Dissimilar materials used for supports

[Vance Howard]

This one is cool as it has many applications. 

Functional Print Fridays on youtube has explored using PLA as support material for TPU. Yesterdays video showed how he created a bellows structure out of tpu. Pretty cool and definitely need a tool changer or a dual hotend machine. 

https://youtu.be/UFrWfnwD3aU?si=3u2W1gFbUvv8auJK

I hope the link is OK.

I can now make my own dust protection covers for some of my hobby machines.

[Sophie]

Blimey, that was really interesting to watch! Thanks for the share.

[Kurt]

So - I wanted to bring this discussion to the Top of the Forum. Why?

I have a project I want to print in TPU. But, structure of part WILL require supports. And, the H2D CAN Print with TPU in one print head - and PLA in the other. At least in theory - since, from what I have seen with the H2D - there's a regular 4 filament AMS - then there is the single filament box that sits on the top of the H2D. Am hoping that the Single unit CAN indeed feed in TPU. 

For those with an H2D - like my buddy Sophie - I would LOVE to see a test of printing TPU w/PLA supports - especially as Sophie was VERY Excited about this posting by Vance. I STILL have to view the video - and I may do that today!

As for the person in the forum here who likes to make the Snarky comment about what I might print in TPU (and, your comment actually makes me laugh) - you are wrong with your guess as to my TPU project. For what the project really is all about - you would have to comb back thru the forum to a posting I did about a year ago...

FYI - my idea is to do a kind of Beta Testing on my product design - print Very limited quantity of my design in TPU - get it in people's hands - start getting Feedback. And, if all seems REALLY Good - the idea would be to go Injection Molding for mass production and launch a KS campaign!

-K

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

From what I’ve heard about the H2D and my experience with the X1C and the ams1… tpu has to be fed in separately bypassing the ptfe 
Guide tubes. It’s the same thing with the XL. That does not mean the H2D can’t do it. It just means you have to bypass the ams for the extruder that does the supports.

[Kurt]

Wow - what a Classic moment in the video - as the dude tries to rip apart the TPU. Of course, Andy would say - and I would Agree - it was a silly test - since, if the guy really knows his material - it's truly Fruitless to try and rip apart the TPU sheet by hand.

And, yeah - Thank Vance for pointing this - the printing of bellows is pretty damn cool. And, yeah - the guy confirmed what I thought about the H2D - as he printed the TPU w/PLA supports on the H2D! I'm Totally STOKED!!!

-K

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "3D Printing Tips and Tricks" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to 3d-printing-tips--...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/896031a7-412a-4885-9440-893745915a54n%40googlegroups.com.

[Kurt]

Andy - my comment is about on the H2D - they actually run it with 2 items on the top. One is an AMS with 4 spools. The other is a Single unit spool holder - and thus not a filament changer. I am hoping that the Single unit spool holder (which I think is also a Dryer) - I believe that unit is what you can use to feed in the TPU. AT least that is my hope. Problem with AMS is the complexity of it - that TPU is just going to jam up inside of. That's why I hope that the single spool unit for the H2D is viable for feeding in the TPU.

-K

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "3D Printing Tips and Tricks" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to 3d-printing-tips--...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/008bf642-76ad-4514-a296-7198ac674cb9n%40googlegroups.com.

[Sophie]

Hey Kurt,

Yea I thought this was a pretty ingenious idea and loved the video post from Vance.

Little did I know when I first commented on this that I would end up with an H2D of my own so soon!

The H2D actually has a dedicated TPU entry point that does indeed bypass the AMS. Even though this guy seems to be using the AMS HT which is the designated high temp dryer, but that's fine because it would still enter the printer via the designated TPU entry point, and I don't think the HT AMS has quite as complex gearing system.

If you want me to trial anything for you and report back (can facetime, do pics and vids as you're a bit far for me to send parts to you physically) feel free to email me separately, happy to sign any NDAs as well if it's something sensitive to your project. 

(Ps I've seen your messages recently about having your posts deleted or mysteriously disappearing, I've been hit by that loads, so by default once I've written my message I always select all and copy just before I'm about to press "post message", just in case it decides to fubar!)

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Sophie - you SERIUOSLY Got me Thinking...

Instead of the Bellows design - what about a Custom Hose design, like a hose that stretches - like an Accordian - I hope that makes sense - but, yeah - made with TPU and the PLA Supports. In my case, with this design - it's done in such a way that - when you pull hose off bed - and you stretch the hose - the supports on the inside fall out - as in segments of disconnected flat cylinders. I'm sure you will understand Exactly what I mean. But, I think this would be an Epic Test case for your printer!!!

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

It's time for me to try out this trick on my SnapMaker U1 - and I wanted to bring this Thread BACK to the TOP!

-K

On Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 12:45:35 PM UTC-4 Vance Howard wrote: