This is the material he uses
"These protectors are 3d printed from nearly unbreakable TPU, the same stuff tough cell phone cases are made from. "
What Is TPU Filament?
TPU, or
Thermoplastic
Poly
urethane is a very common form of elastic polymer, or elastomer, capable of being used on any properly equipped FDM 3D printer. Of the many kinds of flexible 3D printer filaments, TPU is slightly more rigid, making it easier to extrude and use. It is a medium-strength material with very high flexibility and durability, able to withstand much higher compressive and tensile forces than its more common counterparts PLA and ABS.
Quick Reference Guide:
- Nozzle temp: 210º – 230º C (may vary)
- Bed Temp: 20º – 60º C (but not required)
- Warping: Minimal
- Shrinkage: Minimal
- Print speed: Around 30 mm/s (may vary)
- Strength: Medium
- Flexibility: Very High
- Durability: Very High
- Abrasion Resistance: Very High
- Soluble: No
- Hygroscopic: Yes
- Food safe: No
- Fumes: Minimal
- Recommended Extruder: Direct Drive (Bowden OK with calibration)
In-Depth Description:
To print high quality parts properly without jamming, a direct drive extruder is recommended, however with the proper settings and calibration, decent quality prints can be achieved using a Bowden setup. This means that your success with TPU filament will be largely based on your printer setup and how well you are able to calibrate it before printing. Before doing any large, time-consuming, or difficult prints, we recommend doing a few small test prints with TPU in order to fine-tune your settings.
When printing, TPU has minimal warping and shrinkage, and like PLA doesn’t require a heated bed, although it is recommended. The recommended print temperature is between 210°C and 230°C, but may vary based on the manufacturer. One downside to TPU is the printing speeds, which are rarely higher than 30 mm/s. This is because it’s difficult to push the proper amount of filament through the hot end, resulting in prints taking a lot longer to complete. TPU doesn’t produce any notable levels of fumes while printing, but it is not considered to be food safe. TPU is a non-soluble material, but it is hygroscopic, meaning that it will degrade in wet conditions.
TPU filament is commonly used to 3D print a wide variety of items. For everyday use, TPU is great for making custom phone cases, rubber mats, and stress toys. In the R/C hobby department, TPU can be used for tires or shock absorbers, and is even occasionally utilized to make o-rings and seals. In the world of DIY, TPU is fantastic for flexible parts or casings, as well as parts that need to have resistance to sudden impacts and movement, for applications such as vibration dampening and shock absorption.
In short, if you need to make a custom rubber piece quick and relatively easily, TPU is your go-to material.
