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Hello everyone,
i am total noob about 3d printing so please excuse me if i make silly questions :p
Now straight to the point,
i want to create flexible items via 3d printer.
What filament it is suitable for flexible models, and also what kind of 3d printer is available for this kind of task?
Thanks in advance!;)
Well, pretty much any of the filament printers are capable of printing with flexible filaments. See http://www.makergeeks.com/ninja-flex-pla.html. I am only versed in FDM printers, so I cannot state with any accuracy what is readily available with SLS and SLA printers.
My only word of caution, not having used ninjaflex, is that I have a difficult time with nylon filament. I have to print super slow, and even then I often times have clogs and other print failures.
also you generally need to change the extruder to work with ninjaflex.
And probably the flexible pla as well.
That said - the extruder files should be on thingiverse.
But yep - with the right extruder most printers ca handle the flexible stuff.
In addition to NinjaFlex, there is a filament called PlastInk Rubber http://www.plastink.com/en/ that we have also printed with our MK-1 extruder.
And we've printed in Sugru http://sugru.com/ with our EMO-25 extruder.
I think abs and pla materials is your best choice: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQL4G9C
Avoid bowden extruders if you're printing with flexible material. Retraction and extrusion can become inaccurate due to stretching and compression along the long axis of the filament. 3mm is also significantly easier to print with than 1.75mm as the filament has less tendency to flex (if that makes sense). I've had problems printing with 1.75mm PLA where the filament squeezed out around the hobbed bolt, rather than extruding properly. Changing to 3mm cured it.