Formlabs Form Studio 1 review: affordable resin printer keeps professional workflow, TechRadar says

TechRadar described the Form Studio 1 as being "in another league" from most other resin 3D printers it has seen in recent years. The review said build quality, workflow and ease of filling the tank make resin printing straightforward, but model cleanup and the associated resin mess remain.

The machine is an aggressive move by Formlabs into a more affordable sector, verging on the enthusiast market. Formlabs dominates the professional resin 3D print market with high-quality machines for small- to large-scale businesses. The Form Studio 1 draws on the quality and design of the Formlabs Form 4, which still retails for around $2,500. The Form Studio 1 is priced at around $700. TechRadar said that is still expensive compared with competitors such as the Uniformation GK3 and Creality Halot X1, but that the price difference gets far more than $200 worth of a better machine.

The printer retains much of Formlabs' professional workflow. It uses a drop-in cartridge system that automatically feeds the resin tank, and it monitors resin levels and temperature. It also uses the same PreForm software for model preparation, supports and print sending. During a month with the machine, the reviewer went through six resin cartridges supplied for the review and generally found the process unusually clean for this style of printer, especially with the three supplied tanks that could be lidded and stored after use. Longer-term storage would require the usual lengthy tank cleaning process. Built-in filtration and odours even without the optional filter system did seem low, although the printer was used in a well-ventilated workshop following usual precautions.

The Form Studio 1 Basic package pricing has yet to be set but is expected to be $699, while the Flex package is expected to cost $749. The Basic package includes the printer, resin tank and build platform. The Flex package adds the flexible build platform, which TechRadar highly recommends, and accessories. The Form Studio Wash+Cure is expected to cost $199, and the optional VOC Extractor is listed at $179. The larger Form Wash V2 and Form Cure V2 are also compatible and sold separately.

The printer is relatively compact for a resin printer at 342 × 315 × 502 mm, with a 200 × 125 × 235 mm build volume. Its orange-tinted cover shields the build chamber from ambient UV light and the user from screen UV light during exposure. The orange cover gives the machine the distinctive Formlabs look, and transparent panels show the electronics and status lights. The cover has a flip-up lid design, so placement requires some headroom. The review said it is a great-looking machine that will fit into a studio or workshop, though it should still be placed somewhere with good ventilation.

On the front is a large touchscreen for settings and status. At the back, a space allows the resin cartridge to slot into the side and feed the tank once its vent is opened. The build platform, tank and cartridge are easily accessible. TechRadar said the overall finish feels closer to a professional product than most resin printers it has looked at, although those have been steadily improving. Optional accessories include the external VOC Extractor, which the reviewer did not test but described as looking like a great idea and something seen with a couple of other resin printers recently.

TechRadar lists cartridge-based handling, a clear touchscreen and the 200×125×235mm build volume as reasons to buy. It lists a price higher than hobbyist printers, the remaining resin cleanup and clunky printer discovery as reasons to avoid. The review concluded that while the printer is still more than most resin options, the quality of the machine, workflow and models are substantially better than most of the best 3D printers of this type it has tested. If considering resin, TechRadar said this is at present the only machine it would safely recommend.