The Stratasys Rigur simulated polypropylene PolyJet printing configuration is defined around a primary rigid opaque black resin, VeroBlackPlus RGD875, and a secondary elastomeric phase selected from TangoPlus FLX930 translucent or TangoBlackPlus FLX980 black. The combination is not a single homogeneous thermoplastic. It is a digital material system in which ultraviolet-curable photopolymers are selectively jetted into a voxel lattice to produce intermediate stiffness, elongation, and tactile response closer to unfilled polypropylene than standard rigid Vero-family photopolymers. The model designation Rigur identifies the intended performance class: components requiring snap-fit compliance, living-hinge flexure, impact absorption, and repeated assembly trials during product development.

Build preparation for the Rigur configuration uses GrabCAD Print or PolyJet Studio, depending on printer generation. The operator assigns VeroBlackPlus RGD875 as the primary rigid phase and either TangoPlus FLX930 or TangoBlackPlus FLX980 as the secondary elastomeric phase. The software generates a dithered droplet pattern rather than a bulk mixture. Final part behavior is governed by the relative duty cycle of rigid and elastomeric droplets, the selected print mode, part orientation, and local wall thickness. Typical PolyJet high-quality mode operates at 16 µm layer thickness, while faster draft or high-speed modes may use 30 µm or printer-specific equivalent settings. Because the resin is deposited as a three-dimensional voxel matrix rather than melt-compounded in a screw barrel, stiffness and compliance can vary spatially inside a single build. This permits hard-to-soft transitions, overmolded-style sealing ribs, or localized flexure zones in addition to global simulated polypropylene behavior.

How Does the Rigur Simulated PP Combination Reproduce Polypropylene Ductility in a Jetted Photopolymer?

The rigid primary phase, VeroBlackPlus RGD875, provides dimensional stability, tensile strength, and surface hardness. Published datasheet ranges for the rigid phase include tensile strength of 50–65 MPa when tested under ASTM D638, tensile elongation at break of 10–25%, flexural strength of 75–110 MPa, and hardness of 83–86 Shore D under ASTM D2240. The heat deflection temperature of the rigid phase is published in the region of 45–50 °C at 0.45 MPa under ASTM D648. These values represent the hard boundary of the digital material blend. The elastomeric secondary phase reduces effective part modulus, increases strain tolerance, and imparts polypropylene-like ductility and snap-back behavior. TangoPlus FLX930 is a translucent low-Shore A elastomer with published hardness in the range of 26–28 Shore A, tensile strength of 0.8–1.5 MPa, and elongation at break of 170–220%. TangoBlackPlus FLX980 is a black elastomer with hardness typically published at 61–63 Shore A and lower elongation than TangoPlus FLX930. The choice between FLX930 and FLX980 therefore changes the final compliance of the simulated polypropylene combination: TangoPlus FLX930-rich regions produce softer flexure and greater deformation recovery, while TangoBlackPlus FLX980-rich regions produce a stiffer, more dimensionally stable elastomeric contribution.

Mechanical response of the mixed Rigur combination is not a simple arithmetic average of the two constituent phases. PolyJet digital materials exhibit nonlinear property blending because the rigid and elastomeric voxels form interpenetrating networks with different ultraviolet crosslink densities. A part printed with a high fraction of VeroBlackPlus RGD875 may still hold threaded bosses and locating features; the same part with TangoPlus-rich flexure bands may survive repeated hinge cycling. Part-level tensile values are also affected by build direction, with the Z axis typically exhibiting lower elongation and strength than the X-Y plane because of interlaminar interfaces. Published data for this exact combination is limited, and users should not substitute the raw material datasheet values for finished part properties without testing.

The tabulated values are raw material phase references, not automatic part-level guarantees for the Rigur simulated polypropylene build. Conditioning of printed coupons at 23 °C and 50% RH following ASTM D618 is standard before comparative property assessment. Batch-to-batch variation, UV lamp age, support residue, and post-print storage conditions can shift the values. The mixed configuration must therefore be qualified on the intended printer, layer thickness, and orientation before functional prototyping decisions are made.

When Snap-Fit and Living-Hinge Iterations Replace Machined PP Prototypes

The most common application for the VeroBlackPlus RGD875 and TangoPlus FLX930 or TangoBlackPlus FLX980 combination is the iteration of snap-fit enclosures, battery covers, latch arms, and living hinges where injection-molded polypropylene would traditionally be specified. In these geometries, the rigid phase supplies structural support while the elastomeric phase permits reversible deflection. For cantilever snap-fit design, engineers typically apply beam-bending calculations using the secant modulus of the material at the design strain. Because the digital blend modulus is not fixed across the part, the snap-fit beam thickness should be derived from printed coupon tests rather than from a single datasheet value. For living hinges, the hinge axis should be oriented in the X-Y build plane where possible. PolyJet laminates are anisotropic, and flexural fatigue life is reduced when bending is forced across the Z axis. Published cycle-life data for this exact Rigur configuration is limited, so hinge prototypes should be subjected to repeated opening and closing on a dedicated fixture before tooling decisions are made.

