Standard Photopolymer Resin

resin

acrylate-based photopolymer (general purpose)

SLA ResinFormlabs Standard ResinDLP ResinClear Resin V4Grey Resin V4White Resin V4General Purpose ResinAcrylate Resin

Standard Photopolymer Resin 3D printed component

Density

1.17 g/cm³

YS (SLA post-cured (Formlabs Standard Resin, 60°C/30 min))

48–62 MPa

UTS (SLA post-cured (Formlabs Standard Resin, 60°C/30 min))

55–72 MPa

Elongation (SLA post-cured (Formlabs Standard Resin, 60°C/30 min))

4.0–9.0 %

Elastic modulus

2–3 GPa

Mechanical & thermal properties — 2 conditions

Property	SLA post-cured (Formlabs Standard Resin, 60°C/30 min)	DLP post-cured (generic 385/405 nm resin)
Elastic modulus	2–3 GPa	2–3 GPa
Yield strength (0.2%)	48–62 MPa	—
Ultimate tensile strength	55–72 MPa	45–80 MPa
Elongation at break	4.0–9.0 %	3.0–15.0 %
Density	1.14–1.20 g/cm³	—
As-built surface Ra	1.5–8.0 µm	—

Values shown as min–max where a spread is reported, otherwise as typical ± unit. Ranges reflect inter-source variation, not single-sample scatter. All values are for AM-processed specimens unless noted.

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Engineering considerations

Post-cure protocol is critical: always post-cure per resin datasheet (typically 60°C × 30 min for Formlabs, or UV flood to specified dose). Under-cured parts have significantly lower properties and contain skin-irritating monomers.
Wall thickness: minimum 0.4 mm for unsupported walls; 0.6 mm for supported walls. Below 0.4 mm, parts are too fragile for handling post-wash. Unlike FDM, thin walls have no extrusion width constraint — SLA can print 0.2 mm features reliably.
Feature resolution: SLA laser spot size is ~85 µm (Form 3); DLP pixel pitch ~50–75 µm on desktop systems. Design minimum positive features at 0.2 mm diameter; minimum embossed text at 0.5 mm stroke width.
Resin grade selection: standard resin is for visual/concept work only. For functional use, consider: Tough 2000 (ABS-like impact resistance), Engineering Flex (TPU-like flexibility), Rigid 10K (glass-filled, 10 GPa modulus, 218°C HDT), or High Temp Resin (238°C HDT).
Investment casting patterns: SLA resin burns out cleanly with <0.02% ash. Use castable wax-blend resin (Formlabs Castable Wax 40) for fine jewellery; standard resin works for larger industrial castings. Build hollow with drain holes to minimise resin inside — saves material and prevents thermal crack from resin expansion.
Biocompatible grades: Formlabs Surgical Guide Resin and Dental Model Resin are ISO 10993-5 and 10993-10 cytotoxicity-tested. Implant-grade resins are not available in standard SLA — PEEK or ULTEM FDM is required for implantable devices.
Humidity and temperature storage: resins degrade in sunlight and at elevated temperature. Store cartridges in dark, cool (15–25°C) conditions. Opened cartridges should be used within 12 months.
Accuracy vs. SLS/MJF: SLA achieves ±0.1 mm vs. SLS/MJF ±0.3 mm — use SLA when dimensional precision matters more than material properties. For complex geometries needing both accuracy and structural performance, consider combining SLA patterns with investment casting.

Advantages

Best as-built surface finish of any AM process: Ra 1.5–8 µm, vs. FDM 10–30 µm
Near-isotropic properties after full post-cure — no Z-direction weakness
Highest dimensional accuracy of polymer AM processes: ±0.1 mm typical (vs. ±0.3 mm SLS)
Resolution down to 25 µm layer thickness (SLA) or 25 µm pixel pitch (DLP) — finest feature detail
Wide material range: standard, tough, flexible, castable, dental, biocompatible grades available
Burnout patterns for investment casting: resin ash content <0.02%
Fast iteration: desktop SLA printers (Form 3, Prusa SL1S) are accessible and office-compatible
Smooth surfaces reduce post-processing time vs. FDM — sanding to optical quality is fast

Limitations

Brittle fracture mode: elongation 4–9%, high notch sensitivity — not for structural or impact-loaded parts
Low HDT (50–65°C for standard resin) — not suitable for elevated-temperature environments
UV degradation: resin parts yellow and embrittle under prolonged UV exposure — protect from sunlight
Post-cure is mandatory: as-built parts have only 60–70% of rated properties and contain unreacted monomers
Solvent wash required: IPA or TPM wash removes uncured resin; involves chemical handling
Support structure removal: resin supports are more fragile than FDM and can leave witness marks on fine features
Cost: resin cartridges are significantly more expensive per kg than FDM filament (~$150–300/litre vs. $20–50/kg)
Limited part volume: most desktop SLA systems have build volumes < 350 × 220 × 350 mm

Typical applications

Visual and concept prototypes — highest as-built surface quality of any AM processDental models, bite splints, and surgical drill guides (biocompatible resins available)Investment casting and lost-wax patterns — resin burns out cleanly at 500–700°CInjection mould patterns for urethane casting and vacuum formingJewellery design and casting mastersConsumer product form models for user testing and presentationMicrofluidic chip prototypes and laboratory fixturesHearing aid shells (specialised biocompatible resins)Architectural and scale models requiring fine surface detail

Standard Photopolymer Resin

Mechanical & thermal properties — 2 conditions

Engineering considerations

Advantages

Limitations

Typical applications

Industries

Standards & certifications

Compatible AM processes (2)

Other resin materials

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