# Form 3 Print Speeds - 2021

**URL:** <https://forum.formlabs.com/t/form-3-print-speeds-2021/29813>\
**Category:** Form 3/3+\
**Created:** [January 6, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/form-3-print-speeds-2021/29813 "2021-01-06T19:07:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![leonhart88](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/leonhart88/32/19153_2.png) [@leonhart88](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/leonhart88)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/form-3-print-speeds-2021/29813/1 "2021-01-06T19:07:54Z")

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So I recently had to throw a print onto my Form 2 at work because my Form 3 was occupied. I can’t share the part/file because it’s confidential, but it was a 3x3 array of parts which took up the entire build plate.

I was pretty blown away to still see that the Form 2 speeds quoted ~10 hours in preform, while the Form 3 speeds quoted ~22 hours. This is all on the latest FW & Preform versions.

I used to have a Form 2 personally but I got rid of it a while after I had my Form 3 because cleanup and surface finish on the Form 3 was just so much easier/better.

Curious to know if others who are using the prints in full capacity (ie. full build plate, producing arrays of parts), still see such a large difference in print time. I usually do prototypes and one-offs but am starting to do more arrayed, full build plates and the print time is somewhat disappointing from a productivity standpoint.

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**Author:** ![rkagerer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/439d5e/32.png) [@rkagerer](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/rkagerer)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/form-3-print-speeds-2021/29813/2 "2021-01-06T22:00:42Z")

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Yeah, this is one of the handful of reasons I still lean toward my Form 2 for many of my prints. I also suspect it’s a factor in why they changed Preform a while back to suggest flatter orientations (less layers = shorter time).

I really hope the Form 4 has some leaps and bounds improvements in print times (while ~~maintaining~~ improving quality of course).