DFM for 3D Printing: A Practical Design Guide
Wall thickness, tolerances, supports, and hole sizing rules for printable parts.
Read the ArticleRigid 10K 3D Printing Material
Stereolithography (SLA) · Engineering Resins
Glass-filled resin with extreme stiffness and 238 °C HDT for industrial tooling.
What Is Rigid 10K?
Rigid 10K is a glass-fiber-reinforced SLA resin delivering extreme stiffness (88 MPa tensile) and the highest heat resistance of any resin in the catalog at 238 °C HDT. It produces dimensionally stable tooling, mold inserts, and structural parts that hold shape under sustained thermal and mechanical load.
Formlabs Rigid 10K Resin, printed with Stereolithography (SLA). Every order is reviewed by our engineering team - no minimum order quantity.
When to choose Rigid 10K
Choose Rigid 10K when your application demands the highest stiffness and heat resistance available in SLA. At 238 °C HDT and 88 MPa tensile, it operates in territory normally reserved for ULTEM - but on a desktop Form 4 with faster turnaround and lower cost. It is the resin of choice for injection-mold inserts, thermoforming molds, and any part that must hold geometry under sustained heat and load.
The trade-off is extreme brittleness: 1.7% elongation means Rigid 10K shatters under impact. Do not use it for parts that will be dropped, vibrated, or assembled repeatedly. For stiff parts that also need some toughness, Grey V5 (62 MPa, 13% elongation) is a better balance. For stiff parts at larger scale, SLS PA12-GF (3,300 MPa modulus, 175 °C HDT) provides isotropic properties in a bigger build envelope.
Rigid 10K is a specialized material - specify it when heat or stiffness is the non-negotiable requirement, and use Grey V5 or Tough 2000 for everything else.
Material Properties
Representative values - process- and orientation-dependent. Full technical datasheet available on request.
Process
Stereolithography (SLA)
Tensile strength
88 MPa
Elongation at break
1.7%
Flexural strength
158 MPa
Heat deflection (HDT)
238 °C @ 0.45 MPa
Density
1.45 g/cm³
Max build size
200 × 125 × 210 mm (Form 4)
Min wall thickness
0.5 mm
Resolution / layer
50–100 µm
Relative cost
$$$$ (1 = lowest, 4 = highest)
Design Guidelines
Plan features to print reliably and assemble cleanly in Rigid 10K. Need DFM help?
Min wall
0.5 mm - 0.8 mm+ for tooling loads
Min feature
0.3 mm - at 50 µm layer height
Clearance
0.2–0.3 mm - for mating parts
Max size
200 × 125 × 210 mm - Form 4 build volume
Dimensional tolerances
Typical tolerance on the Form 4 is ±0.1 mm or ±0.1%. The glass fill improves dimensional stability during curing and reduces thermal expansion in service. For mold inserts, compensate for injection-shrinkage of the molded polymer. Post-machining is possible with carbide tooling - the glass content wears HSS bits.
Printing notes
Rigid 10K prints on the Form 4 at 50–100 µm layer height. The glass-fiber fill creates a slightly rough surface compared to unfilled resins. Wash in IPA for 10–15 minutes after printing. Post-cure at 80 °C for 120 minutes under 405 nm UV light - the extended cure is critical to reach the full 238 °C HDT. Under-cured parts have significantly lower heat resistance. Supports must be removed carefully - the brittle material can chip at contact points. Use a flush cutter rather than twisting supports off.
How Rigid 10K Compares
Rigid 10K alongside related materials.
| Rigid 10K | Grey V5 | ULTEM 1010 | PA12-GF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 88 MPa | 62 MPa | 48–81 MPa | 38 MPa |
| Heat deflection (HDT) | 238 °C @ 0.45 MPa | 71 °C @ 0.45 MPa | 216 °C @ 0.45 MPa | 175 °C @ 0.45 MPa |
| Flexural modulus | - | 2,750 MPa | 2,230–2,820 MPa | 3,300 MPa |
| Elongation | 1.7% | 13% | 3–6% | 3–5% |
| Density | 1.45 g/cm³ | 1.18 g/cm³ | 1.27 g/cm³ | 1.30 g/cm³ |
| Relative cost | $$$$ | $$ | $$$$ | $$$ |
When to Use Rigid 10K
Where Rigid 10K fits, where it doesn't, and what to use instead.
