These filaments are generally soft and elastic and can withstand high loads.

Properties:

• Resistant to bending, traction, compression, temperature, and tearing.
• Multiple applications such as the automotive industry, cable sheathing, or rubber-like applications such as shoe soles.

Printing parameters:

• Printing temperature: 230°C – 240°C.
• Bed temperature: 60 °C – 80 °C.
• Recommended printing speed: 20-40 mm/s.
• Closed chamber (recommended).

Flexible filament 3D printer

Flexible filament is an elastomeric plastic material to which chemical plasticizing additives are added to increase its flexibility and elasticity properties.

These additives also reduce the printing temperature and make the filament more stable. This allows us to print flexible materials with relative ease, giving our pieces the shape we want.

Printing tips:

• It needs to be slightly taut during printing and there should be no free space in the extruder.
• Slow speeds.
• Closed environment.
• Low retractions.

Other materials such as PLA or ABS are rigid and do not have these properties.

Advantages of Flexible filament

• High resistance to material fatigue failure.
• Absorbs impacts very well.
• Moderate stretchability and shape recovery once force is removed.
• Very soft material.

Applications for Flexible Filament

Flexible filaments are commonly used for automotive parts, household appliances, and medical devices.

But flexible filaments have many more applications:

• Cell phone cases.
• Electronic devices, automotive and aerospace parts, gaskets, seals, and shock absorbers, prosthetics.
• Joints or connections that require a certain degree of flexibility.