iLux Pro Dental vs SprintRay Pro 2 vs Form 4B vs Einstein
Choosing a dental 3D printer comes down to what you actually want to produce. SprintRay, Formlabs, and Desktop Health all make excellent, versatile dental printers built primarily for models and restorations. LuxCreo is built for something they are not cleared to do: printing clear aligners directly, without thermoforming. Here is how they compare.
Direct-print aligners
One of these four prints the aligner. The other three print the model.
The iLux Pro Dental is the first and only system with US FDA Class II clearance to print clear aligners directly. With the SprintRay Pro 2, Formlabs Form 4B, and Desktop Health Einstein, aligners are produced the traditional way: the printer makes a model of each treatment stage, and a plastic sheet is then thermoformed over that model and trimmed into an aligner.
Those three are model and restoration printers. The iLux Pro is a direct-print aligner system. That distinction drives everything below. Read the full FDA clearance story.
The four printers at a glance
iLux Pro Dental
LuxCreo
- TechnologyDLP (LEAP™ platform)
- Aligner ProductionDirect-print, no thermoforming (FDA Class II cleared)
- Aligner Capacity8–12 aligners per build
- Also PrintsModels, retainers, splints, surgical guides, EMA, flipper, and other restorative appliances
- Starting PriceComplete bundle from approximately $20,899
Pro 2
SprintRay
- TechnologySLA
- Aligner ProductionModels only; aligners require thermoforming
- BuildRoughly six full-arch models or splints per build; top speed requires the add-on Arch Kit
- Also PrintsWide range of dental models, guides, splints, restorations
- Starting PricePrinter from approximately $10,995; complete package near $20,000
Form 4B
Formlabs
- TechnologySLA
- Aligner ProductionModels only; aligners require thermoforming
- BuildRoughly eleven aligner models or eight splints per build
- Also PrintsBroad multi-indication dental library, open material platform
- Starting PriceFrom approximately $7,699; complete package approximately $12,006
Einstein
Desktop Health
- TechnologyDLP (and cDLM on the Pro)
- Aligner ProductionModels only; aligners require thermoforming
- StrengthHigh-accuracy models and Flexcera restorations — crowns, bridges, veneers, dentures
- Starting PriceEinstein from approximately $8,999; Pro XL near $35,000 to $40,000
Product specifications and pricing reflect publicly available manufacturer information and are approximate. Confirm current figures before publishing.
Match the printer to the work
LuxCreo iLux Pro
Choose it if your priority is clear aligners and you want to produce them same-day, in-house, without thermoforming. It is the only FDA-cleared option for direct-print aligners and is purpose-built for high-volume aligner production while still handling models, splints, and guides.
With support for 12+ applications ranging from aligners and retainers to nightguards and flexible partial dentures, you aren't just buying an aligner printer — you're buying an ecosystem that lets clinics and labs expand their treatment services. Explore the 4D Aligner™. Curious what switching actually involves? See what changes day one.
Formlabs Form 4B
Choose it if you want a low entry cost and a versatile, open-material model and restoration printer, and you are comfortable thermoforming aligners from printed models.
SprintRay Pro 2
Choose it if you want a dental-focused SLA model printer with a broad workflow ecosystem, again paired with thermoforming for aligners.
Desktop Health Einstein
Choose it if your emphasis is on high-accuracy models and strong permanent restorations using Flexcera, with thermoforming for any aligner work.
Only one removes the bottleneck
All four are capable machines, but only one removes the aligner production bottleneck. If aligners are central to your practice, the iLux Pro is the only system here that prints them directly and same-day. If your focus is on models, guides, and restorations, the SprintRay, Formlabs, and Desktop Health printers are all strong choices.
Still deciding?
SprintRay® and Pro 2 are trademarks of SprintRay Inc. Formlabs® and Form 4B are trademarks of Formlabs Inc. Desktop Health™, Einstein™, and Flexcera™ are trademarks of Desktop Metal, Inc. LuxCreo is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies. All product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here for identification and comparison only. Specifications and pricing are based on publicly available manufacturer information and are subject to change.