The first test run is here again! After the last 3D printing exhibition, many people were very interested in the flexible material TPU. The Flexa Black powder used by Sinterit is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), which is similar to rubber in nature, possessing elasticity and flexibility, impact resistance, and durable resilience.
This time, we are testing a swimming goggle frame model, which is typically made of rubber or plastic. The frame of regular goggles is usually flexible to fit the skin and achieve a waterproof effect. So, how soft and elastic is the Flexa Black flexible powder?
First, you can see our estimated model before printing. The printing time is about one day and 3 hours, with a layer height set to 0.1mm.
After 30 minutes of printing time for the machine to cool down, it's time to excavate! Since the powder is quite fine, we recommend wearing a mask when cleaning. After peeling off the large areas of powder, start cleaning the detailed parts. After brushing, the main body can be removed. The Sinterit Lisa 3D printer does not require support material; simply clearing the powder results in the finished product, and there's no need to worry about marks from removing supports on the surface.
The high flexibility of the elastic material TPU is suitable for prototypes of elastic parts similar to fabrics, springs, and rubber. We'll show you a live test; it can not only be compressed up and down but also twisted directly into a figure-eight! It's softer and more flexible than a regular goggle frame!
To ensure the quality of the samples, after printing with the Sinterit Lisa 3D printer, we usually use a sandblaster for a final powerful cleaning. The finished product is very beautiful. Compared to FDM 3D printers, the Sinterit Lisa produces almost no layer lines after printing.
We took close-up photos and included a ruler so everyone can see the details clearly. The original design texture of the goggle frame is also very clear. This printing result was a great success!
If you are interested in new materials, we also provide high-quality printing services. If you want to know more about the machine's details, you are welcome to contact us to schedule a viewing of the machine and samples on-site. We will continue to share new technologies and services related to 3D printing, and all the latest information will be published on our Facebook page, so you won't miss any updates or shares.