVID-19 Test Swabs Daily, PlasticsToday, March 29, 2020.
^Sarah Worth, USF Health, Northwell Health, Tampa General Hospital and Formlabs Join Forces to Create 3D Printed Nasal Swabs to Test for COVID-19, USF Health News, March 28, 2020
^Linda Carroll, New York's Northwell Health begins 3D printing nasal swabs for coronavirus testing, Reuters, March 31, 2020
^"Form Auto". Formlabs. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
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