I have been reading through this thread honestly (and desperately) hoping to find something that could convince me to take the plunge and buy into the Formlabs Ecosystem, but not sure I am convinced.
Now before I get crucified, let me be clear about a couple of points;
I do not have a problem with closed systems, in fact, I often prefer them.
I do not have a problem paying a premium for convenience. I currently own UM printers so am all too familiar with ‘paying that premium’
I have been looking at resin printing for a while for two reasons, SPEED and PRINT QUALITY. I mostly need a printer capable of delivering prints that are “ready to sell” and do so at a reasonable speed. Simply adding more FDM printers to the fleet hardly seems like the right thing to do as it still limits me to well… what is possible with FDM.
FDM (UM) has served me well over the years, but there are some geometries that can only be achieved by printing with dissolvable support, significantly increasing the print time and still results in prints with very clear and visible layer lines and extended post processing times. My biggest concern is that the pricing of the FL resin simply makes the cost per part too expensive no matter how I spin it. This is based on the statistics in PreForm, not even accounting for other consumables eg. Resin Tanks. Am I doing something wrong on PreForm?
The other brands I looked at are Prusa, Uniformation GK3 system and HeyGears I know it is not the same and I am really hoping I can find a way to make this work.
Thanks for taking the time to post! I’d be happy to connect you with someone on our team so we can hear a little bit more about your specific application, material needs, and any cost per part targets you’re trying to hit!
Alternatively, you’re welcome to post any of that information you’re comfortable sharing here and we’d be happy to offer recommendations based on that!
Thank you for taking the time tom respond, I would be happy to chat. As I almost exclusively work under quite strict NDA’s it might be hard to post info so I think it is best to reach me on email or DM?
Thank you! I’ve passed your email to our incoming team! They’ll be in touch shortly to learn a little bit more about what you’re up to and how we might be able to help!
I agree with the open material license fee being stupid. It’s like saying you must put Ford Brand Gas in your ford car, because mobil gas might break your car. We are using official build platform and resin tank just as when a car needs filter change.
Also on a right to repair and ownership perspective. We are the owner of our device, why is a software lock even permissible to limit what consumable one might use. Do you own the device if it doesn’t function without paying monthly commision to its manufacturer? Just like the huge legal trouble HP gets into for blocking Thrid-party ink cartridge. Now law only allow them to display non geniune Ink warning but not block its usage. Just saying there might be legal issue here. Not like warranty will be covering printer damage due to third-party resin when using the license anyways. Even so, allow thrid party resin after 1-year warranty or service contract ends.
Now one might say its the same business as gaming console and 2d printers, where device is sold at a lost and the cost is recovered by purchasing ink and software. But here is the thing, formlab printers are not cheap at all. Its more than defintely not sold at a lost. The MSRP would easily cover manufacturing cost and R&D cost for the machine itself. They recover R&D cost for the material from resin MSRP anyways.
I have form 2 and 3 and 4, but this is pissing me off very much. Especially the fear that now new cartridge design is deployed, old printer owner will not be getting updated resin types and formulas, it will just decay into their EOL(I believe formlabs will eventually release a firmware to allow third party resin when all material are discountinued, but who knows when). Clear v5 offer significantly better optical transparancy, but Form 3 and 2 is not getting it(I understand this also due to new printing mechanics but material is a significant contributor).
