Metal Casting Basics For applications where parts require fine features or complex geometries, casting remains a cost-effective and highly capable manufacturing process, producing critical components for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications. Metal casting dates back to at least 3200 B.C., progressing through many cycles of innovation to become the reliable, modernized process it is now. Today, industrial metal casting processes are used to make everything from knee implants to tractor parts. The basic process to create cast metal parts has a few steps common across different techniques: A manufacturer creates a pattern that represents the part, either as a removable [...]

This article will provide an overview of next generation of Formlabs 3D Printers – the new Form 3 and Form3L from Formlabs. The Form 2 took the 3D printing industry by storm, giving engineers access to industrial quality SLA in a desktop machine. Building on the success of this platform, the Form 3 brings even greater detail and speed for engineering teams. The Form 3 is powered by a new technology called Low Force Stereolithography. The process uses linear illumination and a flexible tank to turn liquid resins into flawless prints. It all starts with the new custom-designed light processing [...]

In the face of decades of shifting markets, endless new technologies, and unprecedented labor shortages, Ashley Furniture has only continued to grow. In 2005, they became the largest furniture manufacturer in the world, a title they still hold today. The company followed the arch most American businesses of its era dreamed of. Its first manufacturing facility opened in Arcadia, Wisconsin in 1970 with 35 employees, since blossoming into a global company with 900+ stores around the world. Ashley's factories produce more than 300,000 pieces of furniture a week, amounting to about 26 million a year. A careful look around Ashley’s [...]

The new Form 3 3D printer from Formlabs represents the next generation of industrial 3D Printing. With advanced Low Force Stereolithography (LFS)™ technology, Formlabs has completely re-engineered resin-based 3D printing to drastically reduce the forces of the print process. One of the benefits of Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) is that the flexible tank significantly reduces stress on the part during the peel process. This results in much clearer parts with improved surface finish as shown in these comparison photos of a Form 2 and Form 3 print. See for yourself by viewing the images below. Learn more about the Form [...]

Moldmaking with desktop 3D printing allows engineers and designers to get much more functionality from their 3D printer, beyond prototyping alone. Moldmaking opens a world of production materials and provides the ability to produce short-run batches and test mold designs prior to committing to expensive tooling. Download an educational White Paper from Formlabs to learn about mold making strategies including injection molding, thermoforming and casting elastomers. Just complete the form below and you will gain access to the White Paper.

Formlabs recently announced their latest material – Elastic Resin and this article will take a closer look at it. Soft silicone and urethane parts are typically produced through moldmaking. These materials must be both highly elastic and strong. 3D printing them was once only possible on expensive industrial machine, but with Elastic Resin, companies can now simulate molded silicone, making it possible to print soft, resilient prototypes right on the desktop. Elastic resin is Formlabs' most pliable material with a shore durometer of 50A and an Elongation of 160%. Due to its high elongation excellent tear strength, parts printed with [...]