FlexFill 98A characteristic
Before a buy a roll of FlexFill 98A I wanted to get a feel for its characteristics. Compared to tire rubber or pencil eraser is it more or less flexible and am I right to assume a printed object is somewhat ‘grippy’ if on a flat surface. In other words with a small downforce would an object resist sliding? (Not very scientific I know and open to interpretation). Again maybe the tire or pencil eraser analogy might be instructive .
I believe the Prusa shop only has 98A and not 92A
Im trying to make an telescopic pole locking mechanism
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
I have printed both 98A and 92A from filamentum.
98A feels somewhere between a rubber tire and a PP kitchen box. The surface grip is about the same as PETG.
92A feels about the same as a bycicle inner tube, but has much less grip, although it still has more than 98A. A little in the direction of a pencil eraser.
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
Thanks Spacemarine. I was hoping it had a little more friction. Do they take much pressure before they indent?
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
What do you mean by indent? Temporary elastic deformation? Or permanent plastic deformation?
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
Yes I mean a temporary deformation
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
Maybe this video will help:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H8JwWwFInQfmln9bsHiY7ljF6GziSiDf/view?usp=sharing
I tried to apply the same force of around 10N (1kg) to both objects. (But more force when the blue one was lying down)
Blue is 92A, skin tone is 98A. Printed in spiral vase mode with 0.8 mm wall thickness.
Even at 0.4 mm wall thickness, these vases are so strong, it is impossible to permanently deform them with your hands, no matter how hard you try. You can not rip them apart.
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
Thanks wow great vid. that is really helpful
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
TPU is flexible but has a fairly slick feel. TPU bends easily but doesn't stretch much.
If you're looking for something grippier like tire rubber, you want TPE. TPE both bends and stretches, and the surface texture is a lot more rubbery.
TPE is also a lot more challenging to print than TPU. TPE needs to be printed super-slow.
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
TPE is also a lot more challenging to print than TPU.
I never understood the difference between TPU and TPE. TPE means Thermoplastic Elastomer. TPU means Thermoplastic Polyurethane. TPU is just one of several kinds of TPE according to wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoplastic_elastomer
This means that every TPU is also a TPE, so I don't understand the differentiation between the two of these.
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
Peter Do you have any examples of TPE filaments?
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
Speaking of TPE has anyone used Treed pneumatique. Made from recycled car tires.
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: FlexFill 98A characteristic
TPE is also a lot more challenging to print than TPU.
I never understood the difference between TPU and TPE. TPE means Thermoplastic Elastomer. TPU means Thermoplastic Polyurethane. TPU is just one of several kinds of TPE according to wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoplastic_elastomer
This means that every TPU is also a TPE, so I don't understand the differentiation between the two of these.
This is the TPE I've experimented with: Microcenter TPE. If you search Amazon for "TPE" you will find others.
Technically speaking TPU may be a specific kind of TPE--I'm not well versed in how the materials are classified. But from my experience, the 3D printing filaments sold as "TPE" are very different from the ones sold as "TPU." The "TPE" filament stretches like a rubber band and the "TPU" filament does not.