09-26-2012: the Kickstarter campaign for hashtag FORM 1 - the first desktop SLA 3D printer, was launched

It marked the official market debut of Formlabs – today one of the largest companies in the AM industry worldwide

On September 26, 2012, Formlabs – a young Boston-based startup – launched a Kickstarter campaign for its debut 3D printer, the FORM 1. It was the first desktop-class SLA 3D printer and one of the first low-cost 3D printers using photopolymer resin. The campaign ended with spectacular success, raising $2,945,885 from 2,068 backers.

For many years, it was one of the highest achievements in Kickstarter history. The campaign formally launched Formlabs' career, and despite many initial challenges, the company gained a dominant position in the AM market, becoming a leader in SLA and SLS 3D printer deliveries.

Formlabs was founded in September 2011 by three MIT graduates – Maxim Lobovsky, David Cranor, and Natan Linder. From the beginning, the company focused on developing accessible and precise 3D printers based on stereolithography (SLA) technology, which had previously been reserved mainly for expensive, industrial-grade machines (3D Systems, EnvisionTEC). At that time, consumer 3D printers exclusively used FDM technology, which didn’t offer the level of precision that Formlabs was aiming for.

Formlabs gained attention in 2012 with one of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter for FORM 1 SLA 3D printer. The initial goal was $100,000, but the company quickly exceeded this threshold, raising over $2.9 million.

FORM 1 was an SLA printer that offered much higher resolution and precision compared to the popular FDM printers of the time, and its price was significantly lower than industrial SLA models. Unfortunately, in November 2012, 3D Systems, the inventor of SLA technology, sued Formlabs for alleged patent infringement related to stereolithography technology. This case was eventually resolved in 2014 with a settlement, but it was a significant test for the young company.

In 2014, Formlabs introduced the Form 1+, an improved version of its first printer. During this period, Formlabs also began expanding its portfolio of 3D printing materials. Today, the company is one of the leaders in this field, specializing in medical and dental resins.

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that exactly two years later, on September 26, 2014, hashtag Netflix premiered the acclaimed documentary "Print the Legend," in which the story of Formlabs was one of the key narratives, with Max Lobovsky as one of the main characters.

Source: www.kickstarter.com