Improvements:
- As easy to set up as the Form 2 (if not easier)
- Smaller optic unit that now rests to one side of the machine lowering the odds that a spill will do damage.
- The resin tank has higher walls on the left and right which reduces the chances for a spill as the wiper moves
- The wiper is now moved magnetically:
- Easier to install / uninstall
- This enables the wiper to be used as a detector for obstructions that prevent a print from completing which the Form 2 lacked
- The print platform moves only a fraction of what it did each layer than with the Form 2 which improves print speeds
- The print process appears to only be a scan now vs a trace. This requires only a single pass per layer which improves print speeds
- There is overall less processing between layers which improves print speeds
- Resin tanks are shipped with a good quality storage case.
- PreForm seems to now allow more customization of print settings
- It is using warnings to educate users in place of disallowing various configurations
Negatives:
- The wiper had trouble moving into its home position before resin was in the tank to lubricate it
- Some pickier enthusiasts might complain that having a scan without a trace technically now adds a "resolution" to the x/y shape of a layer
- The tools/starter kit are still missing some form of post-curing device one might expect to be included with a top-tier printer. (not to detract from FormCure purchases)
- Currently the resin tanks are on a 3 month back-order which has left me stuck with printing in some old, standard grey resin I had sitting on the shelf. I am having trouble getting high-detail in my prints and am limited by this in my personal testing.
I am currently blaming my resin for having less detail on models I have previously printed with the Form2 having better results. The items above are more comparative between a Form2 and a Form3 which is why I wouldn't call them pros/cons. FormLabs is still vastly out performing its competition with its full-ecosystem package. This is a printer for professionals who need to get a job done. The Form 3 combined with PreForm software and FormLabs resins make this possible with out-of-the-box, top-tier, quality results which require no modifications or lengthy calibrations.
At less than $5k this package is also accessible to the more serious hobbyists and enthusiasts, such as myself. I still enjoy tinkering with cheap machines in order to learn more about them (just like so many other hobbyists out there), but when I have a project that needs reliable, professional-grade printing I use the Form3 (previously the Form2).
