Dental Resin vs Formlabs Grey
Polymer · grade comparison
Dental Resin and Grey are both polymer grades. Both yield at about 48 MPa — strength does not separate them. Grey is the more ductile: elongation 8% versus 6% for Dental Resin. Grey is stiffer (2.5 GPa vs 2.2 GPa) and Dental Resin runs hotter in service (70°C vs 50°C continuous). On the shop floor, Dental Resin machines more easily (good vs fair) and Grey sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Dental Resin (high, $$$$).
Dental ResinChoose it when the part sees heat, or when the part is machined in volume.
GreyChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when cost is the deciding factor.
Dental Resin vs Grey: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Izod Impact, Notched
Hardness, Shore D
Hardness, Rockwell M
Same in both: Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 55 MPa8 ksi · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 48 MPa7 ksi · Compressive Modulus 2.3 GPa0.33 Msi · Flexural Modulus 2.2 GPa0.32 Msi
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Glass Transition (Tg)
Water Absorption (24 h)
Water Absorption (Saturation)
Light Transmission
Same in both: Refractive Index 1.51
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa
Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa
Max Service Temperature (short-term)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 1,500 J/kg·K0.36 BTU/lb·°F · Min Service Temperature -20°C-4 °F · Limiting Oxygen Index 19%
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Volume Resistivity
Surface Resistivity
Same in both: Dielectric Strength 15 kV/mm381 V/mil · Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) 3.4 · Dissipation Factor (1 MHz) 0.03
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
UV / Weathering Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Mold Shrinkage
Mold Temperature (typ.)
Same in both: Weldability 5 / 100 · Formability (cold) 5 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Embodied Carbon (primary production) 5.5 kg CO₂/kg · Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
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.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Dental Resin | Grey |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | Standard | Standard |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Both are offered for Injection molding and 3D printing. Both take the same 12 finishes: Chrome Plating (Plastic), Conductive Coating, Dyeing (Nylon), EMI Shielding Coating, Painting, Primer Coating, Soft Touch Coating, Spray Painting, Tinted Coating, UV Coating, Vacuum Metallization, Waterproof Coating.
Dental Resin vs Grey — frequently asked
What is the difference between Dental Resin and Grey?
Dental Resin and Grey are both polymer grades. Both yield at about 48 MPa — strength does not separate them. Grey is the more ductile: elongation 8% versus 6% for Dental Resin.
Which is cheaper, Dental Resin or Grey?
Grey is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Dental Resin is high ($$$$). 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, Dental Resin or Grey?
Dental Resin. Its machinability rates good (60/100) against fair (45/100) for Grey.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Dental Resin and Grey 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.