Thermoplastics are strong, compliant, resilient, UV-resistant, and long-lasting — a combination of properties that make them the ideal default materials for manufacturing. Resins for 3D printing have not been able to compete with these superior properties — until today.
Introducing the next-generation Formlabs Tough Resins, a range of new high-performance materials that can finally rival thermoplastics. Resins in the Tough Resin Family are named after the tensile modulus of each material, with mechanical properties that rival high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ABS, and polypropylene.
Tough 1000 Resin and a reformulated Tough 2000 Resin join Tough 1500 Resin, forming the Tough Resin Family. These tough, resilient engineering materials stand up to harsh environments, impact, and repeated wear, all while delivering a dark, matte surface finish with crisp details when printed on Form 4 Series 3D printers.
| Material | Tough 1000 Resin | Tough 1500 Resin | Tough 2000 Resin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Feature | Toughest and most ductile material in the Tough Resin Family | Balanced blend of stiffness and compliance | Strongest and stiffest material in the Tough Resin Family |
| Comparable Thermoplastic | HDPE Delrin (POM) | PP | ABS |
| Recommended Applications | Impact-resistant jigs, fixtures, and parts, and squeezable prototypes Low friction assemblies, such as gears and ball joints | Parts that need a combination of stiffness and ductility to create compliant mechanisms like latches, flexures, and dampers
Clasps and buckles, self-tapping screw bosses, hinges | Robust jigs, fixtures, protective shells, and snap-fit enclosures Parts that require high temperature and creep resistance |
Deliver jigs, fixtures, and functional parts with enhanced aesthetics and mechanical properties that rival thermoplastics with Formlabs Tough Resins.
Tough 1000 Resin: Rivaling High-Density Polyethylene
Tough 1000 Resin is a ductile, impact-resistant material. An elongation at break of 180% and Gardner impact strength of 13.1 J surpass that of HDPE, while comparable lubricity to Delrin (POM) means surfaces that slide without causing abrasion or scratches.
Tough 1000 Resin is designed with exceptional wear resistance for long-term toughness and ductility, ideal for jigs, fixtures, moving assemblies, and functional parts that experience repeated stress and wear.
Users of Formlabs Durable Resin will find that Tough 1000 Resin offers improved temperature resistance, aging, and creep resistance. Additionally, parts resist warping and sagging during post-curing, for dimensionally accurate parts.
“The end-use products that we are offering, they need to be able to withstand our torture testing at freezing temperatures. These parts need to be able to take abuse and Tough 1000 Resin holds up.”
Adam Warren, Draftsman and Mechanical Designer, Cool Machines
| Resin | Durable Resin | Tough 1000 Resin | HDPE, Extruded Sheet, McMaster-Carr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 28 MPa | 26.3 MPa | 30 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 1000 MPa | 932 MPa | 1000 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 55% | 180% | 100% |
| Gardner Impact Strength @ 1/32 in (0.8 mm) | 4.1 J | 13.1 J | 5.4 J |
| Work of Fracture | 690 J/m2 | 3200 J/m2 | Not tested. From literature, ~5000-6000 J/m2 |
| Heat Deflection Temp @ 0.45 MPa | 41 ºC | 55.3 ºC | Not tested. From literature, ~70-90 ℃ |
Leverage the technology of Form 4 Series printers to print production-ready parts with a smooth, matte finish and dark grey color that enhances detail for aesthetic parts that also perform.
Request a Free Tough 1000 Resin Sample Part
Tough 1000 Resin is a ductile, impact-resistant material with comparable strength, stiffness, and toughness to high-density polyethylene (HDPE), designed with exceptional wear and fatigue resistance for long-term toughness and utility.
Lowering Costs and Building Supply Chain Resilience at Cool Machines
Cool Machines in Ohio is a manufacturer of insulation machines and technology. For Andy Schulte, COO, supply chain resilience and cost savings are key. With Form 4 and Tough 1000 Resin, Cool Machines is developing and manufacturing end-use parts that can withstand freezing temperatures, impact, and pressures up to 600 psi.
The Wall Spray Nozzle is used to spray insulation into open wall cavities before the drywall goes up. The complex internal geometry means manufacturing this part isn’t possible without 3D printing.
A key requirement for the Wall Spray Nozzle was withstanding the pressure of the insulation. Warren did some internal testing and got the 1/4" NPT threads to hold at up to 900 psi. He also did freezing drop and impact tests. Next up are field trials. If the Wall Spray Nozzle survives, Cool Machines will manufacture it in the same way they prototyped — 3D printing on Form 4 in Tough 1000 Resin.
Tough 2000 Resin: Rivaling the Performance of ABS
The new Tough 2000 Resin is a rugged material with strength and stiffness comparable to ABS. Combining toughness with high temperature and creep resistance, 3D print snap-fit assemblies that endure repeated flexing, rugged parts that survive impact, and structural components.
