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Technology Overview

Printing Process:

• Masked Stereolithography (MSLA)
• Engineered with Low Force Display™ (LFD) technology for higher throughput and superior results

Print Engine Components:

• Backlight Unit
• Light Processing Unit 4L (LPU 4L)
• Release Texture
• Flexible Film Resin Tank
• Intelligent Control Systems
• Automated Resin Handling

Illumination System:

• Backlight Unit with 145 uniform-wavelength LEDs, plano-convex lens array, and integrated air cooling
• 405 nm optical wavelength
• 16 mW/cm² optical power intensity delivered to the curing plane
• 46 µm pixel size

Performance & Speed

Maximum Print Speed¹:

• Up to 80 mm/hour (3.1 in/hour)

Typical Print Speeds²:

• Average: ~24 mm/hour (0.9 in/hour)
• Range: 20–35 mm/hour (0.8–1.4 in/hour), depending on chosen material

Dimensional Accuracy³:

• 1–30 mm features: ±0.15% (min ±0.02 mm)
• 31–80 mm features: ±0.3% (min ±0.06 mm)
• 81–150 mm features: ±0.3% (min ±0.15 mm)

Surface Accuracy for Restorative Models⁴ (Precision Model Resin):

• 99.9% of surfaces within 100 μm of CAD model
• 96.7% of surfaces within 50 μm of CAD model
• 71.4% of surfaces within 25 μm of CAD model

Materials & Compatibility

• Supports 19 premium Formlabs materials or third-party materials in Open Material Mode
• Additional new materials currently in development
• Not biocompatible (For biocompatible printing, see Form 4BL)

Build Volume & Resolution

• Build Volume (W x D x H)⁵: 35.3 × 19.6 × 35.0 cm (13.9 × 7.7 × 13.8 in), 24.2 liters
• Build Area: 692 cm² (107 in²)
• Maximum Part Length⁶: Not measured
• XY Resolution⁷: 46 µm with advanced anti-aliasing for subpixel detail
• Layer Thickness⁸: 25–200 µm (0.001–0.008 in)

Resin Handling & Environment

• Resin Cartridges: 2 next-generation cartridges
  • 5–10x faster filling
  • 63% less waste
  • 30% less storage space required
• Resin Heating: High-speed conductive heating with infrared sensors
• Internal Temperature: Automatically heats resin to 25–45 °C (77–113 °F) depending on material
• Force Sensing: Z-Axis Force Sensor adjusts print quality and speed based on part geometry and material

Supports & Finishing

• Automatic support generation with light-touch removal
• Streamlined design tools and guidance available

Printer Dimensions & Requirements

• Printer Dimensions (W x D x H): 66.4 × 52.8 × 79.4 cm (26.1 × 20.8 × 31.3 in)
• Minimum Access Dimensions (W x D x H): 88.9 × 116.9 × 81.3 cm (35 × 46 × 32 in)
• Weight: 58.5 kg (129 lb)
• Operating Environment: 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
• Power Requirements: 100–240 VAC, 9 A, 50/60 Hz, 900 W

Connectivity & Controls

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5 GHz), Ethernet (1000 Mbit), USB-C 2.0
• User Interface:
  • 7" interactive touchscreen (1280 × 800)
  • Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese
• Alerts:
  • On-screen alerts
  • SMS/email notifications via Dashboard
  • Integrated speaker for audio alerts

Sensors & Monitoring

• 6 enhanced sensors precisely regulate temperature, resin levels, print forces, and overall status:
  • Infrared temperature sensing for resin heating
  • Ultrasonic resin level sensing for proper tank levels
  • Z-Axis Force Sensor for minimal print forces
  • Resin Cartridge Load Cell for exact resin measurement
  • Printer Leveling Sensor for stable setup
  • Built-in camera for remote monitoring, timelapses, and print history (camera can be disabled, covered, or removed)

Software Ecosystem

• Software: PreForm, Dashboard, Fleet Control
• PreForm Requirements:
  • Windows 7 (64-bit) or newer (ARM not supported), Mac OS X 10.15 or newer
  • OpenGL 2.1
  • Microsoft C++ runtime library (Windows only)
  • 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
• File Types: STL, OBJ, 3MF input; FORM file output
• PreForm Features:
  • One-Click Print
  • Adaptive layer thickness
  • Remote printing
  • Auto-orient and auto-mesh repair
  • Automatic and manual support generation
  • Rotation, scaling, duplication, and mirroring tools
  • Layer slicing for path inspection
  • Custom print settings
  • Multiple language options
• Dashboard Management:
  • Cloud-based print and printer management
  • Resin and tank usage tracking
  • SMS/email notifications
  • Enterprise group accounts for shared printer access and permissions

Component Lifespans

• Resin Tank Estimated Lifetime¹⁰: 75,000+ layers with any Formlabs material
  • Approximately 190 prints at ~39 mm print height (100 µm layers)
• Light Processing Unit Estimated Lifetime¹¹: 600k–1.9M layers depending on material and layer height
  • Approximately 1,300 prints at ~87 mm print height (Grey Resin V5, 100 µm layers)

Footnotes:

1. Maximum print speed under ideal conditions.
2. Typical speeds may vary based on material selection and part geometry.
3. Dimensional tolerances are approximate and depend on material and setup.
4. Based on internal testing with Precision Model Resin.
5. Full build volume utilization may depend on print orientation, supports, and material.
6. Maximum part length not specifically measured under standard testing conditions.
7. XY resolution represents the pixel size and printed detail capabilities.
8. Layer thickness affects print speed, surface quality, and detail.
9. Interface, alerts, and controls may differ slightly with software updates.
10. Actual resin tank lifetime may vary based on materials and usage patterns.
11. LPU lifetime depends on various factors including material choice and layer thickness.

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