Flexible
From impact-resistant components to soft-touch surfaces and complex geometries, additive manufacturing enables parts that bend, compress, and adapt without compromising durability. Whether for functional prototypes or end-use applications, flexible 3D printing delivers resilience and freedom of design where traditional manufacturing reaches its limits.
Advantages
Smarter parts, fewer limits.
You can design complex shapes (living hinges, bellows, lattices, overmolds) and then fine‑tune flexibility via wall thickness, infill, and material choice such as TPU or TPE. This makes it easy to create parts that bend, stretch, or compress exactly as needed, from seals and gaskets to soft grips and dampers.
3D printing lets you quickly test different hardness levels, textures, and deformation behaviors without tooling for molds. You can rapidly prototype wearable straps, soft‑robotics elements, or protective bumpers, then adjust designs based on real‑world testing and user feedback.
Flexible 3D printing materials like TPU offer high tear resistance, abrasion resistance, and good rebound, so they work for real end‑use components, not just prototypes. This enables small-batch or spare‑part production for items like cable protectors, vibration isolators, and custom boots that can handle repeated bending and impact in everyday use.
Possibilities
Soft, elastic materials are used for bumpers, shock absorbers, and vibration isolators that protect devices, fixtures, or sensitive components. Examples include custom feet for machines, isolator elements between brackets and sensors, or tailored bump‑stops that fit directly onto existing housings.
Flexible parts can provide soft‑touch surfaces and enhanced comfort wherever humans interact with tools or devices. Typical applications are overmold‑style grip sleeves for handles, protective covers for handheld equipment, cable organizers, or wearable straps and pads shaped exactly to the user or device geometry.
Flexible 3D printing is well suited for insoles and similar comfort components because it allows true customization to the shape and pressure profile of each foot. You can vary thickness, lattice density, and softness across zones to support the heel, cushion the forefoot, or relieve pressure points exactly where needed. This makes it possible to create individualized insoles, heel cups, or orthotic inserts that combine targeted support with good breathability and long-term comfort.
Materials
INFINAM® RG 7100 L produces parts with isotropic properties, low moisture absorption, and smooth, glossy surfaces — ideal for demanding design visualizations. With a tensile modulus of 1,450 MPa, a flexural modulus of 1,370 MPa, and an elongation at break of 48%, the material combines stiffness with exceptional ductility — making it a strong choice for applications such as drones, buckles, or automotive parts requiring high impact resistance. Printed parts can be machined and remain fracture-resistant even under high forces.
The XiP Pro and INFINAM® RG 7100 L together form a powerful combination for the production of high-performance components. With a build volume of 292 × 163 × 410 mm and LSPc® 7K technology, the printer's precision unlocks the full potential of the material — delivering fine details, smooth and glossy surfaces, and consistent isotropic properties.
Materials
Printable with
Loctite® 3D IND402 A70 is a high-rebound elastomeric photopolymer resin designed for DLP and SLA 3D printing, offering true rubber-like behavior with exceptional elongation and energy return for demanding functional parts. Post-processed parts achieve tensile strength of 5.5 MPa, Young's modulus of 42 MPa, and elongation at break up to 230%, making it ideal for flexible components that endure repeated deformation.
The XiP Pro from Nexa3D® excels at printing Loctite® 3D IND402 A70, leveraging its patented LSPc technology and 7K LCD resolution to produce high-rebound elastomeric parts with superior speed, accuracy, and surface quality.
Materials
Printable with
Loctite® 3D IND475 A60 is a high-rebound elastomeric UV resin that cures into a soft, flexible material with balanced hardness, strength, and elongation, ideal for functional prototyping and low-volume production of dynamic parts. Tensile stress at break measures 3.1 MPa (±0.3) per ASTM D638, with Young's modulus at 1.1 MPa (±0.5) and strain at break up to 160–201% depending on color variant.
Loctite® 3D IND475 A60 prints exceptionally well on the Nexa3D® XiP Pro, harnessing the printer's high-speed LSPc technology to produce high-rebound elastomeric parts with rapid throughput, fine detail, and reliable mechanical performance.
Materials
Printable with
Stratasys® FDM TPU 92A is a durable thermoplastic polyurethane that combines flexibility and stretch with abrasion and tear resistance. With an elongation at break of up to 552% (XY) and 482% (XZ), it delivers outstanding elasticity, while tensile strength of 16.8 MPa (XY) and 17.4 MPa (XZ) ensures reliable durability. A flexural modulus of 25.6 MPa (XY) and 36.9 MPa (XZ) further highlights its directional flexibility. 3D printing with FDM TPU 92A outperforms less ideal TPU technologies and removes costly and time-consuming molding or casting procedures for producing elastomer products.
Stratasys®'s industrial FDM 3D printers, such as the F370 from the F123 Series, provide dependable print results using FDM TPU 92A. With a build volume of 355.6 × 254 × 355.6 mm and 4 material bays (2 model / 2 support), the F370 delivers accurate, repeatable 3D printing suitable for the office, classroom, or factory floor.
Materials
Printable with
Use Cases
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