IBT Flex Resin Manufacturing Guide

IBT Flex Resin is a light-curable polymer resin designed for the additive fabrication of biocompatible, short-term use, removable dental appliances. It is ideal for applications such as indirect bonding trays and trays for guided restorative techniques.

This guide provides essential recommendations and requirements for equipment, printing, and post-processing to ensure the correct and safe usage of this material.

Key Manufacturing Considerations

Formlabs has validated IBT Flex Resin specifications using dedicated hardware and parameters. Key components include:

Hardware & Software:

• Printers: Formlabs Form 3B/3B+, Form 3BL, Form 4B
• Accessories: Formlabs Build Platforms, Formlabs Resin Tanks
• Software: Formlabs PreForm

Printing Parameters:

• Layer Thickness: 50, 100, 200 µm (model dependent)
• Part Orientation: Flat on build platform without supports (50/100 µm), or with supports up to 40° tilt. Flat for 200 µm.
• Minimum Part Thickness: 1 mm

Post-Processing Equipment:

• Processing Accessories: Formlabs Resin Pumping System
• Wash Units: Formlabs Form Wash series
• Cure Units: Formlabs Form Cure series

Manufacturing Process Overview

The manufacturing process involves several key stages:

• Printing: Prepare print job in PreForm, orient parts, generate supports if needed, and send to printer.
• Part Removal: Remove parts from the build platform using appropriate tools.
• Washing: Wash parts in a Formlabs-validated wash unit with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA).
• Drying: Air dry parts at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
• Post-Curing: Cure parts in a Formlabs-validated unit (Form Cure or Fast Cure) according to specified times and temperatures.
• Finishing: Remove supports and polish as needed.
• Cleaning & Disinfection: Clean and disinfect parts according to facility protocols.

Additional Requirements & Safety

For trays used in guided restorative techniques, apply a separating agent to reduce adhesion to composite materials.

Cured resin is non-hazardous and can be disposed of as regular waste. For more information, refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) at support.formlabs.com.