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I have an FDM printer, I printed ABS for years.

Since SLA printers became really cheap lately and are able to print finer details, are there resins out there as strong as ABS/PLA?

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  • $\begingroup$ Sounds like someone might need to test a few parts and find out. Print the same test part both ways and see if there's a significant strength difference... $\endgroup$
    – Zeiss Ikon
    Aug 31, 2021 at 18:26
  • $\begingroup$ short answer is no in general for the same part (this has to do with how things being bonded have more weak points to crack and fail vs extruded -strongest bonded will be weaker than strongest extruded except for maybe some ceramic), but maybe for the same use case- you may be able to build finer structures within the same requirements that produce better results. $\endgroup$
    – Abel
    Sep 1, 2021 at 10:57
  • $\begingroup$ If you look to cheap ones (< 100 Euro/litre), not likely. Either more flexible like Siraya tenacious, or less impact resistant. If you look at Formfutura resins (at least 100 Euro/litre), you'll have better luck. $\endgroup$
    – FarO
    Nov 30, 2022 at 8:59

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Not inherently

SLA prints are usually very glasslike in their internal structure and thus are often quite brittle: They tend to break with a very distinct, sharp failure mode. Their compression strength is often high but their tensile strength is limited, and their resistance to side loads is low.

Due to the printing method solidifying the resin layer by layer, there is an inherent stress pattern, resulting in the items having a much lower strength than monolithic casted resins that cured in shape.

Yes, as an intermediate step

However, their print resolution makes them an excellent solution to create a mold which then can be used to create the actual part. Due to the thermal properties, one can't melt SLA prints, making lost-model investment casting not available.

Greensand casting isn't available for most resin or plastic materials. However, if the part is removable from the sand shells, it is a method that could make metal copies of your SLA printed masters.

As an alternative, rotary casting might be possible if the part can be removed from halves. Also, such prints are perfectly suited to making high detail silicone molds with limited undercuts, into which high durable liquid plastics (PVC) or 2-component casting resins can be cast for curing. In contrast to SLA resins, these cure into a monolithic product, which then is often much more durable to side loads.

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I'm an owner of both an FDM printer and a resin one:

I've long searched a resin capable of printing durable objects even in tiny details but with poor luck. I've tried ABS-Like resins, and they provide a slightly better resistance than regular resin but do not expect great improvements; I've tryed the siraya tech Blue V2 that is for sure much more durable but eventually would fail on the smaller details...

In the end i think I'll try the flexible resins like the Liquicreate flexible X or the Siraya tech Tenacious because those (similarly to TPU in FDM) can better absorb energy from impacts and having a smaller young's modulus can help when under load.

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  • $\begingroup$ Have you checked expensive resins like Formfutura or the other ones which start at 100 Euro/litre and easily reach 200? $\endgroup$
    – FarO
    Nov 30, 2022 at 8:59

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