The renowned manufacturer of 3D printing systems Formlabs introduces a new product family of synthetic resins: the Flexible and Elastic Resins. Formlabs has already made a name for itself as a developer of particularly powerful and accessible systems for 3D printing. The new resin materials for desktop 3D printing are soft and easy to process, making them ideal for prototyping consumer goods, special effects parts or special parts in robotics. By being able to produce these items themselves in their own production facilities within a few hours, companies now eliminate the risk of long waiting times or delays in the supply chain. In this way, costs can also be saved.
Adaptable like rubber: the Flexible 80A Resin
The Flexible 80A Resin is particularly suitable for handles, molds, seals, damping and anatomical shapes of tendons or cartilage. The already available Flexible Resin has been further developed to come close to the properties of rubber or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). As the hardest synthetic resin from the group of flexible and elastic resins, the Flexible 80A Resin has a shore durometer of 80A. It is therefore very flexible, but at the same time resistant.
Flexible and malleable like silicone: the Elastic 50A Resin
In contrast, Elastic 50A Resin is the softest of Formlabs’ resin materials. The 50A shore durometer makes it perfect for 3D printing parts that are otherwise made of silicone. The material is very resilient: it can be deformed, stretched or bent at will without being damaged. As a result, this material is predestined for the production of so-called wearables such as straps, compressible buttons and knobs, stretchable housings and anatomical models of soft tissue.All resins in the new family of materials can be used with Formlabs Form 2, Form 3, and Form 3B 3D printers. The customers’ wishes were specifically included in the development of the new materials. The synthetic resins are also suitable for industrial 3D desktop printers. Companies can benefit greatly from this, since they no longer have to wait long for costly industrial components.
Images: Formlabs
