WHITE PAPER
Formlabs Logo

Using Custom Tray Resin

Using Custom Tray Resin

Notice:

To avoid damage to equipment, check the resin tank compatibility table in Choosing the right material to confirm you are using a resin tank that is compatible with this material.

Custom Tray Resin is a long-term material formulated for manufacturing impression trays. Printing custom trays ensures even distribution of impression material and more accurate impressions. Custom Tray Resin prints at 100 microns (Form 4B and Form 4BL) or 200 microns (Form 2, Form 3B, or Form 3BL), allowing dental professionals to print custom trays quickly, reducing labor time and enabling higher throughput.

When printing these appliances, follow the application guide 3D Printing Custom Trays with Formlabs SLA 3D Printers [en], to ensure precise and accurate results.

Note:

To learn more about the performance or specific material properties of Custom Tray Resin, please refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and Technical Data Sheet (TDS). Always consult the SDS as the primary source of information to understand safety and handling of Formlabs materials.

Required resources

Made by Formlabs:

Made by third parties:

  • Intraoral or desktop optical scanner
  • Dental design software
  • Low-speed dental handpiece with cutting and finishing wheels
  • Polishing tools
  • Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) ≥ 99%

Workflow overview

Notice:

This is an abbreviated version of the application guide, 3D Printing Custom Trays with Formlabs SLA 3D Printers [en]. Read the application guide for detailed instructions about the workflow for Custom Tray Resin.

Scan

In order to 3D print an impression tray, use a scanner to collect anatomical data of the patient’s dentition. Either scan the patient directly with an intraoral scanner, or use a desktop optical scanner to scan a polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression or stone model.

Design

Use a dental CAD software package to process and design the impression tray before printing. Choose software that offers open STL file export. The exact design steps vary for each software package, so contact the software provider for details on generating a splint from patient scans.

Print feature recommendations

Minimum wall thickness: 2 mm

Minimum handle thickness: 3 mm

For heavy impression materials, Formlabs recommends retention holes at least 3 mm in diameter.

Print

Notice:

To avoid damage to equipment, check the resin tank compatibility table in Choosing the right material to confirm you are using a resin tank that is compatible with this material.

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.

Notice:

Always orient parts with the intaglio surfaces facing away from the build platform.

Notice:

For full compliance and biocompatibility, Custom Tray Resin requires a dedicated resin tank, build platform, and Finish Kit, which should not be used with any other resins.

Finish

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.

If the model is hollow or has internal channels, ensure liquid resin is flushed out thoroughly from these features. Allow parts to fully dry before post-curing.

Post-curing requirements

Custom Tray Resin requires post-curing to reach its optimal mechanical properties.

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

Additional resources