Flexible vs Rigid Filament: Which One is Best for Creating Living Hinges?

If you're into 3D printing, you've probably heard of living hinges. These are hinges that print all at once, without the need for assembly. Flexible filaments like TPU and TPE are often used to make living hinges. But what about the rigid filaments?

In this blog post, we'll compare flexible and rigid filaments for creating living hinges. We'll look at the benefits and drawbacks of each, and help you decide which one is best for your project.

Flexible Filament

Flexible filaments are often used for creating living hinges because of their flexibility. Flexible filaments like TPU and TPE are elastic materials that bend and flex without breaking. This makes them perfect for living hinges where you need flexibility, yet durability.

Benefits

• Flexible
• Durable
• Resilient

Drawbacks

• Difficult to print ¹
• May require a direct drive extruder ²
• Limited color options ³

Rigid Filament

Rigid filaments like PLA and ABS are the most commonly used filaments in 3D printing. They are known for their strength and durability, and they can be used to make living hinges too.

Benefits

• Strong ⁴
• Durable ⁵
• Wide color selection ⁶

Drawbacks

• Not flexible ⁷
• More brittle compared to flexible filaments ⁸
• Can crack or break during use depending on the design ⁹

Which One is Best for Creating Living Hinges?

Flexible filaments are better suited when you need a hinge that requires more flexion or bending. A great example of this would be building a phone case with a flip cover. Using a flexible filament would give your phone case a natural bend like structure, while also providing the durability and resilience it needs to last.

Rigid filaments, on the other hand, are ideal for living hinges that require more stability and strength. For example, if you are creating a box with a hinged lid, rigid filaments like PLA or ABS can provide the required stability and strength.

In conclusion, determining which filament to use for your living hinges depends on your specific needs. So whether you choose to use a flexible or rigid filament, make sure you consider the application and final use case when making a decision.

References