SOMERVILLE, MA, June 25, 2015 – Formlabs, the makers of the Form 1+ SLA 3D Printer, announced a new functional resin, designed for applications in engineering and prototyping. With Tough Resin, Form 1+ users can now produce strong, sturdy parts with physical properties similar to ABS plastic.
3D printed wrench using Tough resin
Durable parts are essential for engineering and prototyping. Now, parts produced with Formlabs’ Tough Resin will be able to absorb high-impact and other mechanical stressors that would normally cause 3D printed parts to snap or shatter. From load-bearing gears to snap-fit enclosures, Tough Resin material has been engineered for applications that require performance under stress or strain.
In celebration of the material’s release, and to demonstrate the many functional properties of Tough Resin, Formlabs has created the first 3d-printed Rube Goldberg machine. This version of the popular chain-reaction machine has been assembled by printing many of the major mechanisms with Tough Resin on the Form 1+ SLA 3D Printer.
3D Printed Rube Goldberg Machine
Parts printed in Formlabs’ Tough Resin delivers a superior combination of yield strength, elongation, and impact resistance; the key characteristics used to assess material toughness.
3D printed chain using Tough Resin
“Engineering and prototyping are a really important application of 3D printing. We’re excited to release our new Tough Resin because now Form 1+ users can create high resolution prints in a really durable, resilient material,” said Formlabs co-founder, Max Lobovsky. “Developing new high-quality materials continues to be a really important focus for us. Every time we release a new material, we create new possibilities for every Form 1+ user and build a more compelling experience.”
Tough Resin is available in 1-liter bottles from the Formlabs Web store immediately. The material is compatible with both the Form 1 and Form 1+ 3D Printers.
About Formlabs
Formlabs designs and manufactures powerful and accessible 3D printing systems for engineers, designers, and artists. Their flagship product, the Form 1+ 3D Printer, uses stereolithography (SLA) to create high-resolution physical objects from digital designs. The company was founded in 2012 by a team of engineers and designers from the MIT Media Lab and Center for Bits and Atoms.With its powerful, intuitive, and affordable machines, Formlabs is establishing a new benchmark in professional desktop 3D printing. Formlabs also develops its own suite of high-performance materials for 3D printing, as well as best-in-class 3D-printing software.
