今天看到的最新的3 d“产消者”printer from Formlabs. A year in development, Formlabs has been working on a brand new 3D printer concept — Form 1 — which offers true professional quality resolution at a price individual designers and engineers can afford. According to the company this is the 3D printer that “fills the gap between low-end hobbyist machines with limited resolution and high-end printers that cost tens of thousands of dollars.”
This is a launch message that has been heard before, so what makes the Form 1 different?
首先，Formlab的创始人和Form 1的开发人员具有非常强大的血统。这三个是Maxim Lobovsky，David Cranor和Natan Linder - 都是MIT的Medialab的毕业生，这是加性技术进步和开发的温床。受到3D打印技术的承诺的启发，这三者面临着许多可能的3D打印用户所面临的共同障碍：真正高质量的3D打印系统的高价和复杂性。
他们有能力对此做些事情，因此大约18个月前起源于Formlabs。他们也有一些认真的支持者，这引起了人们的关注。最值得注意的是Mitch Kapor，MIT媒体实验室主任Joi Ito和Google主席Eric Schmidt。
Another reason that Form 1 is raising expectations is because it utilizes the stereolithography (SL) process to achieve part resolution unheard of in the low-cost 3D printer market. The Form 1 3D printer forms layers as thin as 25 microns (.001 inches) with details as small as 300 microns (.012 inches) in a build volume of 125 x 125 x 165mm (4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 inches). Formlabs is actively promoting its new printer as a way of overcoming the limited low-end FDM machines, by allowing users to print parts with the complex geometries, high level detailing and accurate surface finish necessary for the 3D printing of parts for professional designers — essentially filling the gap in the market perceived by many. Elegant and simple in design, Formlabs is promoting the Form 1 as a 3D printer that packs a punch in terms of capability, particularly considering the price point.
表格1结合了专有表单软件，定制的树脂材料和表格完成后处理套件，这是对SL技术的3D打印的要求。根据formlabs的说法，这结合了市场，使市场具有完整，易于使用的专业3D打印解决方案，“与按下按钮一样容易”。
Form Software offers a simple, intuitive user experience, according to Formlabs, by streamlining the process of importing .STL models from any 3D CAD package, generating smart support structures for complex geometry and sending jobs to the printer with only a few clicks. Formlabs has developed highly optimised model manipulation algorithms and a support structure generation engine from the ground up, so users can quickly prepare and send print jobs to the Form 1.
在启动时，表格1配有一种材料产品 - 一种具有中性哑光灰色内部设计的树脂工程，非常适合外观模型，独立零件或作为绘画的基本色。随着时间的流逝，formlabs表示，它将开发和出售形式的整个材料的整个调色板。各种颜色，透明度，灵活性甚至耗尽蜡铸造过程都在范围内。
With any 3D printing process, there are key finishing steps to get the print ready for final purpose. Formlabs has designed the Form Finish kit — a finishing tray and accessories package — to equip users with easy part finishing tools, while keeping their workspaces clean and organised.
但是，像之前的其他人一样，FormLabs正在转向众筹平台Kickstarter，以资助表格1的全部生产，并正在预售出完整的打印机，软件和配件包装，以折扣价为2,299美元，以便首先订购的人。
