Tough 1000 Resin
A ductile, impact-resistant SLA resin with strength, stiffness, and toughness comparable to high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Tough 1000 bends, compresses, and deforms without cracking, and keeps doing it over tens of thousands of cycles.
Real Tough 1000 Parts
Actual Formlabs SLA prints in Tough 1000 Resin, not renders.
Summary & Key Takeaways
- Most Ductile of the Tough Family: 180% elongation at break lets parts bend and deform well past the point where a standard resin snaps.
- Built for Repeated Motion: A Ross flex fatigue life above 100,000 cycles at 23 °C suits living hinges and mechanisms that move for the life of the part.
- Simulates HDPE: Strength, stiffness, and toughness in the range of high-density polyethylene, with a low-friction matte surface.
- Not a High-Heat Material: A 44.6 °C heat deflection temperature means it softens near hot surfaces; choose Rigid 4000 or High Temp Resin for those.
Compare Tough 1000 to Other 3D Printing Materials
A quick, scannable comparison against the alternatives engineers usually weigh against it. All values are shown at once; use the buttons to focus on one comparison at a time.
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| Property | Tough 1000 | Tough 1500 | Tough 2000 | Nylon 12 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile modulus | 0.931 GPa | 1.46 GPa | 1.8 GPa | 1.9 GPa |
| Flexural strength | 29 MPa | 41 MPa | 67 MPa | 66 MPa |
| Elongation at break | 180% | 155% | 79% | 11% |
| Notched Izod impact | 72 J/m | 42 J/m | 25 J/m | 32 J/m |
| Heat deflection temp (0.45 MPa) | 44.6 °C | 66 °C | 70 °C | 87 °C |
| Support structures | Removable supports for overhangs | Removable supports for overhangs | Removable supports for overhangs | None required |
Why Choose Tough 1000 Resin?
The most ductile resin in the Tough family, aimed at parts that have to move, flex, and survive handling.
Bends Instead of Breaking
180% elongation at break paired with a low 0.931 GPa tensile modulus means thin features, clips, and hinges deflect under load and recover, rather than fracturing the way a stiff resin does.
Fatigue Life for Moving Parts
A Ross flex fatigue life above 100,000 cycles at 23 °C and a work of fracture of 3,200 J/m² make it suited to living hinges, latches, and enclosures that get opened and closed repeatedly.
Low-Friction Matte Surface
Parts print in a matte dark grey with a smooth, low-friction surface, so sliding and mating features work without extra finishing and presentation parts need no paint.
Tough 1000 Design Rules (DFM) at a Glance
Formlabs SLA design guidelines for Form 3 and Form 4 generation printers. Check your CAD feature dimensions against these limits before uploading your file.
| Min. wall thickness (supported) | 1.0 mm |
|---|---|
| Min. wall thickness (unsupported) | 1.0 mm |
| Min. embossed detail | 0.1 mm |
| Min. engraved detail (width & depth) | 0.15 mm |
| Min. hole diameter | 0.5 mm |
| Min. drain hole diameter | 2.5 mm |
| Clearance between separate or moving parts | 0.5 mm min |
| Max. unsupported overhang | 5.0 mm · 10° min. angle from level |
| Max. single-part build size | 353 × 196 × 350 mm |
Source: Formlabs SLA design specifications for Form 3 / Form 4 generation printers, adapted to hold walls to a higher minimum than Formlabs' published figures. Tough 1000 is ductile rather than brittle, so thin features tend to bend rather than crack, but the same minimum wall applies so parts survive support removal and handling. These are general guidelines; cross-section, hole depth, and part geometry can shift the safe minimums for a specific design. Maximum build size reflects our largest-format SLA printer; actual build size depends on which machine your order routes to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about designing, ordering, and using Tough 1000 parts on Form Now.