Formlabs, a 3D printer manufacturer, has introduced new materials and tools aimed at improving the production of durable, functional parts through stereolithography (SLA) printing. The updates include two new resins in the Tough Resin Family, a faster large-format curing unit, and enhancements to its PreForm software to streamline workflows.
New Tough Resin Family Targets Durable End-Use Parts
Formlabs has announced two new SLA materials: Tough 1000 Resin and an updated Tough 2000 Resin. These join the previously released Tough 1500 Resin, forming the Tough Resin Family. The materials are designed for applications that require durability, repeated wear resistance, and impact tolerance, while producing a dark, matte finish with detailed surface quality when printed on Formlabs’ Form 4 Series printers.
“Formlabs’ goal has always been to deliver any part at the push of a button,” said Max Lobovsky, co-founder and CEO of Formlabs. “But that mission depends on more than just speed and ease. We need parts that are as tough and resilient as the products we rely on every day. With the new Tough Resin Family, SLA printing now delivers the strength and durability of the world’s most trusted thermoplastics.”
Each resin corresponds to a specific tensile modulus. Tough 1000 Resin is intended to provide high ductility, similar to HDPE; Tough 1500 Resin offers a balance of stiffness and flexibility, comparable to polypropylene; and Tough 2000 Resin emphasizes strength and rigidity, similar to ABS.
Early users have reported that the new materials perform reliably under testing conditions. Adam Warren, Draftsman and Mechanical Designer at Cool Machines, said: “The end-use products that we are offering, they need to be able to withstand our torture testing at freezing temperatures. These parts need to be able to take abuse, and Tough 1000 holds up.”
Faster Post-Processing and Software Enhancements
Formlabs has also released Form Cure L V2, a large-format curing unit compatible with SLA printers, including the Form 4L. According to the company, the unit post-cures most parts in under 60 seconds, providing a shorter and more compact post-processing workflow.
Agostino Lobello, Product Development Engineer at Radio Flyer, said: “We were shocked by how fast the cure times were across all materials, even the engineering resins, which allowed us to work faster and get finished parts to our engineers in less time.”
In addition, Formlabs has updated its PreForm software to version 3.54, introducing features intended to improve workflows for both Form Series and Fuse Series printers.Updates include new Supports V2, measuring tools, improved CAD assembly import, optimized build packing, and UX and navigation enhancements.These changes aim to let users focus on design and problem-solving rather than managing supports, imports, or packing.
SLA Innovation Across the Industry
Besides Formlabs, other companies are also advancing SLA technology, focusing on speed, resolution, and end-use part production. UnionTech is preparing to launch two new SLA systems at Formnext 2025 — the RSPro800 X and RA900 — reinforcing its position as a full-solution provider for industries including automotive prototyping, investment casting, and tyre-mould manufacturing. Harry Wang, Executive Vice President of UnionTech, said: “The RSPro800X and RA900 printers reflect UnionTech’s spirit of Innovation, Precision, and Bold Advancement… With unmatched speed, accuracy, and reliability, our technology empowers our global customers to achieve more, faster.”
Axtra3D is also pushing the boundaries of resin SLA printing with its Hi-Speed SLA technology in the Lumia X1 printer. Combining innovations like Hybrid PhotoSynthesis, TruLayer Separation, and TruLayer Adaption, the system delivers printing speeds up to 20 times faster than conventional resin printers while maintaining high resolution, large build volumes, and polished surface finishes. Axtra3D’s broad materials ecosystem and flexible business models enable applications from rapid tooling and low-volume production to high-precision dental and electronic parts.
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Featured image shows Tough 2000. Photo via Formlabs
