The best filament for 3D printing custom-made insoles and lasts
At FootPrint3D, we find that there are many questions about which filament is best suited for 3D printing in foot and shoe care. That’s why we set up this blog to highlight some key points.
Diversity in materials
There are countless thermoplastic materials available. One popular material is thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Several variants exist within TPU, such as TPU with different shore values and also different colors. Other materials such as Thermoplastic Copolyester (TPC), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polylactide (PLA) and Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) are also used. Each material has unique properties that affect the hardness, softness, flexibility and rigidity of the final product.
Adjusting 3D printer settings
With the variety of materials, it is important to set up the 3D printer correctly. The average printer has about 300 settings, ranging from temperature to print speed. In addition, hardware modifications may sometimes be required, such as nozzle size or the print bed used.
Medical regulations
For custom-made insoles, we must also consider European medical regulations. The MDR states that materials must be demonstrably suitable for producing a safe medical device. This is certainly not the case with all filaments. An example is an earlier post in which filament containing carcinogens was discovered.
ISO 10993 standard
To comply with the MDR, the foot care professional must demonstrate that materials have been tested for toxicity and skin hypersensitivity according to ISO 10993. It is important for custom medical device manufacturers to realize that they are responsible for complying with these rules. Therefore, always make sure you get full transparency from your suppliers about the materials used.
In short, always choose reliable and tested materials when 3D printing custom-made insoles and lasts, and stay abreast of applicable regulations.
Want to know which material best suits your needs or are you just looking for a total solution? Schedule an appointment with our experts. We like to think with you.
