Formlabs Enters the Service Bureau Business — Form Now Delivers Industrial Parts in 2 Days From $20

Formlabs has made a significant strategic pivot by launching Form Now, an on-demand 3D printing service that delivers industrial-grade stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) parts directly to customers across the United States.

A New Era of Accessible Professional 3D Printing

The service, accessible at now.formlabs.com, allows users to upload STL or OBJ files, select from a range of materials and finishes, and receive finished parts in as little as two days. With pricing starting at approximately $20 per part, Formlabs is dramatically lowering the barrier to entry for professional-grade additive manufacturing.

Accessing industrial-grade 3D printing has traditionally required significant capital outlay on hardware, materials, and trained operators, Formlabs noted in their announcement. Form Now eliminates these barriers by giving users direct access to our industrial SLA and SLS systems without requiring them to own the equipment.

Whats Available

The material catalogue spans over 15 options across SLA and SLS technologies:

• SLA Resins: Standard resins in seven new color options, including Grey, Black, White, and Clear V5 (all rated at 65 MPa tensile strength), plus engineering-grade options like Rigid 10K (glass-filled, 10 GPa flexural modulus, 218C heat deflection) and Elastic 50A (silicone-like elastomer with 160% elongation at break)
• SLS Powders: Nylon 11, Nylon 12, glass-filled Nylon 12 GF, and TPU 90A (136% elongation, 51 kN/m tear strength)

Maximum part dimensions are 35.3 x 19.6 x 35.0 cm, and the platform supports bulk file uploads for multiple components in a single order. According to Formlabs, 90% of orders are delivered within five days, with expedited delivery available for customers in the northeastern United States.

Strategic Implications

This move represents a significant competitive shift. While Formlabs has historically focused on selling desktop and industrial 3D printers, they're now competing directly with established service bureaus like Shapeways, Sculpteo, and ProtoLabs.

The timing is notable Formlabs is entering the service market at a time when on-demand 3D printing services are gaining traction across the additive manufacturing sector. For startups, engineers, and product designers, the model reduces barrier to entry by eliminating capital expenditure on machines, maintenance, and trained operators.

For existing service bureau partners of Formlabs, this could create tension the company is now both a hardware supplier and a competing service provider. However, Formlabs appears to be positioning Form Now as a complement to their existing ecosystem rather than a replacement.

The service currently supports US shipping only, though Formlabs has indicated plans to expand to other regions.