A durable SLA resin for creating complex, hollow composite tooling with a smooth finish and easy 'dry removal' post-autoclave.
Somos® DMX SL™-100 is a stereolithography resin specifically developed for the production of sacrificial tooling for hollow composite parts. It combines high strength, stiffness, and thermal resistance to create defined tools that maintain their dimensional accuracy during the demanding autoclave process. The material's unique formulation is the key to simplifying the production of complex composite components.
The primary differentiator for DMX SL™-100 is its behavior after the composite curing cycle. While traditional sacrificial cores often require being dissolved with caustic chemical baths, which can compromise the composite part, DMX SL™-100 tools are designed for a 'dry removal' process. The material maintains its flexural strength and tear resistance during the autoclave process but becomes easy to break up and remove once cooled, leaving a clean internal cavity and superior surface finish on the final part.
This material is engineered to withstand the high temperatures and pressures of autoclave curing without degrading. It provides the necessary rigidity to support composite layups while demonstrating excellent tear resistance and elongation. This combination ensures that the tool remains intact during the curing cycle but can be removed cleanly without leaving residue or damaging the final component, ensuring consistent and repeatable manufacturing outcomes.
By leveraging stereolithography technology, DMX SL™-100 enables the creation of highly detailed and complex tooling geometries that are impossible to achieve with traditional methods. This allows for greater design freedom in producing integrated, one-piece hollow parts. The straightforward process reduces lead times for tooling from weeks to days and simplifies the overall composite manufacturing workflow by eliminating the need for chemical washout systems.
Somos® DMX SL™-100 is a commercially reviewed solution for producing sacrificial tooling for prototypes, design validation, and small series production runs. It significantly reduces the turn-around time from design to a finished composite part, enabling faster implementation of design iterations and accelerating product development cycles for specialized applications.
