SLA – Accura ClearVue
Accura ClearVue is a transparent, polycarbonate-like resin for SLA 3D printing from 3D Systems. It combines high clarity with durable, thermoplastic-like mechanical properties, so it works well for parts that need to simulate glass or clear plastic, from lenses and light pipes to fluid flow models and transparent assemblies.
What Accura ClearVue Is Best For
- Lighting, lenses, headlamps, and windows
- Fluid flow visualization models
- Transparent assemblies and housings
- Packaging, bottles, and containers
- Medical models and devices (USP Class VI capable)
- Prototypes of conformal cooling molds
- Any model that needs high clarity
When another material is a better fit
- Need a clear part with a lower price: Clear Resin
- Need an opaque, high-impact part: Accura Xtreme White 200
- Need a flexible, polypropylene-like part: Accura 25
Key Material Facts
- High clarity: 87.2% luminous transmittance and 4.3% haze (0.495 mm sample)
- Thermoplastic-like performance, look, and feel
- USP Class VI capable, per 3D Systems
- Very high humidity resistance (0.3% water absorption)
- Parts can be printed solid and air and fluid tight right off the printer, with no sealing required
- Works with glue joints and light welding; printed threads are possible, but Helicoil inserts are recommended
Accura ClearVue Material Properties
Version note: we currently print with the latest Accura ClearVue formulation from 3D Systems.
Mechanical and thermal properties (post-cured, from 3D Systems’ published data sheet)
| Property | Metric | English | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 46–53 MPa | 6700–7700 psi | ASTM D638 |
| Tensile modulus | 2270–2640 MPa | 329–383 ksi | ASTM D638 |
| Elongation at break | 3–15% | 3–15% | ASTM D638 |
| Flexural strength | 72–84 MPa | 10,400–12,200 psi | ASTM D790 |
| Flexural modulus | 1980–2310 MPa | 287–335 ksi | ASTM D790 |
| Notched Izod impact | 40–58 J/m | 0.7–1.1 ft-lbf/in | ASTM D256 |
| Heat deflection temperature @ 0.45 MPa | 51°C | 124°F | ASTM D648 |
| Heat deflection temperature @ 1.82 MPa | 50°C | 122°F | ASTM D648 |
| CTE, 25–50°C | 122 µm/m-°C | 68 µin/in-°F | TMA |
| CTE, 50–100°C | 155 µm/m-°C | 86 µin/in-°F | TMA |
| Glass transition temperature | 62°C | 144°F | DMA, E″ |
| Hardness | 80 Shore D | 80 Shore D | ASTM D2240 |
| Water absorption | 0.3% | 0.3% | ASTM D570 |
| Density @ 25°C | 1.17 g/cm³ | 0.042 lb/in³ | ASTM D792 |
Optical properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Haze @ 0.495 mm (0.195 in) | 4.3% |
| Luminous transmittance @ 0.495 mm | 87.2% |
| Diffuse transmittance @ 0.495 mm | 3.8% |
| Index of refraction | 1.508 |
| Color (L*, a*, b*) | 95.45, −0.54, 1.36 |
More information on Accura ClearVue is available from 3D Systems, the material manufacturer.
Design Tips for Accura ClearVue
Supports leave small marks that show through clear parts, so we orient each Accura ClearVue part to keep support marks off the faces that need to be clearest. Tell us which surfaces need to be see-through when you request a quote. Flat, open surfaces are the easiest to sand and polish to optical clarity; deep internal channels are hard to reach.
Our SLA Part Design Guide covers wall thickness, orientation, and support placement for SLA parts.
Finish and Color Options
Accura ClearVue parts are transparent. How clear the finished part looks depends on the finish level, so tell us when you request a quote how clear the part needs to be.
Level 0: Strip and ship – we clean off excess resin and remove supports. Support surfaces are left rough. The part is transparent, but layer lines are visible and the view through it is blurry.
Level 1: Bead blast – we sand support surfaces and bead blast the entire part for a uniform finish. Parts have a frosted, milk-jug appearance.
Level 2: Rough clear coat – we sand rough support areas smooth and clear coat the part. Layer lines show in the clear coat, but you can easily see through the part and make out details on the other side.
Level 3: Optical clear coat – we hand sand layer lines off the entire part, then clear coat it. This is as close to optically clear as an SLA part can get.
See all of our finishing and post-processing options.
Accura ClearVue Part Gallery
Related Resources
- SLA 3D printing overview
- SLA part design guide
- Accuracy of 3D printed parts
- Machine and material comparison
If you like what you see...
You should sign up for our quarterly email newsletter! We send out a summary of all the latest testing videos, design guides, and anything else cool that has been added to the F3DP website 4 times a year.
We hate spam as much as you do so we only send all killer content and no filler BS!