{"id":164240,"date":"2022-01-08T11:16:11","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T03:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164240"},"modified":"2022-09-09T15:51:30","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T07:51:30","slug":"flexible-resin-for-3d-printing-best-brands-of-2021","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/flexible-resin-for-3d-printing-best-brands-of-2021","title":{"rendered":"Flexible Resin for 3D Printing: Best Brands of 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flexible resin has a number of interesting uses and properties. Check out the best brands of flexible resin for 3D printing!<\/p>\n

What Is It?<\/h3>\n
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You can make intriguing objects with flexible resin (Source: BrFrancis via Reddit)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Flexible\u00a0resin\u00a0is a type of UV-cured 3D printing resin that mimics the properties of rubber. It stands out for creating firm but flexible parts, and how stiff or flexible these parts are depends on the\u00a0Shore hardness<\/a>\u00a0of the resin when cured. Most 3D printing flexible resins have a Shore hardness of around 80A, meaning they are similar to a rubber shoe heel.<\/p>\n

Flexible resins tend to be transparent in appearance, making them a blank canvas to which you can add\u00a0dye or pigment<\/a>\u00a0to create a color of your choice. Alternatively, you can add some flexible resin in with your usual resins to improve the\u00a0tensile strength<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Always be aware that some flexible resin brands have different variants depending on your\u00a0type of printer<\/a>. Whether your printer is using\u00a0SLA<\/a>,\u00a0DLP, or LCD<\/a>\u00a0technology, be sure to check that your resin of choice is compatible with your machine.<\/p>\n

Printing Tips<\/h3>\n
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It’s best to print objects such as watchbands in their final form (Source: Formlabs)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Printing flexible resin does pose some challenges that you don\u2019t encounter using other resins. Implementing a few tricks in the design and printing process will help to get the best quality part.<\/p>\n

When printing flexible parts, it\u2019s important that they are in their final form. For example, if you were printing a watchband, the model should be designed in the shape of a watchband around someone\u2019s wrist, not flat. The reason for this is that, similar to harder types of rubber, the resin will always try to revert back to its original shape; it won\u2019t form as well if you try to bend it into the desired shape after curing.<\/p>\n

Print settings largely depend on the brand you\u2019re using, but compared to other resins, you\u2019ll probably want to increase the layer deposit and cure time for flexible resin. And to remove flexible parts from the build platform, insert a scraper under one edge and slowly peel the print off from the build platform\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

Formlabs<\/span><\/h3>\n
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I shall call them squishy and they shall be mine! (Source: Formlabs)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Formlabs Flexible 80A<\/span>\u00a0simulates\u00a0TPU or TPE<\/a>\u00a0with a Shore hardness of 30D. It\u2019s best suited to functional objects like seals and gaskets or personal products like a watchband. If you need something even more flexible, their Elastic 50A resin produces results comparable with silicon.<\/p>\n

As you would expect, these resins are intended to be used with Formlabs machines. This accounts for the higher-than-average price, as they\u2019re high-quality resins.<\/p>\n