Form Labs replacement resin

[MILWcoastdiv]

Hi, I just inherited at my work a new Form Labs 3 set up (printer, washer, cure station, all new but for work and not to take home unfortunately.  I really don't have any use for this resin printer for anything work related but I would like to tinker with it obviously.  My problem is that from what I can tell Form Labs resin is a 175 bucks a container and is proprietary.  Is there aftermarket resin available that is compatible thats cheaper? 

Thanks
Mario

[robert3985]

I went to the Form Labs website and it says that several resins (it was not specific) started as low as $35 a Liter. 

Form Labs SLA resins cure at 405nm, and most other manufacture's resins are engineered to cure between 365 and 405nm, soooo...I would think that they'd work...but, I'm not an expert on Form Labs SLA printers, so I could definitely be wrong.

The Anycubic resin I use is priced at an msrp of $38.99/KG, but is on sale now at $26.99/KG.  However, when I buy it, I purchase 10 liters at a time, which brings the price down to $15.89/KG.

Anycubic has other price breaks for lesser amounts, and maybe Form Labs has something similar.

Also, looking at their selection of resins, it appears that a lot of it is designed for dental and medical applications.  I would think that type of resin is probably way expensive, and unless you're going to experiment with medical applications, a more general purpose resin would most likely be markedly less expensive.

That's my two bits worth!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[samusi01]

Not the foggiest.

The local fab lab has a Form 3, and although there are benefits to it, in my mind they are outweighed by the resin cost and build volume. The lab employees have told me that the resin container cannot be refilled, as there is a chip or sensor in there that shuts things down if one attempts to do so.

[MILWcoastdiv]

I had the feeling about that sort of thing.  I believe the amount of resin used is controlled and monitored hence the expensive resin and especially the container.  I have one container of general purpose resin thats a couple years old, I 'll give it a try.  Okay thanks guys

Thanks,
Mario

[Chris333]

I think the Form 4 is just like all our printers.

[robert3985]

After watching the Form Labs YouTube video, it mentioned their Form 4 printers have what's called an "Open Material Mode" which allows you to use "any resin".  However, when I looked for that mode on their site concerning the Form 3 machines, it doesn't mention it, so...you may be stuck with having to use Form Labs resin. 

If it were me, I'd give them a quick call to see if the Form 3 machines have the "Open Material Mode" or equivalent.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore