ALL NEW - Formlabs Form 4 - Can it Pay for Itself?

In today's video I walk through my thoughts on the all new Formlabs Form 4 and decide if it makes sense to purchase for my business.
Website: finelaserdesigns.com/
Etsy (International): finelaserdesigns.etsy.com

[@barry-d1066]

Couple questions, at 4:34 you have 2 sets of parts per build plate. The new form 4 has a ~17% larger build plate, could you fit 3 sets of parts on it, or at least have more room to vary part locations and avoid wear? Secondly, I see you focus mostly on engineering resins, with the new v5 resins like black and white having improved mechanical properties do you think you might see demand for these in the future?

[@kevin_fine]

Very good points indeed! Fitting extra parts on a build plate would certain mean even lower costs. Regarding new resins: I am likely going to explore them but as I need parts that bend, flex, and can take big impacts I don’t see myself using them too soon.

[@barry-d1066]

@@kevin_fine if you calculate those build costs with the larger plate I’d be curious to see how it changes things, definitely interesting numbers. As far as the materials go it seems like notched izod is the most applicable test for your application with impact and flex, the new standard materials aren’t up there with tough 2k or 1500 but they are for sure going in the right direction.

[@corksauve4949]

Are you using the LT tanks in your form 2?

[@kevin_fine]

Yes I am

[@corksauve4949]

@@kevin_fine Your printers must run non stop. lol. I've have a LT tank that's still running strong for over a year.

[@kevin_fine]

@@corksauve4949 haha I use anywhere from 10-20 liters a month. Just depends on volume and new product launches and how in demand they are.

[@corksauve4949]

@@kevin_fine I'll never get to that volume. And my form 2 is dying a slow death. Especially since formlabs no longer supports it. And don't have replacement parts.

[@kevin_fine]

@@corksauve4949 I will say Formlabs support has literally pulled parts off their old printers to send me to repair mine. No guarantee on them, but it’s keep mine running!