In the rapidly evolving world of 3D printing and additive manufacturing, material innovation continues to push boundaries. At RapAdd MFG, we’re excited to introduce a groundbreaking material offering: super-soft resins. These materials, with Shore hardness options ranging from 90D to 10A, open up new possibilities for creating flexible, durable, and detailed parts across various industries.

Whether you're designing flexible prototypes, ergonomic grips, or medical devices, super-soft resins for 3D printing provide the versatility needed to meet even the most demanding project requirements.

What Are Super-Soft Resins for 3D Printing?

Super-soft resins are a class of elastomeric materials used in additive manufacturing to create parts with variable flexibility. These resins can range in Shore hardness from 90D (harder) to 10A (extremely soft and flexible). This range makes them suitable for various applications, from industrial gaskets to custom grips and medical components.

By offering such a wide spectrum of flexibility, super-soft resins enable manufacturers to produce parts that not only have the required strength and durability but also the comfort and pliability needed in industries like healthcare, wearables, and automotive.

A gasket made from Shore 10A resin. Can be rolled back and forth all day long

Benefits of Super-Soft Resins in Additive Manufacturing

1. Enhanced Flexibility and Durability

One of the major advantages of super-soft resins is their ability to provide soft-touch surfaces while maintaining excellent durability. Whether you need flexible materials for wearable devices or impact-resistant parts for industrial applications, super-soft resins can be customized to meet those requirements.

• Medical devices: For products such as prosthetics or soft braces, super-soft resins ensure both comfort and resilience.

• Wearables: Smartwatches, health monitors, and other skin-contact devices benefit from soft, comfortable materials.

2. High Precision and Detailed Customization

Unlike traditional rubber molding techniques, which may limit the intricacy of designs, additive manufacturing with super-soft resins allows for the creation of highly detailed and complex parts. This is particularly important for industries such as:

• Consumer electronics: Creating soft-touch components that fit around delicate hardware.

• Prototyping: Designers can quickly test flexible and detailed features without committing to expensive molds.

3. Fast Prototyping and Production Times

With automated 3D printing processes, super-soft resins enable rapid prototyping and customization, making it easier for product developers to iterate and test their designs. Whether you’re refining an existing product or launching a new one, the ability to quickly print flexible, durable prototypes reduces development time and costs.

4. Cost-Effective Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing, especially with materials like super-soft resins, eliminates the need for traditional molds, which are both time-consuming and expensive to produce. By leveraging 3D printing technology, manufacturers can create custom parts at a fraction of the cost and time compared to traditional methods.

Applications of Super-Soft Resins Across Industries

Super-soft resins are highly versatile, making them suitable for a wide range of applications across different industries:

1. Medical Devices

Super-soft resins are ideal for custom prosthetics, orthopedic supports, and other medical devices that require patient-specific customization. Their flexibility and skin-safe properties make them perfect for products that need to be worn for extended periods.

With soft materials we can also better mimic human tissues in order to create medical training models, like this jaw. By printing the bone and teeth from normal resin and the gums from shore 10A resin, we managed to create a realistic model for dentistry students to practice tooth extractions on. 

What better way for medicine students to practice than on patient-specific models created with materials that mimic the real tissues as close as possible?

2. Wearables and Consumer Products

As the market for wearable technology continues to grow, super-soft resins are the perfect choice for creating soft, flexible components that come into contact with the skin. Fitness trackers, smartwatches, and health monitors can all be improved with these materials, offering comfort without sacrificing durability.

3. Automotive and Industrial Applications

For industrial parts such as seals, gaskets, and protective covers, super-soft resins offer the flexibility and toughness needed to handle the demands of harsh environments. In the automotive industry, they provide a solution for parts that need to endure compression and movement while maintaining structural integrity.

4. Consumer Goods

From ergonomic handles to soft-touch grips, super-soft resins enable manufacturers to create products that are both comfortable and functional. Customization is key in consumer goods, and these resins allow for the perfect balance of design and performance.

Why Choose RapAdd MFG for Your Super-Soft Resin Needs?

At RapAdd MFG, we are at the forefront of additive manufacturing innovation. Our advanced 3D printing systems allow us to produce high-quality, flexible parts quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re looking to develop prototypes, manufacture custom products, or explore the versatility of super-soft resins, we have the expertise and technology to bring your ideas to life.

By choosing RapAdd MFG, you benefit from:

• Fast production times: Our automated 3D printing systems can deliver custom parts within hours.

• Wide range of Shore hardness options: From 90D to 10A, we offer a full range of material options to suit any application.

• Cost-effective manufacturing: Save time and money by avoiding traditional molding methods.

Conclusion: Unlock the Power of Super-Soft Resins for Your Next Project

Super-soft resins are revolutionizing additive manufacturing, offering unprecedented flexibility, durability, and precision across various industries. Whether you’re creating medical devices, wearables, or automotive components, RapAdd MFG’s super-soft resin solutions can help you meet your goals faster and more cost-effectively.

Ready to learn more? Contact RapAdd MFG today for a free consultation or get an instant quote. Discover how super-soft resins can take your products to the next level.