Tough 2000 Resin shows only 1.3% creep strain under a 4 MPa load after two weeks, making it ideal for parts that resist long-term deformation, while a heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 70 °C at 0.45 MPa ensures reliable performance at elevated temperatures for functional parts that hold their shape when other plastics deform.
"The new Tough 2000 Resin has much sharper features compared to the previous generation. The difference was apparent right out of the printer."
Kyle Garvin, Senior Mechanical Designer, Research International
The updated formulation of Tough 2000 Resin was designed to leverage the technology of Form 4 Series 3D printers. Enhanced mechanical properties include 3x higher fracture toughness than the previous generation, with improved scratch resistance and a dark, matte surface finish.
The original Tough 2000 Resin at left versus the new formulation at right. Dustin Hecocks, President at Tru-North Design, says, “The final product after finishing is VASTLY improved visually. The black is just great.”
| Resin | Tough 2000 Resin V1 | Tough 2000 Resin V2 | ABS, Extruded Sheet, McMaster-Carr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 46 MPa | 40.4 MPa | 39 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 2100 MPa | 1800 MPa | 1800 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 44% | 79% | 8% |
| Gardner Impact Strength @ 1/32 in (0.8 mm) | 1.1 J | 1.6 J | 2.3 J |
| Work of Fracture | 115 J/m2 | 305 J/m2 | 2060 J/m2 |
| Heat Deflection Temp @ 0.45 MPa | 59 ºC | 70 °C | Not tested. From literature, 100 ºC |
The next-generation Tough 2000 Resin rivals the performance of ABS for a material that excels in heavy-duty applications.
Request a Free Tough 2000 Resin Sample Part
Tough 2000 Resin V2 is a rugged material with strength and stiffness comparable to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), combining toughness with high temperature and creep resistance.
Tough 1500 Resin Holds Up in Demanding Environments
Tough 1500 Resin is the first material in the next-generation Tough Resin Family. This resilient material with strength, stiffness, and toughness comparable to polypropylene (PP) offers exceptional resistance to fractures, impacts, and shattering.
Tough 1500 Resin delivers 10x higher fracture toughness than the previous version, so that parts withstand drilling and tapping, with a 3x higher Gardner impact strength for thin walls that don’t shatter. An extremely high elongation at break (155%) and Ross flex fatigue (8,000 cycles) make it an ideal material for parts with features like snap fits and compliant mechanisms.
When Tough 1500 Resin was tested under ASTM D4459 accelerated indoor aging standard, it was found to have a 66 °C HDT and –30.4% EAB* after 400 hours, for the highest temperature and UV resistance of any high-compliance SLA material.
| Resin | Tough 1500 Resin V1 | Tough 1500 Resin V2 | Polypropylene (extrusion grade) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 30 MPa | 34 MPa | 29.2 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 1260 MPa | 1460 MPa | 1600 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 64% | 155% | 125% |
| Gardner Impact Strength @ 1/32 in (0.8 mm) | 2.5 J | 5.0 J | 2.7 J |
| Work of Fracture | 102 J/m2 | 1011 J/m2 | ~2000 J/m2 |
| Heat Deflection Temp @ 0.45 MPa | 45 °C | 66 °C | Not tested. |
In the time since the updated Tough 1500 Resin was released, users have printed parts that withstand harsh marine environments, protect electric dirt bikes on 120-mile races, and prototypes that perform.
Company: Sirris
“Tough 1500 Resin has the right balance of impact resistance and flexibility, making it durable enough for real-world use.”
Jon Howard, Co-Founder and Operations, Sirris
Company: Viking Yachts
“I’m making one-off custom parts that look like they were injection molded — that’s the extra Viking touch, something you can take pride in.”
Winston Zeberlein, Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, Viking Yachts
Company: UbeCube
“The vast majority of our products are in polypropylene and Tough 1500 Resin lets us really emulate that.”
Isaiah Tarwater, Industrial Designer, UbeCube
Request a Free Tough 1500 Resin Sample Part
Tough 1500 Resin V2 is a resilient material with strength, stiffness, and toughness comparable to polypropylene (PP), offering exceptional resistance to fractures, impacts, and shattering.
Print Tough Parts
For parts that need to withstand repeated flexing, hold shape under sustained load, or perform in environments where other plastics deform, there’s a Formlabs Tough Resin that is up to the job. Tough 1000 Resin, Tough 1500 Resin, and Tough 2000 Resin are high-performing engineering resins formulated to leverage the technology of Form 4 Series 3D printers to deliver parts that perform when you need them.
Use the interactive compare tool to figure out which Tough Resin is optimal for your application, or request a free sample part to evaluate the material for yourself. To start printing, purchase resin or contact sales to inquire about bulk material discounts.
