Help me identify this filament:-)

[Hansen]

Hi all

Recently I convinced my local plastic pusher to let me buy a roll of flexible filament that he didn't want to carry anyway, because he had been unable to do any sensible prints with it. He doesn't know where the filament originally came from, and now I'm trying to figure out what it is.

I would characterise it as being somewhat flexible, but not anywhere as flexible as f.ex. NinjaFlex. It is possible to tie a knot on it as seen in the picture below.

The interesting property with the filament is that if I put it under stress - pulling it f.ex. - it seems to "re-shape" or stretch and then stay that way, when the force is removed. Picture of the same piece of filament after being stretched below.

This is actually a problem, because the extruder is able to flatten the filament, which is why I'm working on a modified extruded with an adjustable spring tension.

It prints at about 220C or above, and it takes a lot of effort to stop it from warping off of the bed: blue tape, ABS juice, big brim and min. 90C heat bed. It burns with a yellow flame with no black smoke, so I guess it's not PLA or ABS based. So...

Could this be some wierd kind of TPE, and who could have made this?

- Hansen

[bot]

Could be TPU. Could be a form of flexible PLA.

filaments.ca manufactures a line of TPU and they carry a range of exotic and flexible filaments, see if you can match it up to one of their products.

[nitewatchman]

I have some TPU and it is extremely flexible, it could be tied into a 1/4" diameter knot and not show any effect. It also does not stretch like that, it will elongate significantly but return when tension is released.

Pushing it through a Bowden Tube is an experience.

[Eric]

A picture of the spool and any labeling might help with identification of its origin.

[McSlappy]

I don't think that's PU, like Nitewatchman said, PU doesn't stretch like this.

I would guess that's POP rubber filament which stretches just like show and is even more flexible than PU... Just my guess anyway.

[Hansen]

Mmm, the only thing I know is that it comes from a cheap Chinese supplier/manufacturer, so I guess it is not really "exotic" other than in the "cheap" way

It comes on a completely unmarked spool in a bag having a translucent front and a gold/silver metallic back.

I've never heard about POP. Have to read up on that

It is really not that flexible. I don't know how to really quantify that...

[nitewatchman]

Likely turn out to be CPM (chipolymanurium)

[GOC]

- With the way is stretches, maybe TPC (also known as "Flex TPC" or "Flex EcoPLA")

[enggmaug]

I've seen some soft PLA, they say is flexible, but not as flexible as Filaflex or ninjaflex.

This Flexible PLA is sold in a french store, though. I'll probably try to get one spool to give it a try. http://www.imprimante3dfrance.com/filam ... xible.html

[jdurand]

The Afinia Premium PLA is flexible, reminds me of ABS. They probably made it this way so it prints reliably, I've had nothing but trouble using other brands in that printer.