Printing with flexible filaments

[Coyote]

Hi guys.

Had anyone got any tips regarding printing with flexible filaments?

What works best ? Any particular suppliers?

Have you any good tuning tips to adjust the printer to suit ?

I fancy having a go after only printing exclusively with ABS and PLA now and again so I would be going into this blind as such. 

I'm after making such things as Go Pro soft mounts etc.

[Loopdreams]

I've used flexi-smart from Amazon and found no particular difficulties.  In some ways it's easier as it sticks to the bed better and there are no issues with parts warping and pulling up from the bed during the print.  It's so much better for camera mounts etc. for mini quads, never breaks in a crash.

[Coyote]

Right, cool thanks that's something to start with. What about retraction setting?

[Loopdreams]

I can't remember where I ended up with it.  Just start with something small and adjust it.  Printing slower seems better too.

[Drone 5]

Hi
A couple of months ago I was messing with a couple of samples of flexible filament. 3D Printz filament and Ningaflex. I had no issues with the stiffer 3D Printz but the Ningaflex gave me some feeding issues with it being like spaghetti. I was using stock hardware so no great surprise.
I remember using no retraction and printing very very  slow. The prints came out fine in the end.
Ask 3D Printz for a sample. I can't remember where I got the Ningaflex sample, just surf the net for it.
Hope that helps.

[Coyote]

Cool thanks I will have a look at that, I've seen Ninjaflex giving people whole worlds of pain previously :) Interesting that no retraction was needed, was the 3D Prints stuff flexible / soft enough for vibration fixings or a little too stiff ?

[Loopdreams]

That probably depends on the design of the thing you're printing and the magnitude of the vibrations you're trying to dampen as much as anything.

[Coyote]

Yeah that's a good point

[Drone 5]

At the time I was using the Flashforge Finder printer. A great little printer for starting out but with a build volume of 140x140x140mm and NO heated bed I have found it limiting.

I have in the last few weeks purchased a Creality CR10s and to date I find it a fantastic printer.

[Coyote]

I'll be trying it out on a CTC ( Makerbot clone )

[Drone 5]

What slicing software are you using and what printer have you got.

I am now using Simplify 3D. Bit the bullet and purchased it. Not cheap at $150

Cura seems a good free software.

[Coyote]

Simplify 3D CTC Printer

[Drone 5]

Have a look at this video

https://youtu.be/fTJz6vMvtJ8

[Drone 5]

I have been printing a few aircraft.

They came out great and fly well but disinter-great in a crash.   ;D