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FlexOne Flexible Resin

What is FlexOne Flexible Resin?

FlexOne Flexible Resin is a high-performance UV-curable flexible resin launched under eSUN's iSUN3D business line. Leveraging vat photopolymerization technology, it achieves material isotropy, perfectly reproduces complex shock-absorbing lattice structures, and delivers outstanding mechanical resilience and tear resistance — purpose-built for functional elastic parts such as 3D printed shoe midsoles, custom insoles and sports protective gear.

Unlike traditional FDM flexible printing, which suffers from weak Z-axis interlayer bonding, FlexOne relies on vat photopolymerization to fundamentally eliminate interlayer anisotropy, enabling the elastomer to exhibit consistent mechanical performance in all directions. Paired with a high-resolution light engine, it can form complex soft-hard gradient lattice structures in a single print, providing a brand-new solution for the digital manufacturing of functional elastic parts.

Isotropic Forming

Leverages vat photopolymerization to eliminate the weak Z-axis interlayer bonding bottleneck, enabling consistent mechanical performance in all directions.

Perfect Lattice Reproduction

Paired with a high-resolution light engine, it can perfectly print ultra-fine shock-absorbing lattice structures, achieving integrated soft-hard gradient forming.

Outstanding Resilience & Tear Resistance

Excellent elongation at break and energy return, withstanding tens of thousands of dynamic compressions without permanent deformation.

Purpose-Built for Functional Elastic Parts

Designed specifically for 3D printed shoe midsoles, custom insoles and sports protective gear — ready to use out of the box.

Why FlexOne Flexible Resin?

01Breaking the Physical Limits of FDM Flexible Printing

FlexOne leverages vat photopolymerization to achieve isotropy and can perfectly reproduce complex shock-absorbing lattices.

02Building a "Hardware Paves the Way, Consumables Drive Profit" Business Model

FlexOne resin forms a high-barrier, high-repurchase moat within the resin matrix, building a sustainable profit loop for the iSUN3D business line.

03Directly Challenging Industry Giant Monopolies

Provides a cost-effective open-material alternative for B-end contract manufacturers and distributors unwilling to be locked into giants' closed ecosystems, breaking down closed-ecosystem barriers.

eSUN and FlexOne: Material Innovation

FlexOne was born from pain points discovered in the digital rehabilitation healthcare sector — particularly custom insoles and orthotics. Real-world challenges identified through customer research ultimately gave rise to this flexible-elastic manufacturing solution deeply integrated with printing equipment.

Pain Point Research at Rehabilitation Aid Contract Manufacturers Several large rehabilitation aid contract manufacturers were surveyed. Previously, they produced custom insoles either by CNC carving traditional EVA foam material (extremely wasteful of material, and unable to achieve different firmness zones within the same insole) or by FDM printing (low efficiency, rough surface).
Core Customer Demand Customers asked: "Does eSUN have a UV-curable material that combines the excellent resilience of silicone or foamed TPU with the ability to print soft-hard gradient lattices in a single pass?"
An R&D Pathway Deeply Integrated with Equipment This prompted the launch of a dedicated flexible resin R&D program under the iSUN3D business line. The goal was clear: not only to develop the material, but also to solve the peeling and flow challenges of high-viscosity flexible materials during printing. From day one of the project, FlexOne resin has been deeply integrated with printing equipment, aiming to create a soft-hard synergistic "flexible-elastic manufacturing total solution."

Pros and Cons of FlexOne

Pros

Outstanding Mechanical Resilience & Tear Resistance

Excellent elongation at break and energy return, withstanding tens of thousands of dynamic compressions without permanent deformation.

Perfect Lattice Structure Forming

Paired with a high-resolution light engine, it can perfectly print ultra-fine shock-absorbing lattices, achieving high-fidelity reproduction of complex structures.

Equipment Ecosystem Synergy

Within the iSUN3D system, material parameters and hardware are highly tuned — ready to use out of the box, without repeated calibration.

Cons

Feature Description Impact
Extremely high fluid viscosity Flexible resin is very viscous at room temperature Without a printer equipped with resin tank heating, forming yield drops sharply
Demanding post-processing Incomplete cleaning or improper secondary curing Surface remains persistently tacky, affecting finished quality and user experience
Strict bulk storage and shelf-life management Bulk export orders must account for the degradation of viscosity and curing activity caused by high temperatures during sea freight Increases storage and logistics management complexity, requiring strict control of transport and storage environments

Industry Applications

Industry Typical Applications Material Value
Footwear & Rehabilitation Aids (Core Base) 3D printed sports shoe midsoles, one-piece molded slippers, custom insoles. Elastic lattice structures enable precise force support across different regions of the foot, with integrated soft-hard gradient forming.
Sports Protection & Wearable Devices High-end bicycle custom saddles, ski/rugby helmet integrated shock-absorbing cushioning layers, smartwatch flexible straps. Provides custom shock absorption and wearing comfort for protective gear, balancing resilience and tear resistance.
Industrial Sealing & Damping Components Small-batch custom waterproof gaskets, sealing rings, industrial machinery vibration dampers, robotic soft grippers. Elastic resilience and tear resistance meet sealing and damping functional requirements, suitable for small-batch flexible manufacturing.

eSUN Case Studies

3D Printed Footwear

FlexOne flexible resin is used to print sports shoe midsoles, using shock-absorbing lattice structures to achieve precise force support and energy return across different regions of the foot.

Home Cushions

3D printed elastic lattice home cushions, balancing resilient comfort and breathability, providing personalized support for sitting and leaning postures.

Humanoid Robots

Provides soft grippers and cushioning components for humanoid robots, with elastic resilience and tear resistance meeting dynamic interaction and grasping requirements.