Magna International Enhances Prototyping with Form 3L Large‑Format 3D Printer

Magna International is a global leader in automotive solutions, employing 157,000 people across 344 manufacturing sites and 93 R&D centers in 27 countries.

Robert Esser and Mitchell Wesley, both from the advanced product development team in the mirrors division, explained how the company leverages 3D printing and why they recently added a Form 3L printer to their fleet.

From the Form 3 to the Form 3L

While the original Form 3 has served a wide range of prototyping needs, some parts simply exceeded its build volume. The Form 3L offers a build platform five times larger, enabling the creation of larger, complex components without compromising the precision of the original SLA system.

Crucially, the Form 3L supports the same family of engineering resins—including glass‑filled Rigid 10K Resin—so designers can maintain material consistency across projects. "Sometimes we have four parts in the queue, each requiring a different resin, and now we can print them simultaneously on the Form 3 and Form 3L," Esser noted.

Integrating the Form 3L was seamless. The printer shares the familiar PreForm workflow and retains the same robust build chemistry. Mitchell highlighted the machine’s industrial‑grade packaging and sleek LED‑lit enclosure, which "makes a great first impression when visitors tour our 3D printing lab."

Beyond size, the Form 3L delivers the same surface finish quality as the Form 3, allowing teams to paint and finish prototypes for a realistic look‑and‑feel. Esser emphasized the cost advantage of SLA resins and the ease of resin swapping, "which has been a game‑changer compared to previous 3D printers."

Learn More About the Form 3L

From large mirror housings to robust instrument panels, the Form 3L enables Magna to prototype with precision and speed. Interested in exploring the technology? Request a sample part in one of the resins Magna uses, such as Tough 2000 Resin or Rigid 10K Resin, and see the Form 3L’s capabilities firsthand.

Tough 2000 Resin: Ideal for strong, non‑flexible prototypes.

Rigid 10K Resin: The stiffest engineering resin, perfect for load‑bearing parts.

Form 3L Sample: View a vacuum‑nozzle model printed in Grey Resin to showcase the printer’s potential.