Formlabs Alpha Fast Resin (Form Studio 1) 1 Litre
What is Formlabs Alpha Fast Resin?
Formlabs Alpha Fast Resin is the high-speed photopolymer in the Alpha material family, engineered specifically for the Form Studio 1 3D printer. Formulated to maximise throughput without sacrificing part reliability, Alpha Fast Resin produces functional components in a fraction of standard print times at a low purchase price.
Designed for rapid concept evaluation, manufacturing aids, jigs, and fixtures, this resin achieves print speeds up to 90 mm/h at 150 µm and up to 130 mm/h at 250 µm layer settings, turning multi-hour builds into sub-two-hour turnarounds. Despite its blazing speed, Alpha Fast Resin maintains engineering-grade mechanical properties, exceeding the toughness of typical ABS filaments. When printed inside the Form Studio 1 equipped with the Formlabs VOC Extractor, Alpha Resins are independently certified for UL GREENGUARD Gold, setting a high standard for indoor air quality and workplace safety.
Key Features at a Glance
- Industry-Leading Print Speed: Speeds up to 90 mm/h at 150 µm and reaching up to 130 mm/h at 250 µm layer height.
- Rapid Same-Day Turnarounds: Most standard parts print in under two hours, unlocking multiple design iterations in a single workday.
- ABS-Grade Toughness: Delivers 46 MPa ultimate tensile strength and 34% elongation at break for rugged snap-fits, jigs, and fixtures.
- UL GREENGUARD Gold Certified: Independently certified for low chemical emissions when printed on Form Studio 1 with the VOC Extractor.
- Low-Odor, Skin-Safe Formulation: ACMO-free chemistry; post-cured parts satisfy ISO 10993 requirements for long-term (>30 day) skin contact.
- Broad Solvent Cleaning: Fully compatible with Formlabs Resin Washing Solution, Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), and TPM.
Why Choose Alpha Fast Resin for Your Studio?
Accelerate product development cycles, reduce downtime on the workshop floor, and produce functional shop-floor tooling on demand.
Unmatched Iteration Speed
Eliminate overnight printing queues. Speeds up to 130 mm/h allow engineering teams to test, modify, and re-print prototypes in hours rather than days.
Rugged Functional Tooling
High elongation and tensile strength ensure rapid-printed assembly jigs, drill guides, and workshop fixtures withstand physical factory handling.
Certified Workspace Air Safety
ACMO-free and low-odor, Alpha Fast meets stringent UL GREENGUARD Gold criteria for continuous indoor printing in offices, schools, and design labs.
Exceptional Cost Efficiency
Priced significantly lower than legacy SLA resins, making high-volume draft prints and sacrificial manufacturing aids economical to produce.
How It Works: Technology, Settings & Comparison
Alpha Fast Resin is tailored to work in harmony with the Form Studio 1's Low Force Display (LFD) light engine. By pairing rapid photopolymer polymerisation kinetics with the specialised release film in the Form Studio 1 Resin Tank, the system separates cured layers quickly without inducing stress on parts or requiring an active mechanical mixer arm.
Choosing the Right Alpha Resin: Fast vs. Grey vs. Model
The Formlabs Alpha Resin family offers three distinct resin choices depending on whether your priority is maximum speed, balanced aesthetics, or high-definition feature detail:
| Material | Key Characteristic | Primary Layer Height | Print Speed | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Fast Resin | Fastest printing | 150 µm (250 µm available) | 90 mm/h (up to 130 mm/h at 250 µm) | Rapid prototyping, jigs, and fixtures |
| Alpha Grey Resin | Balance of speed and aesthetics | 100 µm (50 µm available) | 40 mm/h | Concept models, form and fit prototyping, jigs, and fixtures |
| Alpha Model Resin | Best fine features and matte finish | 50 µm (30 µm available) | 15 mm/h | Scale models, figurines, sculptures, and busts |
Validated PreForm Settings
Alpha Fast Resin comes with fully validated PreForm print profiles for 150 micron and 250 micron layer heights, allowing you to choose between smooth rapid prototypes and maximum-throughput draft speeds.
What is UL GREENGUARD Gold and Why Does It Matter?
UL GREENGUARD Gold is an internationally accredited standard for low chemical and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Unlike baseline consumer standards, the Gold standard features stringent limits to ensure materials are safe for continuous operation in sensitive environments like schools, labs, and modern shared offices.
When printed on the Form Studio 1 using the VOC Extractor, Alpha Resins are the first and only 3D printing materials to achieve UL GREENGUARD Gold certification.
Note: UL GREENGUARD Gold certification applies specifically to Alpha Resins printed on the Form Studio 1 with an active VOC Extractor.
Standard 4-Step Print Workflow:
- Prepare: Import your CAD model into PreForm, select Alpha Fast Resin, and choose 150 µm or 250 µm layer height with automated support generation.
- Print: Insert the 1 L cartridge into the Form Studio 1. The printer automatically handles resin dispensing hands-free.
- Wash: Transfer parts to the Form Studio Wash+Cure basin. Run a standard 5-minute wash cycle using Resin Washing Solution, IPA, or TPM, then elevate the basket to let parts air dry.
- Cure: Place dry parts on the rotating glass turntable in the Form Studio Wash+Cure and run the 5-minute UV cycle to complete polymerisation and produce a tack-free, durable finish.
Technical Specifications
| Material Family | Formlabs Alpha Resin |
|---|---|
| Material Variant | Alpha Fast Resin |
| Cartridge Volume | 1 Litre (1 L) |
| Primary Print Speeds | 90 mm/h (at 150 µm), up to 130 mm/h (at 250 µm) |
| PreForm Layer Settings | 150 micron, 250 micron |
| Recommended Applications | Rapid prototyping, quick concept models, manufacturing jigs, and fixtures |
| Hardware Compatibility | Formlabs Form Studio 1 exclusively (Not compatible with Form 4 / Form 4L) |
| Resin Tank Compatibility | Form Studio 1 Resin Tank (Standard) & Form Studio 1 Resin Tank Pro |
| Build Platform Compatibility | Form Studio 1 Build Platform & Build Platform Flex |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 46 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 34% |
| Environmental Certification | UL GREENGUARD Gold Certified (printed on Form Studio 1 with VOC Extractor) |
| Skin Safety Compliance | ISO 10993 compliant for long-term (>30 day) skin contact when post-processed |
| Chemical Formulation Safety | ACMO-free, low odor, non-irritating post-cured state |
| Solvent Washing Compatibility | Resin Washing Solution, Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), TPM |
| Post-Processing Presets | Form Studio Wash+Cure: 5 min wash / 5 min cure (ambient 405 nm) |
Why Buy from Thinglab?
At Thinglab, we are more than just a 3D printing reseller—we are additive manufacturing engineers, material specialists, and technical problem solvers. When you purchase Formlabs resins and equipment through Thinglab, you gain a dedicated technical partner committed to keeping your rapid production running smoothly.
- Deep Material Expertise: Our application engineers understand material characteristics, mechanical strengths, and optimal post-processing setups for every design requirement.
- Authentic Formlabs Consumables: We supply 100% genuine factory resins, tanks, and accessories backed by manufacturer guarantees.
- Local Stock & Rapid Dispatch: Fast, local order fulfillment ensures your workshop maintains continuous productivity without downtime.
- End-to-End Workflow Guidance: From CAD slicing and printer calibration to washing, curing, and studio air safety, we support your entire additive ecosystem.
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