VarioShore TPU

ColorFabb is a Netherlands-based company dedicated to the development and production of FDM/FFF 3D printing filaments. The company is constantly developing and excels in the production of innovative materials designed for specific applications.

VarioShore TPU is a flexible filament for FDM/FFF 3D printers, consisting of 92A TPU that is characterised by its variable shore hardness, weight and density.

Video 1: Presentation of Varioshore TPU. Source: ColorFabb.

TPU, thermoplastic polyurethane, is a flexible material with some elasticity. It offers good chemical resistance, UV resistance and smooth surfaces. In the case of VarioShore, the TPU used is Shore 92A, which determines its degree of hardness.

In addition to the TPU, VarioShore contains a foaming agent (the same technology was used in the LW-PLA filament) that is distributed throughout the filament, activated at high temperatures and releases a gas that causes the filament to acquire a foamy texture.

The degree of foaminess and, consequently, the density of the material and its Shore hardness, can be modified depending on the printing speed, the layer height and the printing flow. Thus, by modifying these parameters, the user can achieve different densities in the same 3D printed part with this material.

Image 1: Available VarioShore filament colours. Source: Colorfabb.

The colour of the part also varies according to these parameters, obtaining a lighter colour in areas with a higher degree of foaming and a more intense tone in areas with less foam.

Image 2: The color of the part may vary depending on the foaming intensity.. Source: Colorfabb.

Thus, VarioShore TPU is characterised by:

• Allow different Shore hardnesses to be obtained in the same part.
• Make it possible to reduce the weight and modify the density of a part, while maintaining similar properties to TPU 92A.
• To be able to 3D print parts with FDM/FFF technology with foam texture.
• To offer a soft touch.

Image 3: 3D printed wheels with VarioShore TPU. Source: ColorFabb.

If you work at a 3D printing temperature between 200 - 250 °C, the material will expand 1.4 - 1.6 times its original volume, which is equivalent to printing at low flow rates of around 60 - 70 % to produce the foam. Printing at temperatures between 190 - 200°C will produce harder parts without foam.

Applications

With Varioshore TPU it is possible to produce parts with low density and with areas of varying hardness in the same part while maintaining a soft touch. This innovative filament for FDM/FFF 3D printers from ColorFabb is suitable for:

• Production of customised insoles for footwear.
• Bicycle grips adapted to the palm of each user's hand.
• Knee and elbow pads for different sports.
• Protections for elements that are exposed to impacts, such as an impact protector for doors.

Video 2: Experimentation with VarioShore. Source: Colorfabb.

Colorfabb's VarioShore TPU is without doubt an innovative material, ideal for users who wish to produce parts with a foam finish or with variations in density and hardness without sacrificing the properties of TPU.