Welcome! Log In Create A New Profile

Elasto Plastic Filament

Karl_Williams

Elasto Plastic Filament
June 01, 2012 02:07PM

Registered: 12 years ago
Posts: 53

It would be cool if we can get this elasto plastic in roll of filament. Does anyone know if this is available?

http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/1375-Introducing-3D-Printed-Black-Elasto-Plastic-I-Cant-Believe-Its-Not-Rubber.html

Reply Quote

Andrew Diehl

Re: Elasto Plastic Filament
June 01, 2012 02:37PM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 581

The extrusion process we use depends on the filament being rigid right until it is flowable.

I don't believe this would work unless there was a material which became 'rubbery' only after being heated to a high temperature above it's normal melting point (otherwise how would it become filament in the first place?)

www.Fablicator.com

Reply Quote

ttsalo

Re: Elasto Plastic Filament
June 08, 2012 10:52AM

Registered: 12 years ago
Posts: 313

Orbi-tech sells filament made of Thermoplastic Elastomer which looks like more or less the same stuff. I have done some trial prints with it, and it does work and produce rubbery objects. It can be driven through an extruder just like any other filament, even though it's elastic. Just not as fast.

Reply Quote

Andrew Diehl

Re: Elasto Plastic Filament
June 08, 2012 11:01AM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 581

What little I've seen of the Orbi-tech leads me to believe it is nowhere near as rubbery as the shapeways product.

www.Fablicator.com

Reply Quote

ttsalo

Re: Elasto Plastic Filament
June 08, 2012 11:35AM

Registered: 12 years ago
Posts: 313

Well, you could probably use it to print a fine jack pad for lifting a car. It's quite a bit firmer and stronger than your average rubber band. But it does stretch to at least twice the length just fine and in thinner sections behaves like the shapeways animation shows (although I have never actually handled the material from shapeways)