Formlabs Form Studio 1 Review Argues Consumer 3D Printing Takes Up More Space Than Expected

In a recent article for Wired, a reviewer argues that consumer 3D printing takes up considerably more space than expected, despite manufacturer assurances about the equipment’s compact footprint. The evaluation centers on the newly announced Form Studio 1, marking the first consumer-oriented device from major 3D printer producer Formlabs, which currently has nearly 200,000 printers in service primarily serving professional businesses such as assembly shops and dentists.

Pricing and Technical Specifications

Formlabs has priced the new consumer-focused device at $699, and it is now on sale. The machine prints using SLA (stereolithography) resins, which are a common 3D printing material that hardens into solid plastic when exposed to ultraviolet light. Users can operate the device using either Formlabs-branded products or third-party resins, with individual resin bottles starting at $29. Prior to this release, the company’s customers were typically professional businesses able to shell out $2,500 or more for a printer, with its previous most affordable printer priced at $2,300.

The Reality of Space Requirements

David Lakatos, chief product officer at the 3D printer manufacturer, assured the reviewer that the hardware has a very economical size, stating, It doesn’t take a lot of space, and adding, If you have a desk, then I think you should be good to go. However, the review contends that the reality of setting up the system involves a much larger physical footprint. The Studio 1 takes up roughly the same space as a minifridge.

Furthermore, operators will likely need a separate wash unit sold for $199, which features a similar footprint and is used to remove uncured liquid resin from the surface of printed models. Additional room must also be made for all the accompanying tools and resin cartridges. The practical extent of these spatial demands became apparent when Formlabs sent more than a dozen boxes to the Wired office for testing, resulting in fourteen boxes piled around the desk like a cardboard fort.