Formlabs launches new casting resin, ceramic-filled dental resin and more
Formlabs, a specialist in SLA and SLS 3D printing technologies, has released a gamut of new products, including two new resin materials, and three post-processing tools for SLA and SLS parts. The two new materials, Clear Cast Resin and the third-party Certified Material BEGO VarseoSmile TriniQ Resin, bring the company’s material portfolio to over 45 products.
New SLA resins
Clear Cast Resin is Formlabs’ latest SLA material, which is aimed at investment casting applications. The new material is engineered for optimal thermal expansion and enables foundries to more rapidly and cost-efficiently cast designs. Specifically, the material is intended for the production of casting shells, delivering minimal cracking and part accuracy within 0.25 mm.
As John Farr VP of Technology at Diversified Metalsmiths, a precision foundry based in Alabama, said of the new material: “The whole [Formlabs] ecosystem and support system made sense to us… The Clear Cast parts slotted straight into the workflow, [and] the amount of time saved with 3D printing where I push a button and go off to do something else, then skip the machining and hand-work after the cast, will make up for the cost of 3D printed patterns.”
The second material launch is a third-party resin that has been certified for use on the Form 4B dental 3D printer. BEGO VarseoSmile TriniQ Resin is a ceramic-filled and biocompatible material that has applications in the dental industry, including permanent and provisional restorations and bridges. Notably, the resin is the first to be indicated for the production of permanent bridges. In addition to this new material certification, Formlabs has also added Open Material Mode for its Form 4 printer generation. The software add-on makes it possible to print using any 405nm resin, opening up material possibilities for the company’s Form 4 users.
Last month, Formlabs achieved a milestone in the dental 3D printing industry, acquiring FDA 510(k) Medical Device clearance for its Premium Teeth Resin. Thanks to the clearance, the material is now viable for the production of temporary units of crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers and up to seven-unit temporary bridges in the United States (the resin already had approval in the EU).
New post-processing tools and upgrades
In addition to the two new resins, Formlabs has introduced three new products for post-processing. The first, Formlabs Resin Washing Solution, is a dedicated solution for cleaning liquid resin off of SLA 3D prints. The non-flammable material can reportedly dissolve twice as much resin before saturation compared to isopropyl alcohol (IPA), therefore minimizing the number of solution top-ups or switches.
The second post-processing product is the Fuse Blast Polishing System, an upgrade for the Fuse Blast, Formlabs’ automated cleaning and polishing solution for SLS parts. According to the company, this new drop-in upgrade enables users to clean and polish parts straight from the Fuse Sift powder recovery system, and results in smooth components with a semi-gloss, scuff-resistant finish.
The third product is the Fuse Sift Glovebox bundle, which comprises the Fuse Sift Glovebox Panel and Fuse Parts Carrier. The bundle essentially brings these existing products together in an “easily installed bundle”, which will facilitate part removal from the Fuse Sift and minimize powder exposure, for a more efficient workflow.
