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Photopolymer Resins

Photopolymer resins are liquid acrylate and methacrylate mixtures cured layer by layer with UV light on SLA, DLP, LCD and PolyJet printers. They give the smoothest surfaces and finest detail of any 3D-printing process (25–50 µm layers, features under 0.2 mm) at the cost of properties — a standard resin has about 50–65 MPa tensile strength but only 5–8 % elongation and a heat deflection temperature near 50–60 °C, and unprotected parts embrittle and yellow in sunlight over months.

Popular photopolymer resin grades

Compare in the explorer
GradeYield, MPaTensile, MPaDensity, g/cm³MachinabilityBest for
Flexible Resin491.12PoorSoft grips, gaskets, overmold checks
Durable Resin22281.12GoodPP-like parts that flex without cracking
Accura Bluestone75751.18FairCeramic-filled, very stiff resin
Formlabs Rigid 10K75751.55FairStiff glass-filled resin
Somos PerFORM75751.18FairCeramic-filled high-temperature resin
Formlabs Clear52651.19FairOptically clear photopolymer
Accura 2550651.18FairABS-like white SLA resin

All 53 photopolymer resin grades

Choose photopolymer resins for

Master patterns for vacuum casting, cosmetic and presentation models, fine-detail housings and bezels, clear optical prototypes and fluidic manifolds, jewelry and dental patterns and appliances, snap-fit and assembly checks, short-run jigs and fixtures, and any part where surface finish and detail below 0.5 mm matter more than long-term strength.

Look elsewhere when

The part carries load for weeks (resins creep and lose 20–40 % of strength when wet or warm — print it in PA12 on SLS or MJF, or machine POM-C or PC), it lives outdoors or in a warm car (ASA or PC prototypes), it is a functional living hinge or repeated snap (PP or TPU), it is thicker than about 20 mm (curing and shrinkage warp thick sections), or a few hundred identical parts are needed, where vacuum-cast urethane from a printed master gives molded-like properties.

Tensile strength against max service temp, Photopolymer resins among every polymer grade

No materials in view have both of these properties.

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Photopolymer resin by application

Masters for vacuum casting
Standard Resin or Rigid Resin printed at 25–50 µm, sanded and primed — every detail transfers to the silicone mold. Grey or white pigments show surface defects best before the mold is poured.
Functional snap-fits and enclosures
Tough Resin for ABS-like handling strength; Durable Resin for clips and lids that must flex; Rigid Resin for thin flat walls and fixtures that must not warp. Design snap arms 20–30 % thicker than the molded equivalent.
Clear and optical parts
Clear Resin, printed with the optical face on a smooth build orientation, then wet-sanded and clear-coated or dipped for transmission near molded PMMA; VisiJet M3 Crystal and Vero on PolyJet for multi-material clear-and-opaque models.
Dental, jewelry and medical
Castable Resin and Castable Wax Resin burn out cleanly for investment casting; Dental Model Resin, Dental Crown & Bridge Resin and Dental Surgical Guide Resin for certified dental appliances; MED610 for skin-contact medical models on PolyJet.

Working with photopolymer resin

Printing and post-cure
Parts print on SLA, DLP or LCD machines at 25–100 µm layers with supports, are washed in IPA (or water for Water-Washable Resin) and post-cured under 405 nm UV at 60–80 °C. Post-cure is where the properties come from — an uncured Tough Resin part is about half as strong. Orient cosmetic faces away from supports and hollow thick sections to 2–3 mm walls with drain holes.
Tolerances and stability
Expect ±0.1 mm on features under 50 mm and ±0.2 % beyond; thin unsupported walls under 1 mm warp. Resins absorb water and creep — a fixture that must stay flat should be Rigid Resin or a machined part. Clear Resin yellows and standard resins chalk in UV within months unless painted or clear-coated.
Finishing
Sand from 400 to 2000 grit, then prime and paint, or polish and clear-coat for optical parts; vapor smoothing does not work on cured resins. Parts can be dyed, plated with a conductive primer, or tapped for coarse threads (inserts are better). Support nubs sand off completely on cosmetic surfaces.
Bonding and assembly
Cured resin bonds well with cyanoacrylate, two-part epoxy and UV-cure adhesive — a thin coat of uncured resin cured with a UV torch gives a near-invisible joint on large models. Heat-set brass inserts work in Tough Resin and Rigid Resin; self-tapping screws crack Standard Resin.

Other polymer series

Photopolymer Resins — frequently asked

What is photopolymer resin?

Photopolymer resins are liquid acrylate and methacrylate mixtures cured layer by layer with UV light on SLA, DLP, LCD and PolyJet printers. They give the smoothest surfaces and finest detail of any 3D-printing process (25–50 µm layers, features under 0.2 mm) at the cost of properties — a standard resin has about 50–65 MPa tensile strength but only 5–8 % elongation and a heat deflection temperature near 50–60 °C, and unprotected parts embrittle and yellow in sunlight over months.

Which grade of photopolymer resin should I use?

Standard Resin for visual models, fit checks and master patterns for silicone molds. Tough Resin (ABS-like, 40–55 MPa with 20–30 % elongation) for snap-fits, enclosures and parts that will be handled or assembled; Durable Resin (PP-like) when it must flex and bend without cracking; Rigid Resin (glass-filled) for stiff, flat, dimensionally stable fixtures and thin walls. Clear Resin for lenses, light guides and fluidic chips, polished or clear-coated after. High Temp Resin (heat deflection above 200 °C at low load) for hot-air and injection-mold-insert tests. Flexible Resin and Elastic Resin for gaskets and soft grips; Castable Resin and Castable Wax Resin for investment-cast jewelry and dental patterns; Dental Resin and Dental Surgical Guide Resin for biocompatible dental work; Vero and Digital ABS Plus on PolyJet for multi-material and full-colour models.

Which grade of photopolymer resin is the strongest?

Accura Bluestone has the highest yield strength in the series at 75 MPa; Formlabs Rigid 10K follows at 75 MPa. Values are for each grade's default condition.

Which grade of photopolymer resin is easiest to machine?

Denture Base Resin (machinability good, 65/100), then Dental Crown & Bridge Resin (62/100).

Tough Resin or Durable Resin?

Tough Resin imitates ABS: about 40–55 MPa tensile, 2 GPa modulus, 20–30 % elongation, stiff enough for housings and snap-fits and the more common choice. Durable Resin imitates polypropylene: lower strength and modulus (about 30 MPa, 1 GPa) but 50 % or more elongation and a waxy, impact-tolerant surface for clips, lids and living-hinge tests. If the part must not break when dropped, Durable; if it must not flex under load, Tough.

Can High Temp Resin be used for injection-mold inserts?

For a few dozen shots of low-temperature resins, yes — it holds a heat deflection temperature above 200 °C at 0.45 MPa and a smooth surface, so PP, PE and TPE can be molded in a printed insert in an aluminum frame. It is brittle and conducts heat poorly, so cycle times are long, fine cores break, and PA, PC or glass-filled resins wear or crack it quickly. Use it for design validation of the molded part, not for production quantities.