Formlabs
 | |
| Industry | 3D printing |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 2011 |
| Founder | Maxim Lobovsky, David Cranor, and Natan Linder |
| Headquarters | Somerville, Massachusetts, United States |
| Website |
formlabs |
Formlabs are a Somerville, Massachusetts-based company that was founded in September 2011. Formlabs designs and manufactures desktop 3D printers, and is well known for raising nearly $3 million in a Kickstarter campaign and creating the Form 1 3D printer.
History
Formlabs was founded by Maxim Lobovsky, Natan Linder, and David Cranor, who met as students at the MIT Media Lab while taking the 'How to Make (almost) Anything' class. The founders also drew on their experience with MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms Fab Lab program, as well as Lobovsky's experience with the Fab@Home project at Cornell University.
Formlabs was officially founded in September of 2011 to develop an easy-to-use and affordable desktop stereolithography 3D printer. Formlabs received early seed funding from investors including Mitch Kapor, Joi Ito, and Eric Schmidt’s Innovation Endeavors.
In November 2012, Formlabs was sued by the industrial 3D printing giant 3D Systems that claimed rights to the stereolithography technology that the Form 1 use. [1]
In October of 2013, Formlabs closed an additional $19 million Series A round of financing led by DFJ Growth, joined by Pitango Venture Capital, Innovation Endeavors, and returning angel investors.[2]
Products
Form 1
In October 2012, Formlabs publicly announced its first product, the Form 1 3D printer, in a Kickstarter campaign that raised a record breaking $2.95 million in funding[3] making the Form 1 one of the most highly funded crowdfunding projects of all time. Form 1 3D printers began shipping to backers in May of 2013.[4] The Form 1 uses a 3D printing process known as stereolithography, wherein liquid resin is cured, or transformed, into a solid material by the application of laser light. Although previously available in larger, more expensive machines, the Form 1 offers stereolithography in a smaller, more affordable desktop-class device.
Form 1+
On June 10, 2014, Formlabs released the Form 1+ 3D Printer, which replaced the Form 1 in their product line. Improvements include speed, print quality, and reliability.[5]
PreForm Software
Formlabs distributes software, known as PreForm, which prepares 3D models for printing, including automatic orientation and support-structure generation.
Materials
Formlabs currently sells several resins that are compatible with the Form 1 and Form 1+. Their general-purpose hard plastic resin is available in four colors: clear, white, grey, black. In addition, the company sells a resin specialized for casting, and a flexible resin.[6]
Documentary
Formlabs is featured in Print the Legend, a documentary that tells the stories of several leading companies in the desktop 3D printer industry. The film premiered at SXSW in March, 2014, and was released internationally on Netflix[7] on September 26, 2014.
See also
- 3D Printing
- Stereolithography
References
Formlabs the leader in desktop 3D Printing by TechGenMag
- ↑ http://www.wired.com/2012/11/3d-systems-formlabs-lawsuit/
- ↑ "Formlabs, maker of desktop 3D printers, collects $19 million in fresh funding". Boston.com. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ "FORM 1: An affordable, professional 3D printer". Kickstarter. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ "Formlabs ships first Form 1 3D printer, Kickstarter backers should see theirs next week". Engadget. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ↑ "Formlabs reveals the Form 1+, a faster and more reliable SLA 3D printer". Gigaom. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ↑ "Materials -- Formlabs". Formlabs. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ↑ "Netflix Acquires 3D Printing Documentary ‘Print the Legend’". Variety. Retrieved 20 July 2014.