Formlabs Announces Draft Mode and Smart Supports

SOMERVILLE, Mass. , Jan. 06, 2015 – Formlabs, makers of the Form 1+ 3D Printer, released new functionality that radically improves performance of their printers. Draft Mode, a new print resolution, allows the Form 1+ to print up to twice as fast. While Smart Supports, a dynamic print-preparation algorithm, reduces print-time and overall material usage by up to 60%.

For engineers and designers who need results fast, Draft Mode allows the Form 1+ to print thicker, 200-micron layers, without sacrificing surface quality. The precise, high-speed optical mechanics at the heart of the Form 1+ mean that head-to-head, it dramatically outperforms leading FDM machines at the same resolution. The feature is available in the latest version of PreForm and is available for all Form 1+ 3D Printers printing with Clear Resin.

Smart Supports set a new standard in 3D printing software. They use a sophisticated algorithm to generate more robust and efficient print supports. “We looked a lot at trussed bridges and trees to understand more elegant and efficient ways to offer greater support with fewer contact points.” said Andrey Mishchenko, Formlabs Software Engineer. The new supports result in reduced print times and use up to 60% less material.

“At Formlabs, we’re obsessed with providing the best user experience possible, and we’re always experimenting with new ways to make our products better,” said Formlabs co-founder, Maxim Lobovsky. “Hardware is only half the story in 3D printing, and we’re proud to innovate just as profoundly in software.”

These announcements come on the heels of Formlabs’ latest Functional Material release last month. Showcasing the company’s Flexible Resin, Formlabs’ engineer Adam Lebovitz made a 3D-printed speaker. Prototyped in Draft Mode and utilizing the new Smart Supports, the speaker, excepting the wires, magnets, and enclosure, is entirely 3D-printed.

The software update with Draft Mode and Smart Supports, as well as a tutorial and models to create your very own 3D printed speaker are available now. The 3D-printed speaker will be on display at Formlabs’ booth at CES 2015 Las Vegas.

New, redesigned print supports (5M)

Comparison of Formlabs prints against leading FDM prints (5.9M)

Exploded view of 3d-printed speaker

Acerca de Formlabs

Formlabs expande el acceso a la fabricación digital para que la impresión 3D esté al alcance de todos. Con sede en Somerville, Massachusetts (EE. UU.), y oficinas en Alemania, Japón, China, Singapur, Hungría y Carolina del Norte, Formlabs ofrece las impresoras 3D profesionales elegidas por ingenieros, diseñadores, fabricantes y autoridades de todo el mundo. Los productos de Formlabs incluyen la Form 3, la Form 3B y la Form 3L y Form 3BL, que funcionan con una avanzada tecnología de estereolitografía (SLA) llamada estereolitografía de baja fuerza (LFS)™; las soluciones de posacabado Form Wash y Form Cure y la impresora 3D SLS Fuse 1. Formlabs también desarrolla su propia gama de materiales, así como software de impresión 3D de primera clase.

Para más información, por favor visita: https://formlabs.com/es

Contacto de prensa

Angy Morales | Elena Mañanas
[email protected] | [email protected]