CHOOSING AN SLA RESIN
We print SLA on the Formlabs Form 4 in 14 resins, from everyday detail resins to true silicone and castable patterns. Most jobs are decided by one question: what does the part have to do? Start with the decision tree, then use the table to compare. Not sure? Ask us or the quote-tool assistant and we'll point you at the right one.
START WITH WHAT THE PART DOES
14 FORM 4 RESINS
Standard resins are normally in stock. Engineering and specialty resins are special-order — we bring them in for your job, so they carry a surcharge and a per-material minimum. The quote link preselects the resin for you.
| RESIN | ANALOGUE | BEST FOR | STOCK | QUOTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STANDARD — Everyday detail resins — normally in stock, most affordable. | ||||
| Standard | General-purpose | Visual prototypes, minis, display & concept models. Clear polishes near-transparent. | IN STOCK | QUOTE › |
| Fast Model | Draft-speed | Early design iterations, form/fit checks — roughly twice as fast as standard. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| ENGINEERING — Functional resins tuned to a behaviour — strength, stiffness, heat or flex. Special-order (surcharge + £25 min). | ||||
| Tough 1500 | Polypropylene-like | Snap-fits, jigs, resilient functional prototypes that bend back. | IN STOCK | QUOTE › |
| Tough 2000 | ABS-like | Rugged enclosures and housings needing ABS-like strength. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| Rigid 4000 | Glass-filled | Thin walls, brackets, parts that must not flex. | IN STOCK | QUOTE › |
| Durable | Polyethylene-like | Living hinges and low-friction assemblies. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| High Temp | High-HDT | Heat deflection to 238°C — moulds, thermal testing, hot channels. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| Flexible 80A | Rubber, 80 Shore A | Firm grips, seals and cushioning parts. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| ESD | Static-dissipative | Electronics assembly aids, trays and fixtures. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| SPECIALTY — Exotic capabilities you can't get elsewhere. Special-order (surcharge + £50 min). | ||||
| Rigid 10K | Highly glass-filled | Ceramic-stiff short-run tooling and wind-tunnel models. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| Flame Retardant | UL 94 V-0 | Self-extinguishing electrical and transport parts. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| Silicone 40A | True silicone, 40 Shore A | Real silicone seals, gaskets, grommets and soft wearables. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| Flexible 50A | Very soft rubber | Very soft, squeezable grips and soft-touch parts. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
| Castable Wax | 20% wax-filled | Clean-burnout investment casting — jewellery and fine patterns. | SPECIAL ORDER | QUOTE › |
Need a transparent part? Use Standard in Clear — it polishes to near-glass clarity. (We don't offer a separate "clear cast" resin; Standard Clear covers optical and display parts.)
Want the numbers behind these picks — tensile strength, modulus, elongation, impact and heat deflection for every resin? The SLA resin technical reference has the full data tables.
GET AN SLA QUOTE
Upload your model, pick a resin, and price it instantly — same-resin parts uploaded together share one build plate and cost less each. The in-quote assistant can recommend a resin if you're unsure.