Jan. 04, 2023

Formlabs Introduces Automation Ecosystem to Reduce Labor Time and Cost per Part for Dental Labs

Form Auto, Fleet Control Software, and High Volume Resin System increase 3D printing output, reducing cost per part without adding operational complexity.

Somerville, MA, Jan. 04, 2023 – Today, leading 3D printing company Formlabs Dental introduces the Automation Ecosystem to enable new levels of 3D printing productivity in dentistry with Form Auto for automatic part removal, Fleet Control for full fleet management, and High Volume Resin System for continuous printing capacity. The Automation Ecosystem reduces the amount of operator labor and minimizes idle printer time with 24/7 printing so dental labs and orthodontic users can efficiently produce dental models, crowns, surgical guides, and more at a lower cost-per-part. 

Formlabs pioneered affordable and accessible 3D printing, enabling the adoption of digital dentistry and 3D printing. To date, Formlabs users have printed more than 25 million dental parts ranging from models to surgical guides, and the Automation Ecosystem will usher in a new shift to digital dentistry by enabling expansion from one Form 3B+ 3D printer to a scalable fleet of dental 3D printers. The Automation Ecosystem provides a three-time increase in productivity while saving up to 80% on labor, lowering cost per part by 40%, and reducing packaging waste by up to 96%, making personalized dental models, crowns, and other devices more accessible and affordable. 

As dental users scale their 3D printing production from one to multiple printers, the Automation Ecosystem makes the transition seamless. With the ability to manage multi-user, and multi-material printer fleets, the Automation Ecosystem enables continuous production so dental labs, clinics, and other facilities can set prints to run even overnight and into the weekend. The Formlabs Automation Ecosystem includes:

  • Form Auto: Form Auto enables automated 24/7 printing with automatic part removal so dental labs and orthodontic users can level up production while reducing labor. When parts are complete, Form Auto seamlessly removes finished parts from Build Platform 2 using the patented Quick Release Technology, and starts the next print. Users can add prints to the queue from anywhere, and Form Auto will complete the back-to-back queue as soon as possible. The hardware extension works with Form 3 or Form 3+ 3D printers. 

  • Fleet Control: Fleet Control simplifies advanced 3D printer fleet management, optimizing workflows to maximize fleet productivity. It’s a suite of new features within Formlabs’ Dashboard and PreForm software that includes centralized queue management and automatic printer assignment to optimize production, performance and printer efficiency with Form 3B+, and Form 3BL printer fleets.

  • High Volume Resin System: The High Volume Resin System increases resin capacity to five liters, five times the standard cartridge size, enabling dental users to create more parts with fewer interruptions for cartridge replacements. This system streamlines workflows, with faster and more consistent resin dispensing while reducing downtime and user intervention to change cartridges, as well as packaging waste. 

Formlabs President of Healthcare Guillaume Bailliard said: “Formlabs is committed to supporting growth in digital dentistry by making 3D printing solutions that are affordable, accessible, and easy to use for the dental industry. With the Automation Ecosystem, we’re delivering a seamless solution for ramping up production with 3D printer fleets so dental users can increase 3D printing of customized models and devices without increasing labor. This makes personalized care more affordable for both providers and patients, and we expect the ease and benefits of autonomous 3D printer fleets to further advance digital dentistry.”

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About Formlabs Dental

Formlabs is expanding access to digital fabrication, so anyone can make anything. The leading 3D printing company introduced its new dental business unit in November 2019 to uniquely meet the needs of dental labs and practices of all sizes. Formlabs Dental is made up of a team of dental professionals dedicated to providing the best 3D printing solutions in the industry. Formlabs has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients, having printed 13 million dental parts on the Form 2, and expanding this impact even further with the recent additions of its dental-focused hardware devices, the Form 3B and Form 3BL. In addition to its hardware products, Formlabs has over 50 materials scientists and a robust offering of dental materials that are available to be used on the Form 3B and Form 3BL printer.

Formlabs Media Contact

Laura Shubel
BIGfish Communications for Formlabs
[email protected]
617.713.3800