All 3D printing processes require some post-processing, some more than others. When it comes to stereolithography (SLA), those parts need to be cleaned and often cured with light in order to obtain the desired properties. At RAPID 2017, Formlabs, manufacturer of the Form 2 desktop SLA system, has released its own solution for cleaning and curing parts: the Form Wash and Form Cure systems.
The $499 Form Wash uses an automated cleaning process in which an impeller agitates parts in isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Users place the Form 2’s build platform or printed parts into the Form Wash and set a time, and the machine performs the cleaning procedure in a uniform and consistent manner before raising the basket or platform, clean and ready for post-curing. Built into the Form Wash is a storage area for finishing tools, as well as a hydrometer for monitoring IPA levels.
The $699 Form Cure uses 405 nm light and a heating system to post-cure 3D-printed parts, necessary for increasing strength in standard resins and performance in engineering resins. This process also ensures that castable resins burn out more cleanly and is a requirement for biocompatible resins.
“Anyone who’s used a 3D printer knows the dirty secret of the process: a lot happens in between hitting ‘print’ and holding a nal product,” said Dávid Lakatos, Chief Product Officer at Formlabs. “We know our users’ time is better spent designing and creating, so we developed Form Wash and Form Cure to bridge that missing gap; making it easier than ever to go from nished print to ready-to-use part.”
To see the products in person, RAPID attendees can check out the Formlabs booth. To learn more or to purchase, visit the products’ website.