How the British Film Institute Uses 3D Printing to Preserve Film History

Hidden away in the BFI National Archive, a 3D printer works tirelessly and quietly to help save film history. Since it was acquired nearly three years ago, the Formlabs Form 3L has allowed the Archive Technology team to reproduce long-obsolete components that are essential for historic film and projection equipment. These include items such as film cores and intricate guides. Thanks to its large print volume, the Form 3L is particularly well suited for recreating the delicate parts of old film reels.

But print volume is not the only factor. Precision and surface quality are equally crucial for restoring antique film. The LFS (Low Force Stereolithography) technology from Formlabs makes this possible as well.

Some of the BFI’s applications: an antique, worn film reel and its 3D-printed replica (top); prototypes of a screw (bottom)

How the Restoration Works

The workflow begins with an EinScan Pro HD 3D scanner, which digitizes the existing parts. The model is then refined in SolidWorks and finally printed in resin. After printing, the parts go through careful post-processing with the Form Cure L to ensure stable mechanical properties. This step is especially important for components in old equipment that are exposed to mechanical stress or sensitive to temperature.