We work closely with Formlabs, one of the leading 3D printer manufacturers in the world. We continuously provide our clients with high-class 3D printers at highly affordable prices!
We are also known for our friendly and helpful staff who will offer you honest, professional advice on the right 3D printer to buy, the best materials to use, and how to make the most out of your machine! Which is why many companies in the United Kingdom and Ireland turn to us, not just for our 3D printer offers but also our expert advice.
Why Buy A Resin 3D Printer Like Formlabs 3BL?
Resin 3D printers use Stereolithography technology or SLA. Resin printers with this technology utilise UV laser beams. To create the 3D object, a layer of liquid resin is exposed to the machine’s laser, causing the material to harden and take shape.
After the laser has finished solidifying a layer of resin the platform will step down the thickness of a single layer, and the process repeats. Each layer is built up on top of the previous one until the whole object is formed.
After the 3D object is completely formed, it should be rinsed with a solvent. Some people also choose to bake the printed product in a UV oven to finish processing.
The final product will have a smooth surface, and complex details are retained, making the Formlabs Form 3BL useful in cosmetic dentistry to create castable moulds for patients. The fashion industry also makes use of the SLA printing process to create jewellery and other accessories.
Different Kinds Of 3D Printer Resins
Resins are used by 3D printers to produce solid objects. There are different types available, each with varying use cases and results. Below, we have included a short guide to aid you in choosing the right one for your needs.
Standard Resins
This type of resin has the highest tensile strength, which is the material’s resistance to breaking under tension. It also has a high flexural modulus, which means the material is quite stiff when bent.
Standard resins are best used to produce objects with fine features and higher resolution. Because of this, standard resins are ideal to use with the Form 3BL printer for product development and rapid prototyping.
In the beginning, standard resins came in limited colours, so most users had no choice but to use yellowish and transparent resins. However, Formlabs have expanded the colour options for their resins, offering a wide range of colours.
Tough Resins
Tough resins are designed to imitate the tensile strength and flexural modulus of ABS plastic. They have high levels of elongation, which is the ability of a material to stretch just before it completely breaks. They also have great impact strength, which measures the amount of energy an object printed with this resin can absorb from a sudden impact without breaking.
Since they barely snap and crack, this resin is ideal for prototyping functional parts like snap-fit joints, assemblies, and enclosures.
Durable Resins
If Tough resins simulate ABS plastic, Durable resins imitate Polypropylene or PP plastic. It has low flexural modulus but with high impact strength. This means that it is a strong material, but can be easily bent; it is mostly used for packaging and prototyping low-friction and low-wear moving parts.
High-Temp Resins
This type of resin has the highest heat deflection temperature or HDT, reaching up to 289°C at 0.45 MPa. The HDT refers to the temperature at which objects printed from the resin start to deform once subjected to a specific load.
This resin is great for making parts that come in contact with hot gasses and liquids, like fluidic connectors, nozzles, valves, and injection moulds.
Flexible resins
Flexible resins are perfect for 3D printing rubbery parts. They’re ideal resins to use for prototyping slightly malleable products, like handles, grips, and water bottles. Though, stretching it too much might cause it to tear.
Castable resins
Castable resins are 20% wax-fill materials that create 3D prints with a smoother surface and intricate features. They also have high strength even without the need for post-curing. Because of this, they are widely used for products in the jewellery and dental industries.
Biocompatible resins
Access a library of over 20 materials available on one powerful desktop 3D printer, the Form 3BL. Our technology has been validated in FDA-cleared workflows and we develop and manufacture our own biocompatible materials in an ISO 13485 certified facility.
Why Buy From Us?
Solid Print3D are offering the best Formlabs 3BL price online! Our knowledgeable staff will help you to find the best 3D printer for your budget and requirements.
To show you the print quality of our Formlabs printers, we will send a 3D print sample right to your doorstep, allowing you to see and touch the print quality for yourself prior to purchase so that you can make an informed decision and determine if it is the right 3D printer for you.
When buying from Solid Print3D, your item will be dispatched on the same day, on all orders placed before 2PM. However, this can change depending on the stock levels, and you will be notified regarding any changes to the delivery schedule.
We also accept special delivery requests! If you have an urgent requirement, you can discuss the matter with us, and we will see if it is possible to speed up the delivery process for you.
We recommended that you check the item once you receive it. If the item is damaged or if some of its parts are missing, please let us know within two working days, and we will prioritise your concerns and arrange for a replacement as soon as possible!
To give you more peace of mind, we also offer a one-year warranty period with our Formlabs Pro Service Plan, which can be extended to two years!
We offer free delivery to customers in the UK Mainland. If you are interested in our products and services, call us on 01926 333 777. For written enquiries, you can email us at sales@solidprint3d.co.uk.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much is a Formlabs 3D printer?
Formlabs is one of the leading 3D printer brands in the industry. Their printers produce durable, high-quality prints. If you’re thinking how much is a three dimensional printer, Formlabs printers can cost anywhere from £2,900 to £8,000, depending on the package you choose.
