Formlabs Releases a Range of Performance 3D Printing Resins

As desktop 3D printing becomes increasingly adopted for professional use, it has become necessary to develop materials that meet the needs of pro users. On the filament front, there are numerous manufacturers producing engineering-grade thermoplastics for desktop extrusion, but, when it comes to desktop stereolithography (SLA) and other photopolymerization 3D printing technologies, there isn’t quite the broad range of functional materials.

Formlabs’ line of engineering-grade 3D printing resins. (Image courtesy of Formlabs.)

Formlabs, the maker of the Form 2 3D printer, has done its part to expand its own line of 3D printing resins, steadily releasing new photopolymers for such applications as dentistry and casting. Now, the company has announced a new range of functional materials meant for engineering applications.

Formlabs’ High Temp resin is designed for heat resistance. With a heat deflection temperature of 0.45 MPa of 289 °C, this may be the highest heat deflection temperature (HDT) on the 3D printing materials market. It can be used for such applications as prototyping injection molding tools, testing the flow of hot air or fluid in a part and creating components for casting and thermoforming.

Formlabs’ new High Temp resin has possibly the highest HDT on the market. (Image courtesy of Formlabs.)

The firm’s new Durable Resin is engineered for high wear resistance, resulting in parts that can bend without breaking. The stiffness and high-impact strength of the resin is similar to that of polypropylene and has smooth, glossy finish, making it suitable for prototyping products or packaging.

This 3D-printed ball joint demonstrates the durability of Formlabs’ Durable Resin. (Image courtesy of Formlabs.)

Formlabs also enhanced its Tough Resin formula so it can simulate the mechanical properties of injection-molded ABS. The material is meant to absorb high impact and perform well under stress or strain.

Formlabs’ Tough Resin is meant to be even tougher than before. (Image courtesy of Formlabs.)

Dávid Lakatos, chief product officer at Formlabs, said of the new product release, “With today’s expanded suite of materials, Formlabs is introducing the most comprehensive library of high-performance functional resins for engineering applications on the desktop 3D printing market, and making accessible industrial-grade 3D printing engineering materials at a fraction of the cost. We want to equip and enable our users with an even bigger and more powerful toolbox of high-performance resins so that they can achieve reliable, precise prints and can pursue even more remarkable endeavors in engineering, design, and manufacturing.”

As 3D printing materials improve and become more accessible, it may become possible for desktop 3D printers such as the Form 2 to be increasingly used for the production of end products. This new range of resins from Formlabs may just be the start of things to come. To learn more about them, head to the company’s website here.