Formlabs’ redesigned 3D printer gets us one step closer to the Enterprise Replicator

The Form 4 is modular, more precise, and five times faster than the previous generation

The dream of Star Trek’s Enterprise replicator—or at least my dream of printing my own Lego pieces—is a tiny bit closer to reality thanks to the Form 4, the latest version of Formlabs’ popular compact 3D printer. The Form 4, which starts at $4,500 and is available today, promises to print objects up to five times faster than the previous generation (depending on the material). And perhaps more importantly, the company claims that the Form 4-printed parts’ quality is “indistinguishable from injection molding.” This speed and quality combo pushes us close to the holy grail of 3D printing: the ability to produce high quality objects without ever leaving your desk.