Color Base Cartridge for the Form 2/Form 3 Color Kit

The Color Base resin is part of the resin color mixing solution developed by the renowned FormLabs. The FormLabs Color Kit allows the user to conveniently mix the Color Base resin as a foundation with any chosen pigment from the color kit in order to create numerous customized colors, without the need for time consuming post processing such as dyeing or painting the 3D printed part.

Image 1: Parts 3D printed using the FormLabs color kit. Source: FormLabs.

The capacity of each Color Base cartridge is 1000 ml. The actual amount of the base resin inside is 800 ml and to that 100 ml of a color mix are added, resulting in a total of 900 ml of color resin, leaving 100 ml to allow the resin to be mixed thoroughly in the cartridge. Each color recipe always results in 100 ml of final mix, so no more resin should be ever added into the cartridge as it may negatively affect the printing process and the final result.

The process of creating custom resins with the FormLabs color kit is very simple. First the adequate quantities of the desired pigments from the color kit are measured out with a syringe, then added inside the Color Base cartridge, and then well mixed by shaking the cartridge for about 4 minutes.

Image 2: Preparing a custom color from the pigments and the Color Base resin. Source: FormLabs.

At this point the Color Base cartridge, now containing a custom made color resin, is ready to be inserted into the 3D printer and used. The Color Base cartridge is compatible with the Form 2, Form 3/+, Form 3B/+, Form 3L and Form 3BL 3D printers, the Form 2 STD, Form 2 LT, Form 3 and Form 3L resin tanks.

Video 1: Mixing various pigments into the Color Base to obtain various colors. Source: FormLabs.

The base resin is a high resolution resin, with a perfectly smooth surface finish, strength and precision. It can be used in the most demanding applications such as rapid prototyping and product development. These qualities of the FormLabs base resin and the almost unlimited color possibilities it gives in combination with the FormLabs pigments makes it a versatile tool for obtaining high quality resistant models and prototypes with the look of a final product.