New elastic & ultra-soft Elastomer-X 3D-printing resin

Now available, Elastomer-X, an ultra soft and elastic 3D-printing resin. This article originally appeared on3D-printing industry and is slightly altered on this page.

Independent Netherlands-based photopolymer resin manufacturer Liqcreate added a new elastic engineering resin to its already extensive 3D-printing resin portfolio. Designed to be one of the softest elastomeric 3D-printing resins on the market, Elastomer-X features high elongation. Combined with a decent tear strength and a Shore A hardness of as low as 43 it is mimicing properties of soft TPU’s and silicones. With these mechanical properties, Liqcreate says its latest polymer is ideal for printing digital lattice foams, soft end of arm tooling (EOAT) for robots, grommets, bellows and elastic industrial parts.

Liqcreate 3D-printing resin range for flexible and elastic photopolymers.

With the launch of Elastomer-X, Liqcreate now offers a range of commercial flexible and elastic resins under the Liqcreate brand. each of which is designed to address a distinct application area in mind. The most rigid of these, Premium Flex, has a Shore A hardness of 65. We say “most rigid”, but with a Shore A of 65 it is still very flexible and soft. Making it perfect for those seeking a soft resin that’s well suited to rapid prototyping.

By contrast, the firm’s Flexible-X resin has a Shore A of 55, making it slightly softer. With a decent tear strength it is an excellent material for covering engineering-type applications.

One step softer again, the company’s latest polymer, Elastomer-X, has a Shore A of 43, making it the softest in its range. With a tear strength of 10-12 kN/m, the resin is also one of the most tear-resistant materials in its class. As such, it’s thought the plastic could soon find extensive applications as a soft TPU replacement.

All of these resins are designed to be compatible with open SLA, DLP, and MSLA systems in the 385-420 nm range. Liqcreate’s TPU-like material is said to be characterized by excellent elongation, good tear strength properties. These qualities, which the resin has demonstrated via testing, combine to make it ideal for creating an array of elastic industrial components.

In terms of coloring, Elastomer-X ships as a clear liquid. Resulting prints will feature a clear / slightly hazy finish. The material’s appearance can be changed with almost any commercial resin colorant for 3D-printing. Something that could be ideal for creating opaque elastic parts. Detailed information regarding coloring can be found via the Liqcreate website.

Applications for elastomeric, flexible and soft 3D-printing photopolymer resins.

There are plenty of potential applications out there for these soft resins with a high level of tear strength. Such materials not only enable the creation of soft lattice structures capable of mimicking the behavior of foams. Also they could be useful in robotics industry. In place of silicone, it’s possible that users can 3D print Elastomer-X into soft, skin-like structures, or manufacture industrial robotic grippers and fingers.

Additionally, Liqcreate’s broader resin R&D and production efforts in the fields of SLA, MSLA, and DLP 3D printing, continue to unlock applications in the medical, industrial, automotive and consumer goods sectors. This range, which now spans premium, creative, engineering, castable and general purpose resins, has rapidly expanded in recent years.

Alongside its general-purpose polymers, which are designed to provide users with a high level of print accuracy and a smooth finish. Liqcreate launched the high-throughput MSLA focused Premium Tough and Premium Flex resins. For those seeking to make rugged parts, Liqcreate has also introduced the Tough-X, Flexible-X and Composite-X photopolymers, with a variation of strong impact-resistance and rebound properties.

With the latter, the company has added an ultra-stiff resin to its portfolio that offers completely different characteristics to the rest of its range. The polymer is reinforced by micro-nano particles, in a way that provides it with excellent strength, and once heated, it reacts by becoming much more rigid than conventional photopolymers.

Elsewhere, for dental customers, Liqcreate has launched its Premium Model, Dental Model Pro and Gingiva Mask materials, as well as its Wax Castable resins. Between them, these enable the creation of dental aligner models with low shrinkage and high dimensional stability, in addition to soft tissue, gum-like parts for dental implant models.

3D printing resin for OEM and white label clients.

Next to the Liqcreate branded resin range, there are also possibilities to develop custom materials for those in need of a non-standard formula for a specific application. Through this OEM service, customers can request the development of a polymer with precise characteristics, which impact its print speed and color, as well as the properties of resulting parts.

When it comes to elastic or flexible resins, clients can even request the formulation of materials with a Shore A hardness of anything from 30 to 100. Once customers have started a custom material development project, Liqcreate’s engineers work to develop a resin according to their specifications, and provide guidance on how to dial in their new resins for a given printer, preparing them for production.

As an independent resin manufacturer with R&D facilities, Liqcreate is also able to rapidly scale its production of custom-made resins where needed. What’s more, the company’s standalone nature means there is little to no competition or conflict when working with 3D printer hardware manufacturers. As such, the firm is able to work quickly and get resins to market in quantity, without encountering issues that might otherwise keep clients waiting.

Potential customers can find out more about the firm’s material portfolio by visiting the Liqcreate website or reaching out to a Liqcreate representative or dealer to learn more about the new Elastomer-X photopolymer 3D printing resin.