PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified) is a popular 3D printing filament known for its balance of strength, durability, and ease of printing. It's often seen as a middle ground between PLA (easy to print, but brittle) and ABS (strong and heat-resistant, but more difficult to print and produces fumes).

Here are some common and popular items 3D printed with PETG, along with reasons why PETG is a good choice for them:

1. Functional Parts and Prototypes:

• Mechanical Components: Gears, brackets, housings, and other parts that need to withstand some stress, impact, or bending. PETG's high impact resistance and good layer adhesion make it suitable for these applications.

• Jigs, Fixtures, and Tools: Durable tools and aids for workshops or manufacturing processes.

• Functional Prototypes: Creating early versions of products that need to be tested for their mechanical properties.

2. Items Requiring Durability and Strength:

• Outdoor Items: Due to its good UV and moisture resistance, PETG is excellent for things exposed to the elements, like garden tools, plant pots, signs, and even parts for hydroponic systems.

• Protective Cases and Enclosures: For electronics, robotics, or other devices, offering impact protection.

• Compliant Mechanisms: Designs that flex and return to their original shape, like clips, hinges, and latches, benefit from PETG's flexibility and ductility.

• Vases and Containers (especially for liquids): PETG is water-resistant and can be sealed well, making it suitable for flower pots and other containers.

3. Items with Food or Liquid Contact (with proper precautions):

• Food Containers/Kitchen Gadgets: PETG is generally considered food-safe (as it's derived from PET, used in plastic bottles). This makes it suitable for items like jar openers, multi-purpose jar dispensers, lemon squeezers, pasta presses, and chip bag clips. However, it's crucial to ensure your printing process is hygienic and that the filament itself is certified food-safe by the manufacturer.

• Water Bottles/Aquarium Components: Its water resistance and clarity make it a good choice for these applications.

4. Items Requiring Transparency or Specific Aesthetics:

• Transparent Parts: While not as clear as resin prints, PETG can produce translucent or semi-transparent prints, which can be used for light diffusers, lampshades, or even certain display pieces.

• Artistic Prints: Bracelets, rings, and other decorative items can benefit from PETG's smooth, often glossy finish and range of colors.

Why PETG is often chosen:

• Strength and Toughness: It's more durable and impact-resistant than PLA.

• Good Layer Adhesion: This reduces the risk of prints breaking along layer lines.

• Chemical Resistance: It resists many chemicals, oils, and water.

• Heat Resistance: It has a higher temperature tolerance than PLA, making it suitable for items that might be exposed to moderate heat (e.g., in a car or near a window).

• Low Warping: Compared to ABS, PETG has a much lower tendency to warp, making it easier to print, especially for larger parts, without an enclosure.

• Relatively Easy to Print: While it can be prone to stringing, it's generally more forgiving to print than ABS.

• Recyclable: PETG is a recyclable plastic.

When printing with PETG, it's important to dial in your retraction settings to minimize stringing, and using a heated bed is highly recommended for good adhesion.

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a highly versatile 3D printing filament renowned for its flexibility, elasticity, and durability. It's a type of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) that bridges the gap between rubber and plastic, offering unique properties that make it ideal for specific applications where rigidity isn't desired.

Here are many common and popular items 3D printed with TPU, categorized by their key benefits:

1. Flexible and Compliant Parts:

• Phone Cases: This is one of the most popular uses for 3D printed TPU. Its shock absorption and grip make it perfect for protecting electronics.

• Gaskets and Seals: TPU's ability to compress and return to its original shape, along with its chemical resistance, makes it excellent for creating custom gaskets and seals for various applications (e.g., in automotive, plumbing, or industrial equipment).

• Vibration Dampeners/Feet: For machinery, speakers, or even 3D printers themselves, TPU feet can significantly reduce vibration and noise.

• Watch Bands/Wearables: Its comfortable, skin-friendly nature and flexibility make it suitable for custom watch bands, wristbands, and other wearable accessories.

• Hinges and Connectors: TPU can be used to create "living hinges" that can flex repeatedly without breaking, or flexible connectors for various projects.

• Cable Management: Flexible cable clips, ties, and organizers that can easily wrap around cables and hold them securely without damaging them.

• Soft Grips and Handles: Adding a soft, ergonomic grip to tools, sports equipment, or other objects for improved comfort and control.

• Prosthetics and Orthotics: Custom-fit orthotics, insoles, and components for prosthetics benefit from TPU's flexibility, comfort, and biocompatibility (for certain grades).

2. Impact and Abrasion Resistant Items:

• RC Car Tires/Robot Wheels: TPU's excellent grip and ability to absorb impacts make it perfect for creating durable and functional tires for remote control vehicles or robots.

• Protective Bumpers/Corners: For furniture, delicate equipment, or even car doors, TPU bumpers can prevent damage from accidental impacts.

• Footwear Components: Custom shoe soles, insoles, and other footwear elements that require cushioning, durability, and flexibility.

• Sporting Goods: Components for sports equipment that need to withstand impact or provide cushioning, such as parts for goggles, protective padding, or grips.

• Durable Toys: Flexible, impact-resistant toys that can withstand rough play without breaking.

3. Specialized and Novelty Prints:

• Compliant Mechanisms: Designs that achieve movement through the deformation of the material itself, like flexible grippers or spring-loaded mechanisms.

• Articulated Models: Creating highly poseable figures or models with moving joints that can bend and twist realistically.

• Squeeze Toys/Stress Balls: The soft, squishy nature of TPU makes it ideal for creating stress-relief toys.

• Creative Designs: Unique artistic prints that leverage the material's ability to bend, stretch, or be textured in interesting ways.

• Airless Tires/Balls: Designs with internal lattice structures that provide cushioning and flexibility without needing to be inflated.

Key Characteristics of TPU that make it suitable:

• High Elasticity and Flexibility: Can be stretched and bent significantly without permanent deformation.

• Excellent Abrasion Resistance: Resists wear and tear from friction.

• High Impact Strength: Can absorb significant shock and impact.

• Good Chemical Resistance: Resists many oils, greases, and common solvents.

• Vibration Dampening: Absorbs and dissipates energy, reducing vibrations.

• Good Layer Adhesion: Creates strong, cohesive prints.

• Variety of Hardnesses: Available in different Shore hardnesses (e.g., 85A, 90A, 95A), allowing for varying degrees of flexibility.

• Temperature Resistance: Performs well across a range of temperatures, including low temperatures.

Printing Considerations for TPU:

While TPU offers great benefits, it can be more challenging to print than rigid filaments like PLA or PETG due to its flexibility. Key considerations include:

• Direct Drive Extruder Recommended: Bowden extruders can struggle with flexible filaments, leading to kinks or clogs.

• Slower Print Speeds: To prevent tangling and ensure good extrusion.

• Minimal Retraction: Excessive retraction can cause stringing and clogs.

• Heated Bed: Often helpful for good first layer adhesion.

• Moisture Sensitivity: TPU can absorb moisture from the air, leading to poor print quality, so proper storage and drying are important.

Despite the printing nuances, the unique properties of TPU open up a world of possibilities for functional, durable, and flexible 3D printed items.