I am looking to have someone print for me 4 rubber band loops, with thermoplastic elastomeric or flexible plastic material. The dimensions will be approx. 2" diameter or 2.5” flat length , width may range from 1.5" to 2" and thickness as much as 3/16". No labels or logo is necessary. The stretch length should be approx. 1”.
I expect the bands will provide an overall tensile strength up to approx. 22 or 25 lbs. when they are frequently stretched.
I would be happy to print these for you. We could do this in a couple of stages to ensure you get a happy result. Firstly, I could print and send you one as a sample piece in Fillamentum elastic filament, for you to check the properties - this can happen today. Do you want to send the STL file to my hub for quote? I will add the material now - look under the CTC (now heavily upgraded MakerBot clone) printer. Let me know if you need the CAD done also. Kind regards, Alex
I agree with Alex that you should get a test print done first to see how the stretching and tensile strength of the various materials work out for you. I have only worked with flexible PLA and ninjaflex so far, and the properties are very different. The flexible PLA feels more like a rubber handle on a screw driver say, where as the ninjaflex is much closer to a soft rubber band.
just to confirm I have updated my Hub to list the filament - look for ‘flex fill’ under the CTC printer.
(This is the wrong brand but correct details, I’ve asked 3D hubs to add the Fillamentum Elastic brand)
Important to note that flexible and elastic aren’t the same thing - if you want something to actually stretch, not just bend, I think this is one of very few filaments that will do the job. I use Ninjaflex etc for other jobs which just need a soft or flexible material.
Alex, thank you for your prompt and useful comments. I will greatly appreciate it if you can print me a sample band for testing. The optimum size will be 2 1/2" flat in length, 2" width and 3/16" depth. for the sake of speed feel free to provide the CAD for it. Any color and no logos are needed.
Alex, before you begin printing my sample band with ‘flex fill’ I need to verify the cost of the product. I temporarily uploaded my stl file for a 5.1 cmx4.8 cmx4.8cm or 2"x2"x2" (overall dimensions) band to include 1/8 thickness and the prices that hubs cad designers quoted did not meet my expectations.
Please calculate the volume and inform me the cost of my four bands.
