Flex - Difficulty of printing - Advanced

Flexible filaments are made from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), which combine the properties of hard plastics and soft rubbers. This gives these materials the ability to easily stretch and bend, allowing for the printing of flexible and bendable objects.

Among the most commonly used TPEs is thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This material is stronger and easier to print compared to other flexible filaments. Besides TPU, there are other types of TPE, such as thermoplastic copolyester (TCP) and thermoplastic polyamide (TPA), which differ in their properties.

Flexible filaments find applications in various areas where flexibility and bendability of prints are required, such as in the production of non-slip grips, seals, or protective covers.