Flexible Resin · hardness band
Flexible Resin Shore A 50
Properties of the Shore A 50 condition, compared with the other Flexible Resin grades.
Softest common flexible resin; pick for silicone-like feel, anatomical models, soft bellows and cushions.
What is Flexible Resin Shore A 50?
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 is Flexible Resin heat treated to Shore A 50 — softest common flexible resin; pick for silicone-like feel, anatomical models, soft bellows and cushions. Flexible Resin Shore A 50 has a tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.464 ksi), weaker than 82% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 160% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi). Flexible Resin Shore A 50 has a density of 1.1 g/cm³ (0.0397 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 5°C (41 °F). Shore A 80 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Shore A 50 is available on request or by drawing note.
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 96% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 25/100, worse than 90% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 60°C (140 °F), worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 1.2%, worse than 87% of polymer grades
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Flexible Resin Shore A 50 — 8 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Flexible Resin grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the polymer grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical4
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 has a density of 1.1 g/cm³ (0.0397 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 5°C (41 °F).
Mechanical8
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 has a tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.464 ksi), weaker than 82% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 160% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal8
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 is rated for continuous service to 60°C (140 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 180 µm/m·K (100 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 14 kV/mm (355.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 80% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Flexible Resin Shore A 50 takes about 115 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability4
Flexible Resin Shore A 50's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Flexible Resin grades and fills
Flexible Resin is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Flexible Resin overview.
- Shore A 80DefaultDefault and most-stocked flexible SLA resin: rubber-like but dimensionally stable enough for seals, grips, tubing and living hinges.9 MPa tensile
- Shore D 60PP/PE-like semi-flexible grade for snap-fit housings, low-friction assemblies and parts needing compliance plus real load capacity.22 MPa yield · 60 Shore D
- Shore A 90Stiffest rubber-range grade; choose for snap-fits, semi-rigid seals and parts needing higher tear resistance.12 MPa tensile
- Shore A 50Softest common flexible resin; pick for silicone-like feel, anatomical models, soft bellows and cushions.3 MPa tensile
Working with Flexible Resin Shore A 50
Is Flexible Resin easy to machine?
Essentially unmachinable in the rubber range — the part tears and smears; trim supports with sharp blades or cryo-freeze before cutting, and avoid drilling.
Can Flexible Resin be welded?
Thermoset and non-weldable; join by cyanoacrylate/UV-cure adhesive, or print-in-place and overmold instead.
Can Flexible Resin be formed, bent or molded?
Print at 25–100 µm layers with dense supports (parts sag), wash briefly in IPA to avoid swelling, then post-cure (typ. 60–70 °C, 405 nm, 10–20 min) — properties are only reached after full post-cure.
What surface finishes work on Flexible Resin?
Cannot be sanded cleanly or painted durably; keep as-printed matte, or dip/spray with flexible urethane coating and dust with talc to stop tackiness.
Flexible Resin 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 |
|---|---|---|
| aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomersoft-segment backbone that sets elasticity | 40 – 70 | 55 |
| photoinitiator (acylphosphine oxide type385/405 nm cure | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
| additives (pigment, UV blocker, stabiliz | 0.1 – 3 | 1 |
| acrylate/methacrylate reactive diluent mviscosity control and crosslink density | ≥ 25 (balance) | — |
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 — frequently asked
What is Flexible Resin Shore A 50 used for?
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 is typically used for gasket and seal prototypes, soft-touch grips and handles, wearable device straps and cuffs, overmould and two-shot appearance mock-ups, flexible hinges and bellows and vibration-damping pads and bumpers. In short: soft printable elastomer resin.
What is the tensile strength of Flexible Resin Shore A 50?
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 has a typical tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.464 ksi) — weaker than 82% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Flexible Resin Shore A 50 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades). Essentially unmachinable in the rubber range — the part tears and smears; trim supports with sharp blades or cryo-freeze before cutting, and avoid drilling.
Can Flexible Resin Shore A 50 be welded?
Thermoset and non-weldable; join by cyanoacrylate/UV-cure adhesive, or print-in-place and overmold instead.
What surface finishes work on Flexible Resin Shore A 50?
Cannot be sanded cleanly or painted durably; keep as-printed matte, or dip/spray with flexible urethane coating and dust with talc to stop tackiness.
Can Flexible Resin Shore A 50 be formed, bent or molded?
Print at 25–100 µm layers with dense supports (parts sag), wash briefly in IPA to avoid swelling, then post-cure (typ. 60–70 °C, 405 nm, 10–20 min) — properties are only reached after full post-cure.
What is the maximum service temperature of Flexible Resin Shore A 50?
Flexible Resin Shore A 50 is rated for continuous use to about 60°C (140 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in Flexible Resin Shore A 50?
Yes — Flexible Resin Shore A 50 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
- Flexible / Elastic photopolymer resin technical data sheets (SLA/LCD elastomeric resins) — Formlabs / Anycubic / eSUN / Siraya Tech (2024)
- ASTM D412 / D624 / D2240 — tensile, tear and durometer test methods for elastomers — ASTM (2021)
- ISO 10993-5/-10 — biological evaluation of medical devices (cytotoxicity, sensitization) — ISO (2021)
- Handbook of UV-curable oligomers and photopolymer network properties — Wiley/SITA technology background (2019)
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.