On May 2nd, 2023, one of Proto3000’s partners, Formlabs, announced at RAPID + TCT the release of its first Flame Retardant Resin (FR Resin) for Form 3 series 3D printers, and its new Build Platform 2L with Quick Release Technology™ for the Form 3L and Form 3BL.
Flame Retardant Resin is a self-extinguishing, halogen-free material that performs well in environments with high temperatures or ignition sources, developed for transportation, aviation, manufacturing, electronics, and aerospace industries. Use this resin to produce parts that can handle additional post-fabrication operations such as tapping, trimming, and drilling. Parts can undergo optional post-processing steps such as painting or electroplating.
Applications:
- Interior parts in airplanes, automobiles, and railways
- Protective and internal consumer electronics components
- Custom jigs, fixtures, and replacement parts
- Flame Retardant Resin prints at 50 microns and 100 microns on the Form 3 series of printers and at 100 microns on the Form 3L series of printers.
With UL 94 V-0 certification and impressive flame, smoke, and toxicity (FST) ratings, this self-extinguishing and halogen-free material will help you easily create high-quality, durable parts. With FR Resin, you can now 3D print parts that are not only flame-retardant but also heat-resistant, stiff, and creep-resistant. These parts are designed to perform exceptionally well in both indoor and industrial environments with high temperatures or ignition sources.
Technical Specifications:
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 39 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 2.9 GPa |
| Elongation at Break | 9.4 % |
| IZOD Impact Strength | 22 J/m |
| Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) @ 1.8 MPa | 94 |
| Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) HDT @ 0.45 MPa (°C) | 71 |
“We are excited to deliver new options our users have been asking for, while expanding production possibilities for customers in new industries,” said Dávid Lakatos, Chief Product Officer at Formlabs. “With the Build Platform 2L, we are enabling Form 3L and 3BL users to print in ways they weren’t able to before, and with our first ever Flame Retardant Resin, we are opening up 3D printing to industries such as aviation and transportation that must adhere to product regulations and certifications for flame retardancy. Lastly, by enabling PreForm, our free file preparation software, to support 3MF files, we are making it easier than ever for users to turn their designs into physical products.”
The Build Platform 2L enables Form 3L/3BL users to more efficiently produce large parts with the same post-processing efficiency Form 3/B/+ users have enjoyed since the launch of the first Build Platform 2 last year. Build Platform 2L is Formlabs’ next-generation build platform for Form 3L and Form 3BL with patented Quick Release Technology™.
Finally, adding 3MF support to PreForm allows for smaller file sizes and the storage of multiple models in one file, among other benefits. All three new offerings open up even more possibilities for anyone to make anything with Formlabs 3D printers.