Snap-fit prototypes printed from this combination can be used to evaluate insertion force, retention force, and tactile feel before committing to injection mold tooling. The TangoPlus FLX930 secondary phase provides higher elongation and a more noticeable rubber-like compliance, which is useful for thin latch arms that must pass over tall retention ridges. The TangoBlackPlus FLX980 secondary phase provides a stiffer flexural response and may be preferred when the prototype must hold small threaded inserts or maintain tighter snap geometry. In both cases, the final part remains an amorphous thermoset photopolymer. It does not exhibit the semi-crystalline melting and recrystallization behavior of injection-molded polypropylene, and it cannot be reground, welded, or thermoformed after printing.

Fluid closures and packaging components are another usage area. Simulated polypropylene builds can be used to test gasketed closures, flip-top caps, and child-resistant mechanisms. The sealing surface can be printed with a Tango-rich region to simulate a living gasket, while the cap body is printed with a VeroBlackPlus-rich region for rigidity. However, the chemical compatibility of the elastomeric phase must be checked against the closure contents. Prolonged contact with aggressive solvents, fuels, or plasticizing oils can swell Tango-family resins and alter seal retention. The elastomeric phase is not crosslinked in the same manner as a hydrocarbon-resistant rubber, so chemical resistance data for polypropylene should not be assumed to transfer directly.

Support Removal, Thermal Boundaries, and Solvent Incompatibility in Vero-Tango Builds

PolyJet builds made with this material combination are removed from the printer with the assigned support resin, typically SUP705 or SUP706 depending on the printhead configuration and printer generation. Water-jet removal is standard for these parts. Support residue trapped in snap-fit recesses, living-hinge slots, or seal channels can obstruct motion and produce false force readings during initial functional testing. After support removal, the part should be dried and inspected under magnification if load-bearing flexure zones are present. Prolonged immersion in heated alkaline support-removal baths may swell the Tango-rich secondary phase, and such exposure should be minimized unless process validation on the specific blend ratio has been completed.

Thermomechanical boundaries differ from unfilled polypropylene. The rigid phase carries a published heat deflection temperature of 45–50 °C at 0.45 MPa, which means the Rigur combination is unsuitable for continuous load-bearing service at elevated temperatures approaching that range. Polypropylene injection-molding grades can often tolerate higher sustained service temperatures depending on filler loading and stabilizer package. The simulated PP material should therefore be treated as a prototype and functional-testing material, not as a direct production substitute for thermally stressed PP components. Exposure to direct sunlight behind glass, hot vehicle interiors, or heated test rigs can produce creep and loss of snap engagement.

Solvent exposure is a further operational boundary. Isopropyl alcohol and some aggressive cleaning agents may attack the elastomeric secondary phase, particularly TangoPlus FLX930. Wiping with solvent-moistened cloths is generally less damaging than immersion, but the part should not be soaked in solvent baths. If cleanliness is required for medical or consumer device evaluation, the cleaning method should be validated on printed coupons at the same digital blend ratio. The rigid VeroBlackPlus phase is less sensitive to aqueous cleaners, but the composite can still swell or soften when the elastomeric regions absorb cleaning agents.

Differences from other PolyJet materials are operationally significant. Compared with pure VeroBlackPlus RGD875, the Rigur configuration sacrifices some tensile strength and hardness to gain elongation and compliance. Pure VeroBlackPlus is better suited to rigid visual models, anatomical reference models, and dimensionally stable housings that do not require flexure. Compared with pure TangoPlus FLX930 or TangoBlackPlus FLX980, the Rigur configuration adds a structural frame that limits gross deformation under load. Pure Tango-family builds are commonly used for soft-touch grips, gaskets, and overmolding simulations, but they lack the snap-fit structure and dimensional stability supplied by VeroBlackPlus RGD875. Compared with Digital ABS Plus, which is used for tough plastic components requiring higher thermal and impact resistance, the Rigur simulated polypropylene configuration is typically selected when the design intent is polypropylene-like snap action, living-hinge recovery, and lower flexural stiffness rather than maximum heat resistance or hardness.

Qualification builds for production-equivalent snap-fit evaluation require printed tensile bars, flexural bars, and representative latch or hinge geometries at the intended production configuration. The test matrix should include both X-Y and Z orientations because PolyJet properties are anisotropic. The data should be recorded against ASTM D638 for tensile response, ASTM D790 for flexural response, and ASTM D2240 for durometer checks. Applied strain in snap-fit beams should be measured with a universal testing machine and correlated to insertion force. Without this test data, raw material datasheet values for VeroBlackPlus RGD875, TangoPlus FLX930, and TangoBlackPlus FLX980 cannot be used to guarantee part-level performance of the Rigur simulated polypropylene combination.