Formlabs recently launched Tough 2000 Resin, the latest addition to our family of Tough and Durable Resins. Tough 2000 Resin is the result of years of testing and reformulating our popular Tough Resin material. Now with a new color and improved mechanical properties, we’re excited for engineers to start building with a better, stronger, and tougher plastic.
During our announcement webinar, Formlabs Product Marketing Manager Matt Lewis discussed how Tough 2000 Resin is ideal for functional parts such as housings and enclosures, jigs and fixtures, mechanical connectors, and prototypes undergoing wear and tear. Tough 2000 Resin most closely simulates ABS in terms of stiffness and strength.
Below you will find some of the most popular questions we’ve received about Tough 2000 Resin.
Q: Are there any specific examples of Tough 2000 Resin being less brittle than the old Tough Resin?
Accurpress is a South Dakota-based company that makes high-tonnage machines for metal bending and shearing. They had previously attempted to use Tough Resin in an angle gauge device, but found the material to be a bit too brittle for the thin parts required. They’ve already deployed Tough 2000 Resin, and found a significant upside. They’re able to print thinner parts that don’t break under pressure, enabling them to print the perfect angle gauge.
Q: Can I still buy Tough Resin?
Tough 2000 Resin and Tough Resin will be sold in parallel through at least December, 2020. After this date, Formlabs will begin notifying those who still purchase or use Tough Resin via email, Dashboard, and PreForm, with a final date in which the material will be discontinued.
Switching to Tough 2000 Resin is seamless and customers should experience better results with Tough 2000 Resin.
You can read more about our policy for replacing old resin formulations here.
Switching to Tough 2000 Resin is seamless
Q: How does Tough 2000 Resin compare against other Formlabs Resins?
Within our Tough and Durable family, Tough 2000 Resin is the stiffest and strongest. When looking at the entire Formlabs resin library, Tough 2000 Resin is less stiff than some of our other materials like Rigid Resin, Grey Pro Resin, and our line of Standard Resins. However, Tough 2000 Resin can undergo more significant strain than those materials without experiencing sudden failure.
Q: Can Tough 2000 Resin reliably print snap-fits, screw threads, and hinges?
The increased elongation of Tough 2000 Resin compared to Tough Resin improves the usability of snap-fits. Under stress, these parts now have a lower risk of breaking. Tough 2000 works just as well as Tough Resin V5 for screw threads.
We do not recommend Tough 2000 for living hinges, but many other hinge types would work. This includes slip joints for projects such as removable door or lid applications, and pin hinges for application which require two or more pivot points.
Q: Which tank do I need for my printer to print with Tough 2000, and which settings are available?
If you own a Form 2, you will need to use Resin Tank LT with Tough 2000 Resin. On the Form 3, Tough 2000 Resin only works on our Tank V2. This is due to the complete chemistry reformulation which enabled improved elongation, strength, and stiffness, which are typically competing properties.
Tough 2000 Resin can print at both 100 and 50 micron settings.
Request a Sample Part
Tough 2000 Resin is just the latest of many resins to be added to the Form 3 ecosystem. If you still have questions about using Tough 2000 Resin for your project, order a free sample part below or watch our webinar to learn about specs, applications, and case studies.
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