Plastics & Resin for 3D printing

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) for 3D Printing

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

Description

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) is a versatile and widely used material that combines the properties of rubber and plastic. It is renowned for its flexibility, durability, and broad range of applications. TPU has gained significant popularity in 3D printing due to its unique blend of flexibility, durability, and ease of processing. These properties make TPU an excellent choice for creating parts that require both strength and elasticity.

Special properties:

Flexibility and Elasticity, Durability and Abrasion Resistance, Chemical Resistance, Temperature Resistance, Ease of Printing, Low Shrinkage, Impact Resistance,

Ultimate Tensile Strength:

8.6 MPa

Tensile Modulus:

15 MPa

Elongation at Break:

220%

Hardness:

Popular use cases of TPU plastic in 3D printing

Wearables

TPU is ideal for printing wearable items such as wristbands, watch straps, and custom-fit footwear due to its flexibility and comfort.

Prototypes

Engineers and designers use TPU to create flexible prototypes that can simulate the behavior of final products, especially those requiring elasticity.

Medical Devices

TPU's biocompatibility allows for its use in printing medical devices such as custom orthotics, prosthetics, and flexible tubing.

Automotive Parts

TPU is used to print various automotive components, including flexible connectors, hoses, and vibration dampening parts.

Available 3D Printing Technologies for Prototypes and End-Use Parts

Selective Laser Melting

SLM

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a leading metal 3D printing technology, similar to DMLS. Base on powder bed fusion (PBF) principles, SLM is commonly used for building functional end-use metal parts with tight tollerence for high-level industry.

Selective Laser Sintering

SLS

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) employs polymers or resins for 3D modeling, akin to SLM. It's increasingly favored in industrial manufacturing, particularly for end-use parts or rapid prototyping due to its superior mechanical properties, sometimes surpassing injection molding.

Stereolithography

SLA

SLA (Stereolithography) 3D printing utilizes a UV laser to cure liquid resin layer by layer, creating precise, high-resolution models. Commonly used for intricate prototypes, dental models, jewelry, and detailed architectural models.

Multi Jet Fusion

HP MJF

MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) 3D printing fuses nylon powder using fast inkjet arrays, enabling the highly precise creation of complex structures. Low cost and excellent part quality are the advantages of MJF, making it appropriate for low volume manufacturing.

Fused Deposition Modeling

FDM

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing service offers cost-effective prototyping and low-volume production solutions. Ideal for industries such as automotive, medical, and consumer goods, FDM produces durable, functional parts with quick turnaround times.

Digital Light Processing

DLP

DLP 3D printing technology has excellent precision and fast printing speed, making it widely used in parts manufacturing, especially in industries including dental, medical and jewelry industries, DLP has become an ideal choice.