A disappointing launch vs. my too high expectations

The Atomic Layers: S8E24 (00230)

Mar 24, 2025

Atomic Layer of the Day:

Basically, it's all

's fault. Last week, when writing about today's Formlabs launch, he hinted that it might be something big, like a new SLS 3D printer — a Formlabs version of Micronics, which they acquired last year.

Then a colleague from Germany cut in, suggesting it could be something even bigger, like the long-discussed IPO?

And finally, tomorrow is the big Bambu Lab launch! Formlabs can't be outdone! They have to show something groundbreaking!

So I was really gearing up for some major news.

Maybe they'd acquire someone? Or maybe they'd merge with someone? I don't know, at worst it would be that new SLS! Because what else could it be?

So for a good quarter I sat in front of the computer screen counting the minutes until the big revael!

And what did we get? A whole lot of nothing… Just one new resin, a new curing machine, and a handful of tweaks and improvements in PreForm.

What a letdown…

Watching the presentation led by Max Lobovsky, I didn't just feel disappointed — I felt outright cheated.

Not even throwing metal balls at a Tesla Cybertruck spray-painted on the wall could lift my spirits.

But then I started to think differently. Maybe I'm overreacting? Maybe I'm already spoiled by my 13-year career in the AM industry, and to get my attention, companies need to come up with something mind-blowing, while developing a new resin formulation is a challenge in itself.

After all, I once developed my own material, so I should know better…

So what exactly did Formlabs present?

In general, the company's vision is to further narrow the gap between additive manufacturing and injection molding. It sounds like an impossible challenge, but Formlabs is slowly, step by step, getting closer. Maybe a bit of a roundabout way (starting from low-volume production), but they keep making progress.

Their new Tough 1500 Resin is supposed to address the issue of weak and brittle parts. It was said to rival injection-molded plastics like polypropylene in terms of mechanical properties. Formlabs claimed that Tough 1500 Resin offers 10 times higher fracture toughness, 3 times higher Gardner impact strength compared to the previous version of the material, and an elongation at break of over 150%, resulting in high resistance to fractures, impacts, and shattering.

The company also updated Form Cure, which can post-cure 3D-printed parts in just 60 seconds (or under 15 minutes for engineering-grade resins). That’s up to eight times faster than the first-generation Form Cure. It can also heat up to 60°C in just 60 seconds.

Formlabs introduced a few new features to its online print management platform, Dashboard, including a new "Group Queues" feature for automated print assignment and "Cloud Slicing" for faster processing.

They also announced several updates to their PreForm software, including an "Add to a Running Job" function for their selective laser sintering technology, which allows parts to be added to an in-progress print job; a model grouping option to simplify managing multiple parts; "Bulk Model Import" to improve organization and efficiency in high-volume environments like dental labs and service bureaus; and seven language options: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese. (Thanks for the Polish version… 😠)

Lastly, a few words about the presentation itself.

Compared to the UltiMaker S8 launch, it was genuinely great. Relaxed, a bit informal, and straight to the point. Max Lobovsky has this awesome, completely chill "3D printing nerd" style. He genuinely looks like he actually invented and personally built all the stuff he was showcasing. I totally buy it! (I mean, I won't buy it because I don't need it, but if I did, I'd buy it because Max sold it to me).

And hey, at least he didn't spend the entire presentation slouched on a couch, right?

Atomic Layer from the Past:

03-24-2021: Stratasys announced the introduction of SAF — a new powder-based polymer technology.

‘2013 in AM’ - brand new history book! GET IT NOW!

News & Gossip:

Rosswag Engineering has made a strategic seed investment in qualloy, a digital marketplace for metal powders in additive manufacturing. The partnership will enhance qualloy's platform, enabling easier sourcing of certified powders while expanding its product line with Rosswag-qualified materials. The collaboration aims to optimize procurement, offering competitive pricing, quality assurance, and streamlined transactions for the AM industry.
Stratasys has partnered with Spain's Nueva Galimplant and Germany's Gold Quadrat and Metaux Precieux to distribute its dental 3D printing solutions, including TrueDent digital dentures.
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