Formlab Form Studio 1 resin 3D printer review

TechRadar Verdict

It’s instantly apparent that the Formlabs Form Studio 1 is in another league from most other resin 3D printers I’ve seen in recent years. The build quality, workflow, and ease of filling the tank make resin printing straightforward; however, you still need to clean up the model, and that brings the resin mess. Still, the process is more refined, and the end results are undeniably superb.

Reasons to buy

• +Cartridge-based handling
• +Clear touchscreen
• +200×125×235mm build volume

Reasons to avoid

• -Pricier than hobbyist printers
• -Resin cleanup remains
• -Printer discovery feels clunky

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Jump To:

• Price & availability
• Design
• Features
• Performance
• Final verdict

In an inevitable move, Formlabs, which dominates the professional resin 3D print market with high-quality machines that cater to small- to large-scale businesses, has made the move into the more affordable sector, verging on the enthusiast.

From the outset, it’s obvious that Formlabs mean business, and this is an aggressive move into the sector, with a machine that essentially pulls on the quality and design of the Formlabs Form 4, a machine that still retails for around $2,500.

The Form Studio 1, however, is priced at around $700, and while that’s still expensive compared with the competition such as the Uniformation GK3 and Creality Halot X1, as I started to use the machine, that price difference gets you far more than $200’s worth of a better machine.

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While the Form Studio 1 is Formlabs’ more accessible resin printer, it still retains much of the professional workflow of the machines that have made them a go-to choice for industry professionals in medical, engineering and product design sectors.

This cheaper machine, for instance, features that same drop-in cartridge system that automatically feeds the resin tank, and the printer is able to monitor both the resin levels and temperature. It also uses the same PreForm software that handles model preparation, supports and print sending.

During my month with the machine, I went through the six resin cartridges supplied for the review and generally found the process unusually clean for this style of printer, especially with the three supplied tanks that I could lid and store after use, although, as ever, longer-term storage would require the usual lengthy tank cleaning process.

What really struck me was the quality of the machine, with some built-in filtration and odours even without the optional filter system did seem low, although it was still used in a well-ventilated workshop following the usual precautions.

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