3D printing rubber?

[dobbslc]

Can you use a 3D printer to print something in flexible rubber? It needs to be very thin for what I'm think of doing. Ta

 

[carbon]

Yes flexible filaments are available. Ninjaflex is one. Print speeds have to be considerably slower though

 

[Bladevane]

I am probably going to print a flexible gasket for my high level brake light unit which arrived without such a gasket. I’ve printed a PLA version to check dimensions and it looks good.

 

[carbon]

Ive just printed this support its approx 62mm in diameter and 30mm high



It needs a bit of a tidy up, but took over six hours to print. It is recommended to use a direct drive extruder when printing flexible filament but I don't have one so may be a bit faster with direct drive

 

[dobbslc]

Thanks! I've got an idea about something as a small business but don't have an printer or any idea of how they work!
I'll have a look into it a bit more.

 

[Bladevane]

I would suggest your first leap into 3D printing is not flexible filament. There's a world to learn about temperatures, speeds, materials, slicing, supports blah blah.

 

[Agroshield]

There are a number of castable rubber products, Devcon Flexane being an example. It may work to 3D print a rigid mould and then pour the rubber into it.

Frost Auto used to sell a good book called 'casting small rubber parts' or something similar.

 

[AndersK]

Flexible filament can really put your patience to test but also valuable to have once "mastered"

This is a seal plate I made from carbon fiber petg and TPU 85. Worked really well and held hydraulic pressure of 50 bar without leaking or breaking

 

[daedalusminos]

You definitely need to select the correct printer for trouble free flex printing - I'd go for a direct drive, a suitable hot end and something to assist bed levelling and accurate 1st layer height would help.

 

[hotponyshoes]

There are a number of castable rubber products, Devcon Flexane being an example. It may work to 3D print a rigid mould and then pour the rubber into it.

Frost Auto used to sell a good book called 'casting small rubber parts' or something similar.

I have printed a gasket mould in pla, had a couple of holes in it much the same style mold as you would use for metal casting.
Held the 2 halves together with rubber bands and pushed 2k silicone in one hole until it came out of the other.
Quite a bit more wastage than printing it directly but worked well enough.

 

[dobbslc]

Thanks for the info, probably a bit over my head printing flexible parts as a first timer! I am very tempted to get a printer though.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Thanks! I've got an idea about something as a small business but don't have an printer or any idea of how they work!
I'll have a look into it a bit more.

Is this going to involve small production runs, or simply 'one offs' to order? From what I've read most machines take ages to print and unless you're going to be able to command high prices for bespoke items, would it be viable?

 

[dobbslc]

Probably not! I've got an idea that might really take off, I can't find anyone else doing it but probably need to get the bits made in some factory far far away...
Not what I want to do!