Flexible Resin

Rubber-Like Elasticity for 3D Printed Parts

Flexible resin opens up an entirely different category of applications in resin 3D printing. Unlike rigid photopolymers, flexible resin cures into a soft, rubber-like material that can bend, compress, and stretch repeatedly without cracking or breaking. This makes it the ideal choice for gaskets, seals, grips, wearable components, shock absorbers, and any part that needs to deform elastically under load and return to its original shape.

Modern flexible resins from Elegoo, Anycubic, and Liqcreate maintain the fine surface detail of standard photopolymers while delivering Shore hardness values comparable to soft rubber. The result is printed parts that combine resin's precision with the functional properties of elastomers — something that FDM printing with TPU filament simply cannot match at the same level of detail.

Flexible Resin vs TPU Filament

Both flexible resin and TPU filament produce elastic parts, but they serve different use cases. TPU filament excels for larger flexible parts with high elongation requirements — phone cases, shoe insoles, large gaskets. Flexible resin is the superior choice when you need fine detail combined with elasticity — intricate seals, small wearable components, miniature shock mounts, and flexible hinges where dimensional precision matters as much as flexibility.

Flexible Resin Applications

Gaskets and O-rings for mechanical assemblies, ergonomic grips and handles, wearable bands and straps, flexible hinges and living hinges, anti-vibration mounts, medical models for surgical simulation, and soft-touch consumer product components are all excellent applications for flexible resin. Its combination of detail and elasticity makes it uniquely versatile in both prototyping and end-use production.

Explore More Engineering Resins

Need rigidity with impact resistance instead of flexibility? Browse our ABS-Like Resin or our Tough Resin. Or explore all Engineering Resin options to find the right formulation for your application.

← Back to Engineering Resin | View all 3D Resins