Formlabs have launched Form Studio 1, and the number that matters is the price: it starts from £549 ex VAT.
If you have ever looked at resin 3D printing and thought it was out of reach, too messy or too much of a faff, this is the printer to take another look at. It is not another Form 4 equivalent. It is a more accessible way into the quality Formlabs are known for, and you can order it from Additive-X.
Resin has always had a price problem
Resin printing has long had a reputation. The parts are brilliant, with detail that filament simply cannot reach, but the printers have been priced for professionals. Add the stories about fumes, spills and sticky gloves, and plenty of people with a filament printer on the desk have stayed curious without ever taking the plunge.
Form Studio 1 is Formlabs’ answer. They describe it as Professional Resin Printing for Anyone, and the idea is simple: take the reliability and attention to detail Formlabs have built their name on, and make it available at a price that makes resin an easy yes.
What you get for £549 ex VAT
The Founders Edition in Graphite, with the standard Build Platform and Resin Tank, starts from £549 ex VAT. For that, you get a Low Force Display print engine with a 35 micron pixel size and layer thicknesses from 25 to 300 microns, so fine features and smooth surfaces come as standard. The build volume is 200 x 125 x 235 mm, which is plenty for miniatures, prototypes, jigs, fixtures and small production runs.
It is quick, too. Most parts print in under 2 hours, and with Alpha Fast Resin you can reach up to 130 mm/h. If you are used to leaving a filament printer running overnight, you may find yourself designing, printing and testing in the same afternoon.
And it is built to be dependable. Formlabs quote a 98% print success rate, and before each print the printer checks that the build platform, resin tank and cartridge are in place, heats the resin to the right temperature and keeps the resin level correct while it prints.
Cleaner and calmer than you might expect
This is the part we think will surprise people most. Resin still needs sensible handling, and you will wear gloves, but Form Studio 1 is designed around a safer, tidier workflow. Resin is dispensed automatically from a cartridge, supports are made for light-touch removal, and everything prints behind a UV-blocking cover.
Then there is the air. Used with Alpha Resins and the Formlabs VOC Extractor, Form Studio 1 is the first and only resin printer with UL GREENGUARD Gold certification for low chemical emissions. It is also low odour. The VOC Extractor is sold separately, and the certified setting is fan speed 2 with Alpha Resins.
Open, and part of a complete workflow
Form Studio 1 is an open platform. Add the Form Studio 1 Resin Tank Pro and Open Material Mode lets you print with resins beyond the Formlabs range, so you are not locked in. The standard Resin Tank is optimised for Alpha Resins, Flexible 80A Resin V2 and True Cast Resin.
It also slots into a complete system. Form Studio Wash+Cure handles washing and post-curing in one compact unit. PreForm, Formlabs’ free print preparation software, gets you to one-click printing over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB. And the Formlabs app lets you keep an eye on prints remotely, with the built-in 1920 x 1080 camera, live view and timelapses.
Our take
We have sold and supported Formlabs printers since 2012, and we think you are going to love this one. It is the quality and attention to detail that Formlabs do better than anyone else, at an accessible price point. If you already print with filament and have been quietly curious about resin, this is the easiest and most affordable way in we have seen.
What you will need to get started
We would rather you knew up front. Alongside the printer, plan for:
- A washing and curing solution. Form Studio Wash+Cure does both in one unit.
- Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) at 90% or higher, or an approved alternative solvent.
- Safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
- The VOC Extractor, if you want the UL GREENGUARD Gold setup.
- Space for the printer: 34.2 x 31.5 x 50.2 cm and 14.3 kg, in a dry room between 18 and 28 °C.
Not sure what your setup should look like? Our team will talk you through it.
Buy Form Studio 1 from Additive-X
Formlabs will be selling Form Studio 1 direct, and we know a launch like this gets noisy. Here is what you get when you buy from us:
- A Formlabs partner since 2012. Over a decade of experience helping customers choose, set up and get the most from Formlabs printers.
- A team you can actually talk to. Reach us on live chat, call 01765 694 007 or email [email protected].
- Fast delivery. Order before 4.30pm for next working day delivery. Please note: this product will be dispatched when stock is available.
Questions people are already asking
How much is Form Studio 1? It starts from £549 ex VAT for the Founders Edition in Graphite, with the standard Build Platform and Resin Tank.
Do I need a separate washing and curing unit? Yes, every resin print needs washing and post-curing. Form Studio Wash+Cure does both in one compact unit.
Can I use third-party resins? Yes, using Open Material Mode with the Form Studio 1 Resin Tank Pro.
Is the VOC Extractor included? No, it is sold separately. It is needed for the UL GREENGUARD Gold setup with Alpha Resins.
Ready to get your Form Studio 1?
Professional resin printing for anyone, from the Formlabs partner you can speak to on the phone. Shop Form Studio 1 or get in touch with our team today.