For prototyping purposes clear 3D printed parts are sometimes required. These can range from a lens for an automotive headlight to a clear manifold block for fluid flow studies. No mater what the reason is, we can help you with your 3D printed clear parts. At Forerunner 3DP we have 2 different 3D printing technologies that can produce clear prototype parts:
SLA 3D Printing Somos WaterShed XC 11122:
As one of the industry’s most popular materials, Somos WaterShed XC 11122 is the clear solution for numerous applications. Whether you’re a Designer looking for highly detailed parts with superior clarity and water resistance, or an Engineer focusing on durability for functional testing. Somos WaterShed XC 11122 mimics the look and feel of clear thermoplastics, such as ABS and PBT. Somos WaterShed XC 11122 also produces 3D printed clear parts that are optically clear parts with a smooth finish and it’s ease of use helps to shorten product development and testing. This versatility means Somos WaterShed XC 11122 is the ideal material in markets such as automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics for applications including packaging, RTV patterns, durable concept models, wind tunnel testing and investment casting patterns.
| Mechanical / Thermal Properties | Mechanical Properties | Mechanical Properties | Mechanical Properties |
| ASTM Method | Property Description | Metric | Imperial |
| D638M | Tensile Strength at Break | 50.4 MPa | 7.3 ksi |
| D638M | Elongation at Break | 15.5% | 15.5% |
| D638M | Elongation at Yield | 3% | 3% |
| D638M | Tensile Modulus | 2,770 MPa | 402 ksi |
| D790M | Flexural Strength | 68.7 MPa | 10.0 ks |
| D2240 | Flexural Modulus | 2,205 MPa | 320 ksi |
| D256A | Izod Impact (Notched) | 25 J/m | 0.47 ft-lb/in |
| D648 | HDT @ 0.46 MPa (66 psi) | 50°C | 122°F |
| D648 | HDT @ 1.81 MPa (264 psi) | 49°C | 120°F |
Somos WaterShed XC 11122 material spec sheet
Examples of 3D printed clear parts using SLA 3D Printing:
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- SLA 3D Printed Light Pipe
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- SLA 3D Printed prototype assembly using both Somos WaterShed XC 11122 and Somos Next Materials
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- SLA 3D Printed clear cover for a prototype
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- SLA 3D Printed laser scan of a mounted deer
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- Clear parts coming up out of the SLA 500 3D Printer
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- Example of a SLA watershed part, 1/2 clear, 1/2 natural
PolyJet 3D Printing VeroClear:
VeroClear is a transparent material that simulates PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), commonly known as acrylic. Like PMMA, VeroClear is used as an alternative to glass and is ideal for concept modeling and design verification of clear parts such as eyewear, light covers, and medical devices. It offers strength, stiffness, elongation and impact resistance, and the ability to blend with other materials for a range of opacities, hues, and hardness. VeroClear enables visualization of internal components and features, and simulation of glass ideal for form and fit testing of see-through parts.
| Mechanical / Thermal Properties | Mechanical Properties | Mechanical Properties | Mechanical Properties |
| ASTM Method | Property Description | Metric | Imperial |
| D638M | Tensile Strength | 50-65 MPa | 7,250-9,450 psi |
| D638M | Elongation at Break | 10-25% | 10-25% |
| D638M | Modulus of Elasticity | 2,000-3,000 MPa | 290,000-435,000 psi |
| D790M | Flexural Strength | 75-110 MPa | 11,000-16,000 psi |
| D2240 | Flexural Modulus | 2,200-3,200 MPa | 320,000-465,000 psi |
| D256A | Izod Impact (Notched) | 20-30 J/m | 0.375-0.562 ft-lb/inch |
| D648 | HDT @ 0.46 MPa (66 psi) | 45-50 °C | 113-122 °F |
| D648 | HDT @ 1.81 MPa (264 psi) | 45-50 °C | 113-122 °F |
View / Download the VeroClear data sheet
Examples of clear 3D Printed parts using PolyJet 3D Printing:
| Display Covers | Valve Blocks and Flow Analysis |
| Drinking Glasses | Bottles and Containers |
| Drinks Vessels | Home Vacuum Cleaner Parts |
| Illumination Effects | Wind Tunnel Applications |
| Light Lenses | Light Pipes |
| Display Trays | Clear Prototypes That Allow For Internal Components To Be Seen |
Standard finishes offered for clear 3D Printed parts:
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- Clear – Level 1 Strip & Ship – Excess resin is cleaned off the parts and supports are removed. Support surfaces are not sanded and are left rough. Part is transparent but layer lines are visible and looking through the part will be blurry.
- Unless specified this is the finish all parts we print are shipped with.
- Cost: FREE
- Clear – Level 1 Bead Blast – Support surfaces are sanded. Bead blast applied to entire part for uniform finish. Parts have a smoked appearance like a milk jug.
- Cost: $
- Clear – Level 2 Rough Coat – Rough support areas are sanded smooth and the part is clear coated, layer lines will be visible in the clear coat but you can easily see through the part and make out details on the other side.
- Cost: $$$
- Clear – Level 3 Optical Coat – Layer lines removed from the entire part by hand sanding, Part is then clear coated and its as close to being optically clear* as is possible.
- Cost: $$$$
- Clear – Level 1 Strip & Ship – Excess resin is cleaned off the parts and supports are removed. Support surfaces are not sanded and are left rough. Part is transparent but layer lines are visible and looking through the part will be blurry.
NOTE:
- *There is no such thing as a truly “optically clear” 3D printed part. To the human eye the part will appear clear like glass, but due to the part being built with layers it will scatter things like light, lasers, and sometimes vision systems in unpredictable ways.
