Rubber and similar materials are dominating the industrial space. They have a huge, varied range of applications, and are widely used in the consumer goods space. Because of this, rubber-like materials are regularly being invented through different manufacturing processes.
A process that is becoming more popular for the manufacture of rubber-like materials is 3D printing.
Can you 3D print rubber?
No, it is impossible to 3D print rubber, as it cannot be melted or cured.
However, it is possible, with the right expertise, to 3D print some synthetic elastomers that have similar properties to natural rubber.
What can be used instead of rubber in 3D printing?
As rubber can’t be 3D printed, you will have to use a different material with simular properties to rubber, synthetic elastomers.
There are a few different types of synthetic elastomers, with the main types for 3D rubber printing being:
Flexible Filaments
One of the most commonly used substances for 3D printing rubber-like materials is flexible filaments. These are made of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). TPEs can be used for several applications, including shoe soles, flip-flops, and industrial applications like sealing rings.
Flexible filaments were originally difficult to print, as they were too soft. However, manufacturers have reformulated their products, and it is now a lot easier to print using flexible filaments.
Flexible Resin
Flexible resins can also be used to print rubber-like materials. Flexible resins are chosen over flexible filaments for producing flexible parts such as gaskets and custom grips.
When printed, flexible resin has the texture of natural rubber and has the ability to bounce back to its original form. However, resins are often designed for specific printers and so are not widely available.
How to 3D Print Elastomers
Flexible filaments are growing in popularity among designers as new techniques are being explored. The success of printing with flexible filaments depends on the printer setup and calibration.
There are a few ways of making the printing process run more smoothly, such as printing slowly, finding the correct temperature for the filament you are using, and ensuring that the extruder is within the model and not travelling over open air.
Rubber services at Checkmate
At Checkmate, we offer a complete service from conception to manufacture, and utilise a range of techniques to deliver our products.
To find out more about elastomers and how we can support your specialist engineering needs, please contact us today.
