Grey DRAFT
Grade
also Standard SLA Resin, SLA Standard Resin
DRAFT = fast-print / high-speed draft resin
Use for quick iteration at thick layers (0.1–0.3 mm); mechanicals and surface finish are lower than standard.
Values for the DRAFT condition
Other Grey grades and fills
Grey is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at Grey.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-printed / green state | Pick when parts are used straight off the printer — noticeably softer, weaker and lower Tg; only for fit checks or parts to be cured later. | — | 38 | 12 | 76 Shore D |
toughened / impact-modified standard resin | Pick when snap-fits, thin walls or drop resistance matter — much higher elongation and impact at the cost of stiffness and HDT. | 38 | 45 | 25 | 78 Shore D |
water-washable standard resin | Choose to avoid IPA handling in shops/classrooms; slightly weaker and noticeably more moisture-sensitive/hygroscopic after cure. | 38 | 44 | 6 | 80 Shore D |
DRAFTThis page Fast-print / high-speed draft resin | Use for quick iteration at thick layers (0.1–0.3 mm); mechanicals and surface finish are lower than standard. | 40 | 45 | 12 | 79 Shore D |
opaque grey / white / black standard resin | Standard choice for appearance prototypes and painted masters — pigment improves cure control and edge definition, slightly reduces cure depth. | 48 | 55 | 7 | 83 Shore D |
glass/ceramic-filled rigid standard resin | Use for stiff, dimensionally stable jigs and thin-wall housings that must not creep; very stiff but brittle and abrasive to tooling. | — | 68 | 2.5 | — |
What is Grey DRAFT?
Grey DRAFT is Grey in the DRAFT grade — use for quick iteration at thick layers (0.1–0.3 mm); mechanicals and surface finish are lower than standard. Grey DRAFT has a yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 63% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 1.9 GPa (0.276 Msi). Grey DRAFT has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 60°C (140 °F).
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 75/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 42°C (108 °F), worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.7 MPa·√m (0.637 ksi·√in), worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 65/100, worse than 86% of polymer grades
Grey DRAFT properties
Typical room-temperature values for Grey DRAFT; 23 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Grey reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
Grey DRAFT has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 60°C (140 °F).
Mechanical13
Grey DRAFT has a yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 63% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 1.9 GPa (0.276 Msi).
Thermal10
Grey DRAFT is rated for continuous service to 42°C (108 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 90 µm/m·K (50 µin/in·°F).
Electrical6
Grey DRAFT is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 15 kV/mm (381 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), worse than 86% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Grey DRAFT takes about 125 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability4
Grey DRAFT's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Grey DRAFT
Is Grey easy to machine?
Drills, mills and sands easily with sharp tools and light feeds, but is notch-sensitive — pre-drill, avoid heat build-up (softens near 60 °C) and wet-sand to prevent dust.
Can Grey be welded?
Thermoset — cannot be heat welded; join with cyanoacrylate, epoxy or by wicking uncured resin into the seam and UV-curing.
Can Grey be formed, bent or molded?
Formed only by vat photopolymerisation: 0.025–0.1 mm layers, supports and hollowing with drain holes, then IPA wash and 5–30 min UV post-cure at 40–60 °C; expect ~0.5–2 % cure shrinkage and warp on thick sections.
What surface finishes work on Grey?
Sands from 400→2000 grit and buffs to gloss; primer-filler plus acrylic/PU paint is standard, clear coat restores transparency, and electroplating or vacuum metallising works after a conductive base coat — always apply UV-blocking coating for outdoor use.
Grey chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| urethane/epoxy acrylate oligomerbackbone oligomer, sets toughness and Tg | 30 – 60 | 45 |
| photoinitiator (TPO / TPO-L / BAPO)matched to 355/385/405 nm source | 0.5 – 4 | 2 |
| pigment / UV absorber / stabilizercontrols cure depth and colour; absent in clear grades | 0.1 – 3 | 1 |
| inorganic filler (silica, glass, ceramiconly in rigid/filled variants | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| acrylate/methacrylate reactive monomer (diluent + crosslinker, controls viscosity and crosslink density | ≥ 30 (balance) | — |
Grey DRAFT — frequently asked
What is Grey DRAFT used for?
Grey DRAFT is typically used for cosmetic prototypes, concept and display models, master patterns for silicone moulds and vacuum casting, painted appearance samples, fit-check and assembly mock-ups and fine-detail figurines and scale models. In short: workhorse SLA visual resin.
What is the yield strength of Grey DRAFT?
Grey DRAFT has a typical yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 63% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Grey DRAFT easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades). Drills, mills and sands easily with sharp tools and light feeds, but is notch-sensitive — pre-drill, avoid heat build-up (softens near 60 °C) and wet-sand to prevent dust.
Can Grey DRAFT be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Thermoset — cannot be heat welded; join with cyanoacrylate, epoxy or by wicking uncured resin into the seam and UV-curing.
What surface finishes work on Grey DRAFT?
Sands from 400→2000 grit and buffs to gloss; primer-filler plus acrylic/PU paint is standard, clear coat restores transparency, and electroplating or vacuum metallising works after a conductive base coat — always apply UV-blocking coating for outdoor use.
Can Grey DRAFT be formed, bent or molded?
Formed only by vat photopolymerisation: 0.025–0.1 mm layers, supports and hollowing with drain holes, then IPA wash and 5–30 min UV post-cure at 40–60 °C; expect ~0.5–2 % cure shrinkage and warp on thick sections.
What is the maximum service temperature of Grey DRAFT?
Grey DRAFT is rated for continuous use to about 42°C (108 °F), and briefly to 80°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in Grey DRAFT?
Yes — Grey DRAFT is available for injection molding and 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Standard/Clear/Grey Resin material data sheets — Formlabs (2024)
- 405 nm standard photopolymer resin TDS — Anycubic / Elegoo / eSUN (2024)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ASTM D638, D790, D648, D256 test methods — ISO / ASTM (2019)
- Photopolymer chemistry and properties of UV-curable acrylate networks — SPE / RadTech technical literature (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.