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Castable Resin vs Formlabs Tough 2000

Polymer · grade comparison

Castable Resin and Tough 2000 are both polymer grades. Tough 2000 is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) against 35 MPa (5.08 ksi) for Castable Resin, about 43% more. Tough 2000 is the more ductile: elongation 22% versus 6% for Castable Resin. Tough 2000 is stiffer (2.4 GPa vs 1.6 GPa). On the shop floor, Tough 2000 machines more easily (good vs fair) and Tough 2000 sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than Castable Resin (high, $$$$).

Tough 2000Choose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.

Castable Resin vs Tough 2000: properties

Castable ResinTough 2000

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

1.6 GPa0.23 Msi
2.4 GPa0.35 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.38
0.39

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

35 MPa5.1 ksi
50 MPa7.3 ksi

Elongation at Break

6%
22%

Compressive Strength

75 MPa10.9 ksi
70 MPa10.2 ksi

Compressive Modulus

1.8 GPa0.26 Msi
2.1 GPa0.3 Msi

Flexural Strength

55 MPa8 ksi
68 MPa9.9 ksi

Flexural Modulus

1.7 GPa0.25 Msi
1.9 GPa0.28 Msi

Izod Impact, Notched

20 J/m0.37 ft·lbf/in
38 J/m0.71 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Shore D

82 Shore D
80 Shore D

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

—
44 MPa6.4 ksi

Hardness, Rockwell R

—
103 HRR

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

1.13 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.15 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³

Glass Transition (Tg)

60°C140 °F
58°C136 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.6%
0.8%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

1.5%
1.8%

Same in both: Refractive Index 1.51

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

0.19 W/m·K0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

95 µm/m·K52.8 µin/in·°F
110 µm/m·K61.1 µin/in·°F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

58°C136 °F
49°C120 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

48°C118 °F
42°C108 °F

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

80°C176 °F
70°C158 °F

Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 50°C122 °F · Min Service Temperature -20°C-4 °F · Limiting Oxygen Index 19%

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Dielectric Strength

16 kV/mm406 V/mil
15 kV/mm381 V/mil

Surface Resistivity

—
1×10¹⁴ Ω

Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in · Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) 3.4 · Dissipation Factor (1 MHz) 0.03 · Volume Resistivity 1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

60 / 100
55 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

20 / 100
30 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

35 / 100
55 / 100

Formability (cold)

5 / 100
10 / 100

Polishability

55 / 100
65 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

1%
—

Same in both: Weldability 5 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

110 MJ/kg47,292 BTU/lb
115 MJ/kg49,441 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

5.5 kg CO₂/kg
6 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

—
260 L/kg31.2 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

31 kN·m/kg
43 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

1.4 MN·m/kg
2.1 MN·m/kg

Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every polymer grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

0.1110100123Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleFormlabs Tough 2000

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityCastable ResinTough 2000
Injection molding—Yes
3D printing—Yes
Default condition—ABS-like
Relative cost$$$$ High$$ Standard
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——
Chrome Plating (Plastic)—Yes
Conductive Coating—Yes
Dyeing (Nylon)—Yes
EMI Shielding Coating—Yes
Painting—Yes
Primer Coating—Yes
Soft Touch Coating—Yes
Spray Painting—Yes
Tinted Coating—Yes
UV Coating—Yes
Vacuum Metallization—Yes
Waterproof Coating—Yes

Castable Resin vs Tough 2000 — frequently asked

Is Tough 2000 stronger than Castable Resin?

Yes. Tough 2000 has a typical tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) against 35 MPa (5.08 ksi) for Castable Resin — about 43% more.

Which is cheaper, Castable Resin or Tough 2000?

Tough 2000 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while Castable Resin is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Which is easier to machine, Castable Resin or Tough 2000?

Tough 2000. Its machinability rates good (55/100) against fair (35/100) for Castable Resin.

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Castable Resin and Tough 2000 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.