Injection-mold inserts and soft tooling
238 °C HDT survives injection-molding cycle temperatures for low-volume runs of 50–200 shots in PP, PE, and low-temp resins, replacing machined aluminum tooling at a fraction of the cost.
EngineeringThermoforming bucks and vacuum-form molds
Extreme stiffness holds cavity shape through 100+ thermoforming pulls at 150–200 °C sheet temperatures without measurable distortion.
EngineeringCMM fixtures and precision inspection tooling
88 MPa tensile and near-zero thermal expansion at room temperature keep fixture datums within ±0.05 mm over months of production-floor use.
EngineeringTurbine and exhaust-path prototypes
238 °C HDT places Rigid 10K alongside ULTEM territory for short-duration hot-gas-path testing and airflow validation in aerospace and energy applications.
AerospaceHigh-stiffness structural brackets
158 MPa flexural strength resists deflection under bolt preload and sustained vibration, replacing machined-aluminum brackets in prototype and low-volume applications.
AutomotiveStrengths
- 238 °C HDT - the highest of any SLA resin and competitive with ULTEM 1010 (216 °C) at a fraction of the cost and lead time
- 88 MPa tensile and 158 MPa flex strength - strongest SLA resin in the catalog, outperforming Grey V5 (62 MPa) by 42%
- Functional injection-mold inserts for 50–200 shots - eliminates aluminum tooling cost for low-volume production validation
Keep in mind
- 1.7% elongation - extremely brittle; will shatter under impact or bending loads; not for parts that see shock, vibration, or assembly forces
- $$$$ cost tier - reserve for applications where the extreme heat and stiffness are actually required; Grey V5 at $$ handles most prototyping needs
- Glass-fiber content creates a slightly textured surface - not as smooth as standard SLA resins; fine cosmetic detail may require sanding
Finishes & Colors
Finishing options and in-stock colors for Rigid 10K.
Standard
Washed, post-cured; matte grey surface with glass texture.
Best for: Tooling, structural parts
Sanded
Glass texture smoothed for cosmetic applications.
Best for: Appearance models, mold surfaces
In-Stock Colors
Grey
Custom colors and dyeing available on request. Contact us for options.
Rigid 10K FAQ
Rigid 10K is used for injection-mold inserts, thermoforming molds, precision fixtures, and any part that must survive extreme heat (up to 238 °C) without losing shape. Its glass-fiber reinforcement delivers 88 MPa tensile - the strongest SLA resin in our catalog.
For low-volume injection molding (50–200 shots in PP, PE, or low-temp resins), Rigid 10K mold inserts can replace machined aluminum at a fraction of the cost and lead time. For high-volume production or abrasive polymers (glass-filled nylon), aluminum tooling is still necessary.
Rigid 10K has higher HDT (238 °C) than ULTEM 9085 (153 °C) and is competitive with ULTEM 1010 (216 °C). It prints on the Form 4 at lower cost and faster turnaround. ULTEM is tougher, larger-format, and available in certified aerospace grades. Choose Rigid 10K for small-format stiffness and heat; ULTEM for larger parts and certifications.
Extremely. At 1.7% elongation, Rigid 10K shatters under impact or bending loads. It is designed for parts that sit under sustained static load or heat, not for parts that are dropped, vibrated, or assembled repeatedly. For stiff parts that also need toughness, use Grey V5 or SLS PA12-GF.
Rigid 10K has a 238 °C HDT at 0.45 MPa - the highest of any SLA resin in our catalog and competitive with high-performance FDM materials. It survives injection-molding cycle temperatures, thermoforming heat, and sustained proximity to heat sources that would soften every other SLA resin.
The Form 4 holds ±0.1 mm or ±0.1% on Rigid 10K parts. The glass fill improves dimensional stability during cure and in service. For injection-mold inserts, account for the injection-shrinkage of the target polymer when designing cavity dimensions.
Yes. Rigid 10K can be drilled, milled, and tapped with carbide tooling. The glass-fiber content wears HSS bits quickly - use carbide or diamond-coated tools. Post-machining is common for mold-insert parting surfaces and ejector-pin bores.
Rigid 10K is an SLA resin - highest stiffness and heat resistance (238 °C HDT) in a small build volume with ±0.1 mm tolerance. PA12-GF is SLS nylon - lower heat resistance (175 °C HDT) but tougher, larger build volume (350 × 350 × 550 mm), and isotropic properties. Choose Rigid 10K for small precision tooling and extreme heat; PA12-GF for larger structural parts.
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