Standard Resin vs. Tough/Durable Resin: Aesthetics vs. Mechanical Reality
At Craftcloud®, among the different 3D printing materials, you can find Standard, Tough, and Durable Resins, which offer a variety of advantages depending on your project’s goals. Which one is most suitable for your 3D printed part?
Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP), and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) are resin-based 3D printing technologies that are known for their ability to produce parts with high details and nearly invisible layer lines. There are a wide range of resins available, some of which boast aesthetic properties, others of which can present resilient qualities.
Standard Resin is an ideal choice when fine details and cost-efficiency are priorities. Depending on the 3D printing setup, prints can yield layer lines as low as 0.025 mm (25 microns), which is why it can be an ideal choice for miniatures or figurines that won’t be exposed to stress or impact. It is among the most affordable options in its material category. That said, Standard Resin is inherently brittle, which is why it is best selected for models that won’t be handled frequently or that won’t be in environments where they will be exposed to thermal stress or corrosive agents.
Tough and Durable Resins are engineering-grade materials that are formulated to replicate the properties of plastics like ABS and PP, thus providing mechanical resilience. Tough Resins offer high tensile strength and impact resistance, while Durable Resins provide high wear resistance and flexibility. While these options generally have a higher price than Standard Resin, their mechanical performance makes them highly cost-effective for functional parts.
Best Use Cases
Standard Resin could be the perfect choice for:
- Gaming miniatures and figurines
- Detailed architectural models
- Decorative pieces
Tough/Durable Resin would be more suitable for:
- Snap-fit enclosures
- Manufacturing jigs and fixtures
- Moving assemblies, gears, and hinges