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Most 3D-printed objects are rigid plastic. But novel 3D printing techniques, like print-in-place hinges and joints, can produce more dynamic objects. And there are also flexible filament materials available, such as TPU (which is available in a wide range of “squishiness” levels). Clever designers can combine rigid and flexible material to great effect. And really clever designers can even embed other materials and objects into their 3D-prints. Redditor CanYouEvenPhoto posted about a genius way of adding armature wire to TPU prints in order to make flexible things that retain their position.

Embedding foreign objects in 3D prints isn’t a new idea, and we’ve seen people use that technique to encase magnets, weights, fasteners, and even electronic components in (usually rigid) plastic. But CanYouEvenPhoto’s use of wire in TPU is something we haven’t seen before and it has a lot of potential. The TPU is very flexible, but will immediately return to its original form when released. The addition of the wire creates resistance, so the object retains the form into which the user has contorted it.

One example use case is a flexible tripod. Those are popular for phones and small cameras (like GoPro action cams), because you can wrap the legs around things to secure them in place. CanYouEvenPhoto’s technique makes it possible for people to 3D-print tripods like that very easily.

There are two ways to accomplish that. The first is by embedding the wire during the printing process. Lots of wire types work, but CanYouEvenPhoto reported the best results with thick (4-5mm diameter) aluminum armature wire. Just design the 3D-printed part with a cavity for that wire, print in flexible TPU, pause the print when it reaches the top of the cavity, lay the wire into the cavity, and then resume the print. The new layers will seal the wire inside the cavity, almost like the TPU was molded around it.

The other way to do it is by leaving an opening into the cavity, so you can insert the armature wire after the print finishes — like sliding a TPU sleeve over the wire.

CanYouEvenPhoto says they prefer the second method, as the pausing technique can be tricky. If the wire isn’t completely below the current layer height, the printer’s nozzle will collide and that will cause problems.

Now you can add these techniques to your 3D printing toolbox for use in your own bendy projects!

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