You can now find the softest material for 3D printing, Formlabs’ Elastic Resin, and the most pliable of their library of Engineering Resins available to purchase through national commercial reseller EAC Product Development Solutions.

Request a free sample part to see how soft and silicone-like the Elastic Resin feels.

Elastic Resin

The Elastic Engineering Resin has a 50A Shore durometer material suitable for prototyping parts normally produced with silicone. This soft stereolithography (SLA) resin is highly elastic, yet strong enough that it doesn’t tear during the print job. Usually, these types of flexible prototypes have to be produced with mold making, but the Form 2 makes it possible to produce these models in a matter of hours in-house.

You can use Elastic Resin for parts that will bend, stretch, compress, and hold up to repeated cycles without tearing. Typical key applications for soft silicone and urethane parts include wearables and consumer goods prototyping; medical visual simulation and devices; compliant features for robotics; and special effects props and models.

This new resin is a long-lasting, tear-resistant, and made of resilient material that can withstand repeated use. It should be noted that soft 3D printing materials, in general, require denser support structures and attention to specific design guidelines before you print.

Real-use applications in various industries

Medical Industry: The Elastic Resin is translucent – a color ideal for medical visual applications and device prototyping. Anatomical simulation models, artery and vessel models, prototyping silicone parts.

“Elastic Resin’s opacity illuminates internal cavities well and its durability means that educators, trainees, and clinicians can handle and examine models without the worry of breakage. This material will be of particular interest to cardiovascular surgeons and interventional radiologists, as well as those conducting fluid dynamics studies and working in catheterization labs. It is relatively cost-effective when compared with other similar materials on the market, which can only help accelerate the adoption of 3D printing in medicine.” -Sanjay Prabhu, MBBS, FRCR; Pediatric Neuroradiologist and Clinical Director, SIMPeds3D, Boston Children’s Hospital

Engineering and Product Design: For those that are using Flexible Resin already, the Elastic Resin is a softer option for consumer product development. Prototyping silicone parts and seals, soft pads, grips, and ergonomic features, as well as sports eyewear.

Comparing the Elastic Resin to the Flexible V2 Resin for engineering and product design applications:

Print resolutions: 100 microns only. Post-curing required. LT Tank Required. Good elongation (160%) and tear strength (19.1 kN/m). Wash time: 20 minutes. Cure time: 20 minutes at 60 °C.

Price: $199/L

Learn more about the Form 2 on our website. Or contact us about ordering the Elastic Resin.