3D Printing with Elastomeric Photopolymers

Printing with elastomeric materials like Silicone 40A can sometimes lead to print failures. Follow Formlabs’ best practices to ensure your prints come out perfectly. You might want to create tearaway supports for Silicone 40A prints to reduce the support marks and post-printing work.

Avoid abrupt changes in surface area, which may cause print failures.

Design chambers or fillets when possible.

Avoid unsupported overhangs.

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If changes in surface area are unavoidable, orient the part with the largest surface area closest to the build platform.

Minimum: 500 microns

Maximum Length: 400 microns

Maximum Length: 400 microns

Recommended: 20 degrees

Recommended: 500 microns

Recommended: 300 microns

If surface finish is a concern, you may wish to design custom supports for your parts using CAD software. To reduce post-processing time and support marks, design tearaway supports to allow for quick and easy removal.

Tearaway supports should taper to the smallest feasible connection point. The smallest recommended thickness is 0.25 mm to 0.4 mm. Smaller connection points may result in print failures.

After washing but before post-curing, make a small cut along the tapered connection. The support should tear away easily along that line without leaving large support marks.

BASE PART	BASE PART WITH AUTOMATIC SUPPORTS	PART WITH TEARAWAY SUPPORT STRUCTURE