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HI there!
So i am very new to this site. But my aim is to Print a 3D model of a Bladder for my FYP (Final Year Project study). I want a cheap material that would be slightly elastic and expands. Also I would like it to be able to connect to pipes which i am using as the Ureters and Urethra. It would be awesome if someone could give me some advice on insight.
Thanks!

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There are many materials, such as ninjaflex, that are elastic. The key would be whether or not your model can be printed in such a material.

Pipes would attach well to it, as it would flex around the pipe. I don’t know how much expansion you need, ninjaflex could breath, but it would not expand like a balloon.

It is not terribly expensive to print with, but will cost more than PLA or ABS.

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I would second that there are good flexible materials for this. My first choice is Maker Flex. Similar to Ninjaflex, but less expensive.

I do not work for Maker Geeks, but I have definitely become a fan.

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Thanks guys,

I was wondering also would i be best off to just create the tubes with the bladder or put them in seperately?

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Without seeing the models, it would be hard to advise.

Argument for seperation:

Simpler. Simple models are better.

Different material. I dont know how a bladder works, but if you dont want the tubes to expand, then you should have them printed in a non expanding material.

Argument against seperation:

Ninjaflex is notoriously hard to glue together, unless you use a 3dpen.

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I have to second the idea of simpler models. Build or buy your tubes with a less flexible material (maybe flexible but non-stretching), then stretch the flexible bladder connections onto the tubes.

So, build your bladder with short tubes off of it that can be stretched over the other tubes (short being no more than an inch).

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I have printed a few projects just like this with ninjaflex and bendlay. One part functioned as a hand pump, like the bulb the doctor squeezes on a sphygmomanometer to test blood pressure.
-Jesse