Formlabs developed Creator Resins to expand accessible and safe options for users of hobbyist printers who are dissatisfied with unsafe and poorly-controlled materials. Creator Resins provide a balance of performance and affordability without some of the more advanced features available in standard Formlabs resins.

Creator Resins use simplified formulations tailored for non-demanding applications, such as printing figurines and small models. These resins do not offer fully validated print settings, auto-dispensing cartridges, post-sale support, or biocompatibility. They also differ in:

• Variety of applications: Standard Formlabs resins are engineered for a wide range of industrial applications, including consumer goods production, healthcare, and manufacturing. They are optimized with specific properties like biocompatibility, high temperature resistance, or flexibility. Creator Resins do not offer specialized properties but are suitable for a variety of general-purpose applications.
• Packaging and accessibility: Standard Formlabs resins come in an auto-dispensing 1 liter cartridge with resin consumption tracking through Dashboard, whereas Creator Resins are sold in a more accessible and low-cost bottle.
• Settings validation: Standard Formlabs resins are engineered and tested to meet the demanding requirements of professional users and industrial applications. This includes thorough validation of print settings with Formlabs printers, ensuring optimal print quality, reliability, and consistency. Creator Resins undergo less rigorous testing and validation.
• Sales and support: Creator Series Resins are not supported through Formlabs sales and support teams. These resins are only available through Amazon in the USA.

Many resins use low-cost, unsafe chemicals, have poor technical and safety documentation from the original manufacturer, and do not always meet the user’s performance requirements. Formlabs never uses 4-Acryloylmorpholine or ACMO, a component commonly used in low-cost resins. The EPA has issued a significant new use regulation (SNUR) for ACMO because of the potentially dangerous effects of breathing in its vapors.

Not all resins that contain ACMO adhere to the safety labeling requirements. Download a list of resins that contain ACMO here. Resins containing ACMO are required to list it on their safety data sheet (SDS) along with the following statements:

• H302 - Harmful if swallowed
• H317 - May cause an allergic skin reaction
• H318 - Causes serious eye damage
• H373 - May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

These resins also reduce the potential health risks encountered with traditional hobbyist resins by foregoing the use of 4-Acryloylmorpholine, or ACMO, a commonly used chemical in low cost resins that has associated health hazards, as outlined in a SNUR (Significant New Use Regulation) issued by the EPA. The Creator Series instead utilizes less hazardous chemicals to deliver its performance, with the added benefit of greatly minimizing odor.

Formlabs Creator Series Resins contain safer ingredients that do not produce harmful odors or large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This reduces the potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure to VOCs for both the primary 3D printing user and those around them.

Formlabs materials scientists developed print settings tailored for a variety of hobbyist resin printers in the market. These settings are readily available for download on creator.formlabs.com and are available through popular slicing software like Chitubox and Lychee.

Formlabs provides technical data sheets (TDS) and safety data sheets (SDS) for all Creator Series Resin. These documents offer information on the correct washing and post-curing processes, maximizing durability and performance.

The safety data sheets included with Creator Series Resins also provide clear information on proper handling, storage, and disposal.

Creator Series Resins are formulated to provide accessible and safe options for users of hobbyist printers who are dissatisfied with unsafe and poorly-controlled materials for third-party printers.

Standard Formlabs resins are engineered and manufactured to meet a high level of quality and performance with Formlabs SLA printers. Maintaining high quality requires experienced subject matter experts, facilities, and components. Formlabs standard resins are supported throughout the product’s lifetime by support teams, software updates, documentation, and engineering tests, all of which contribute to their higher price point.

All Formlabs Resins, both standard and Creator Series resins, are formulated with safety in mind and minimize the use of sensitizing or volatile materials to make 3D printing as safe as possible. Formlabs provides thorough documentation to ensure safe handling of resins:

• Resin care
• Disposing of resin

Always use gloves when using 3D printing resins. Refer to the SDS for more information.