Rigid 4000 Resin is an Engineering Resin designed for stiffness and precision. The material is reinforced with glass to offer a very high modulus and a polished finish. Rigid 4000 Resin is highly resistant to deformation over time. The glass-powder reinforcement enables Rigid 4000 Resin to be stiff relative to other Formlabs materials.

Rigid 4000 Resin prints at 50 and 100 microns.

Rigid 4000 Resin is comparable to other glass-filled thermoplastics. When compared to parts printed with other Formlabs materials, parts printed with Rigid 4000 Resin resist mechanical stress over a longer period of time. Stiffness is a measure of a material’s resistance to elastic deformation under stress. Due to the high degree of stiffness, Rigid 4000 Resin parts are more brittle than parts printed with Tough 2000 Resin or Durable Resin.

To learn more about the performance properties of each Formlabs resin, refer to the library of material properties datasheets.

Rigid 4000 Resin follows the same basic steps and requirements for printing as other Formlabs materials. There are a few specific considerations to remember for Rigid 4000 Resin:

• Before printing, ensure Rigid 4000 Resin is mixed thoroughly for best results. Shake the resin cartridge and stir the resin in the tank with the wiper or a spatula with rounded corners. Mix new resin cartridges and any Rigid 4000 Resin stored in the cartridge or tank after several weeks.
• Use Resin Tank LT when printing with Rigid 4000 Resin. Standard resin tanks are incompatible with Rigid 4000 Resin because the elastic layer in a standard resin tank swells when exposed to the uncured material.
• The extended lifetime of Resin Tank LT does not apply when used with Rigid 4000 Resin, a high performance material that can accelerate wear on the tank. When used with Rigid 4000 Resin, Resin Tank LT lasts 1–2 liters before the elastic layer begins to show wear. Learn how to recognize wear on Resin Tank LT and prolong tank lifetime when printing with Rigid 4000 Resin.
• Rigid 4000 Resin prints at 50 and 100 microns.
• Parts printed with Rigid 4000 Resin offer similar accuracy and strong dimensional stability when compared to parts printed with standard resins.
• Rigid 4000 Resin emits a light, pine-like scent during printing or handling. The scent is normal and non-toxic.
• Parts printed with Rigid 4000 Resin may be more difficult to remove from the build platform than parts printed with standard resins. To improve part removal, warm the build platform with heated air.

Install or update PreForm, then set up the next print job.

To prepare a model for printing in PreForm:

1. Open a model.
2. Select the resin, resin version, and the desired layer thickness.
3. Orient to preserve fine details.
4. Generate supports.
5. Send the print job to the printer.

The Form Wash agitates the solvent bath and removes parts from the bath after a set time. Wash parts according to the support article Form Wash time settings. Pay particular attention to information that affects mechanical properties or biocompatibility requirements.

After washing parts printed with Rigid 4000 Resin, the IPA contains white glass particles. Use a separate wash bucket for parts printed with Rigid 4000 Resin to prevent the white glass particles from depositing on the surfaces of parts printed with other resin types.

Refer to the Form Cure time and temperature settings for post-curing recommendations.