Can We 3d Print Rubber

3d printed rubber parts can be used in place of molded rubber for just about any application.

Can we 3d print rubber.

However rubber will never become fluid again after vulcanizing. When rubber vulcanizes it becomes solid and holds its shape. Like other methods of 3d printing rubber prints accurately produce complex internal geometries like lattices and tubes at no extra cost easily achieving designs that would be impossible with other types of manufacturing. The good news is that it is possible to 3d print parts with a rubber like material.

The reason why it is impossible to 3d print rubber is that rubber is a type of gummy material that is hot pressed to form a mold with which it cools down and vulcanize. Thermoplastic elastomers also known as tpe s are basically a type of plastic that has been engineered to mimic the crucial qualities that made rubber so attractive. Our simulated rubber 3d printing service is intended where your designs require materials with rubber like or specific tactile properties. An alternative method to 3d printing with silicone is a process called liquid injection molding or lim and when used for silicone also known as liquid silicone rubber injection molding or lsr lim.

When re heating rubber it will burn. Liquid injection molding is a manufacturing method that molds materials into different shapes and is a method that can produce parts in high volume. In fact these 3d printing materials are excellent substitutes for rubber. So the fact that rubber undergoes vulcanization for improving its elasticity and strength means that it can never exist in a fluid state.

Amongst many other characteristics that rubber possesses it is an organic material its properties cannot be influenced by external factors. 3d printing in our rubber like materials using our fine detail service also gives you a range of shore a values using the polyjet digital materials technology. As designers continue to grapple with the possibility of 3d printing rubber we tell you whether it is achievable or not and go into detail discussing alternative rubber like 3d printing materials. During vulcanization the rubber becomes solid and firmly holds onto its shape.