Tough 1500 Resin
A resilient SLA resin with strength, stiffness, and toughness comparable to polypropylene (PP). Tough 1500 balances stiffness with spring-back, so compliant mechanisms, snap fits, and self-tapping screw bosses keep working after repeated cycles.
Real Tough 1500 Parts
Actual Formlabs SLA prints in Tough 1500 Resin, not renders.
Summary & Key Takeaways
- Simulates Polypropylene: Stiffness and toughness in the range of PP, so PP-intended designs can be validated before tooling.
- Stiffness Plus Spring-Back: 155% elongation at break at a 1.46 GPa tensile modulus, the balance point between flexible Tough 1000 and rigid Tough 2000.
- Holds Screws and Snap Fits: Suited to self-tapping screw bosses, snap-fit connectors, and compliant mechanisms that get assembled and disassembled.
- Skin Safe: Rated skin safe on its technical data sheet, which makes it usable for wearables and handled parts.
Compare Tough 1500 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 1500 | Tough 1000 | Tough 2000 | Nylon 12 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile modulus | 1.46 GPa | 0.931 GPa | 1.8 GPa | 1.9 GPa |
| Flexural strength | 41 MPa | 29 MPa | 67 MPa | 66 MPa |
| Elongation at break | 155% | 180% | 79% | 11% |
| Notched Izod impact | 42 J/m | 72 J/m | 25 J/m | 32 J/m |
| Heat deflection temp (0.45 MPa) | 66 °C | 44.6 °C | 70 °C | 87 °C |
| Support structures | Removable supports for overhangs | Removable supports for overhangs | Removable supports for overhangs | None required |
Why Choose Tough 1500 Resin?
The middle of the Tough family, and the one to reach for when a part has to be stiff enough to hold shape and compliant enough to snap together.
Compliant Without Going Soft
A 1.46 GPa tensile modulus keeps walls and bosses rigid under load, while 155% elongation at break lets snap arms and living features deflect and return without taking a permanent set.
Assemblies That Come Apart Again
Self-tapping screws bite and hold, and snap-fit connectors survive repeated engagement, so multi-part enclosures and fixtures can be assembled, opened, and reassembled during testing.
Resists Fracture, Not Just Impact
High fracture toughness means a crack has to do real work to travel, so parts absorb drops and clamping loads rather than splitting from a stress riser such as a sharp internal corner or a screw boss.
Tough 1500 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 1500 is resilient rather than brittle, so it tolerates thin features better than a glass-filled resin, 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 1500 parts on Form Now.