Is 3D printing the future?
3D printing is becoming a highly popular method of industrial manufacturing. The technology enhancements in 3D printers, including the software, hardware, materials, and applications suggest that 3d printing might eventually replace traditional manufacturing methods.
3D printers are also popular with both businesses and hobbyists.
How much is the material for a 3D printer?
Generally, resins for Form 3L cost around £40. Entry-level resins may be cheaper than the average price, and specialist or high-quality resins will, of course, cost more. If you are looking for affordable, high-quality 3D printer resins, head over to our online store! We also have colour kits for colourful prints.
How much resin do I need for my 3D printer?
At a minimum, the resin should be enough to be able to cover the whole build platform when it’s at the “zero” position.
What is SLA 3D printing?
Stereolithography, or SLA 3D printing, uses a photochemical process, printing parts, models, and prototypes layer by layer. The process involves UV light, which causes a chemical reaction between the oligomer and monomer molecules which cross-link and form polymers, building up the 3D solid object.
Call us if you want to know more about how our SLA printers work.
How can I make money with 3D printing?
Although 3D printers have become widely used among hobbyists and artists, not everyone has the equipment or material for 3D printing. The best way to gain profit from 3D printing is to offer your services to those who need it or sell the items you have created using your printer.
Is there a demand for 3D printing?
A lot of businesses are purchasing 3 dimensional printers and materials in bulk, especially those that work in the manufacturing field. Statistics show that over 1.42 million units of 3D printers were shipped during the past few years, by 2027 this number is expected to reach 8.04 million!
What are the benefits of 3D printing?
3D printing has brought many advantages to the manufacturing industry. For one, the production rate is faster than traditional methods. It is also easily accessible, anyone can do 3D printing in their homes, particularly given the affordability of the current Formlabs Form 3L price. Not only is 3D printing usually cheaper for small-batch manufacturing, but the finished item will also often be of better quality.
Are resin prints stronger than FDM?
SLA resins are considered the best in terms of strength and mechanical performance; not even tough FDM materials like nylon and polycarbonate filaments can compare to SLA resins. Although resin materials cost more than FDM filament spools, it is worth investing in them if you want better quality prints.
Are resin printers faster?
When it comes to speed, resin printers are just as fast but can often print objects with a larger size and more complicated designs than other 3d printing methods. On the other hand, 3D printing methods such as DLP, or Digital Light Processing, is faster, but can’t print objects with complex designs and structures.
Formlabs 3L: The Ultimate Resin 3D Printer
When 3D printing company Formlabs launched its Formlabs Form 3L SLA 3D printer, businesses and hobbyists alike saw how it could improve the 3D printing industry.
The Form 3L is based on a Low Force Stereolithography or LFS technology but is more advanced than other older printers. The result is consistently flawless, which makes it useful for printing more complex designs.
It involves a flexible tank that reduces the forces on the object while printing, and this results in better detail and surface finish. Its Light Processing Unit, or LPU, holds a consistent high-density laser, which produces parts that are accurate to the original model.
Formlabs first launched their SLA 3 dimensional printer several years ago, but they never stopped improving and re-engineering their printers, working hard to revolutionise the 3D printing industry.
The Difference Between Form 3 and Form 3L
Formlabs first unveiled the Form 3 and Form 3L 3D printer to the public in late 2019, but what’s the difference between the two, and which one should you get? The main difference is their sizes.
Form 3L has a bigger volume, allowing you to print objects up to five times bigger than the Form 3 printer. It also uses two Light Processing Units or LPUs to print larger items. Because the laser in Form 3L is two times more powerful, printing larger parts is faster and easier.
The 3D printing company said that they created Form 3L to suit the needs of their customers. People want to print larger items without compromising speed, quality, and durability. They also want a three dimensional printer that can operate 24/7, and this was one of the biggest challenges that Formlabs faced.
Both Form 3 and Form 3L are reliable in their own way, but if you want to print larger objects, we recommend choosing the latter. If you need help with choosing the right 3D printer, just give us a call!
The Strongest Resin For Your Formlabs Form 3L
If you want the strongest material for your printing machine, professionals recommend the Tough 1500 Resin, one of the more recent resins that Formlabs have developed. The material was specially designed for pliable items that bend easily and immediately return to their former shape, even under cycling loading.
Tough 1500 resin has an ultimate tensile strength of 33 MPa, a tensile modulus of 1500 MPa, a flexural modulus of 1400 MPa, and elongation at break of 51%.
Because it is suitable to use for jigs and fixtures, connectors, and functional prototypes that are susceptible to temporary deflection, the material is now widely used in the automotive industry. It is used to create sensors mounts for cars.
With Tough 1500, automotive companies print these sensor mounts in batches of 30, making the work faster and resulting in sturdier parts.
If you want to get your own Form 3L Formlabs or are looking for a tough resin, have a look at what we have for sale today!
