Highly Stretch & Resilient for Soft Elastomeric Prototypes
Flexible 50A Resin is a soft, translucent 3D printing elastomer with a 50A Shore durometer that is ideal for prototyping parts normally produced with softer rubbers and silicones. Parts printed in Flexible 50A Resin will bend, stretch, compress, and hold up to repeated cycles without tearing, and spring back quickly to their original shape.
Key Features
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Exceptional Elongation & Rebound: Capable of stretching significantly while maintaining high energy return, ensuring parts quickly spring back to their original shape after high-strain deformation.
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Superior Tear Strength: Formulated with high “green-state” strength (pre-cured strength) to prevent tearing at support points or during intense functional testing, ensuring even the most delicate, soft geometries remain dimensionally accurate.
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High-Clarity Finish: The translucent finish allows for easy inspection of internal structures and fluidic pathways, while providing an aesthetic “premium silicone” look for consumer goods.
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Excellent Compression Set: Demonstrates low permanent deformation after prolonged or repeated compression, making it highly reliable for expandable components like bellows.
Ideal Applications
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Consumer Wearables: Prototyping watch bands, straps, and skin-contacting ergonomic interfaces.
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Medical Simulation: Creating soft-tissue models that mimic the feel of muscles or organs for surgical training.
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Bellows & Tubing: Flexible, air-tight connectors that must expand and contract frequently.
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Soft-Touch Overmolds: Prototyping buttons, grips, and protective bumpers for handheld electronics.
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Robotics: Soft-robotic grippers and specialized end-of-arm tooling for delicate object manipulation.
FAQ
How does Flexible 50A compare to the original Elastic 50A?
It is the same great, highly resilient material formulation optimized for speed and reliability, but it has been renamed Flexible 50A Resin to provide clearer categorization within the Formlabs flexible and elastomeric material family.
How does this material differ from Flexible 80A Resin?
Flexible 50A is significantly software and stretchier, closely simulating a silicone wristband or soft rubber. Flexible 80A Resin is much stiffer and firmer, providing a “hard-rubber” feel similar to a shoe sole, tire tread, or an industrial mallet.
Can I use Flexible 50A Resin for seals and gaskets?
Yes, but primarily for low-pressure or highly compliant applications. If your design requires high chemical resistance or extreme thermal stability, we recommend evaluating Silicone 40A Resin. For firmer, high-wear industrial seals, Flexible 80A Resin is often preferred.
Is it difficult to remove soft parts from the build platform?
Because Flexible 50A is very soft, it can be tricky to scrape off traditional rigid plates. We strongly recommend using a flexible quick-release platform (like the Build Platform 2 or the Form 4 Flex Build Platform). The flex-release technology allows you to safely peel the soft parts off without using a sharp scraper, preventing any tearing or distortion of your part.
