Hi all,
Can TPU be used as a shock absorber? I'm thinking of 3D printing cases for my camera lenses and foam rubber is the obvious choice for shocks, I've been wanting to get TPU for another project.
Its expensive glass, so I don't want to leanr its unsuitable the hard way.
Thanks!
@Tourma@tech.lgbt it can be used as such, but depending on the protection you want, you'll have to leverage clever design way more than the material itself. Like abusing gyroidal infill patterns, leaving gaps between contact layers in tension and thicker outer layers.
Tho if the pieces aren't particularly heavy, printing bumpers naively at a low infill should get the job done.
@Tourma@tech.lgbt sure, how space is needed for the effect you want is the real question, an example of 3d printed tpu for shock absorbing: https://perryparts.com/pages/about-our-bump-stops
@Tourma@tech.lgbt TPE can indeed be very effective when used as a shock dampener. Its plasticity and stretch means it can deform massively during an impact without any permanent deformation ever being a concern.
The shore hardness is a good way to estimate the relative strength of each material, but you’ll need to try different infills and perimeter count values to get a happy medium.
I’ve designed and printed bumpers and protection for life support gear with tens of thousands. People are very happy.