Rubber 3D Printing Service on Xometry

Xometry offers high-quality, industrial rubber 3D printing services for both prototyping and end-use applications. Rubber 3D printing can be achieved with flexible filaments, UV-curable flexible resins, and through unique 3D printing techniques and materials. 3D printing with thermoplastic elastomer materials enables designers to produce 3D prints in just a few days that simulate rubber without the need for subtractive manufacturing or post-processing. Applications for rubber 3D prints include rubber prototypes, gaskets, medical devices, general elastic components, and much more.

HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)

HP’s proprietary Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology builds parts from a powder bed by selectively applying fusing agents and heating to create specific melts in the shape of a part layer. This is repeated layer-by-layer, building a 3D-printed part without the need for support structures. It functions similarly to a traditional inkjet printer, with a printhead that deposits the fusing and detailing agents across the entire build plate in a single pass, allowing the printing of multiple parts simultaneously. Though most often used to create hard thermoplastic parts, MJF also works with rubber-like TPU (thermoplastic urethane). MJF TPU parts can be vapor smoothed for a smooth surface finish and enhanced properties. See our MJF 3D printing service page for more information on this process.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is another powder-bed 3D printing technology, but instead of fusing agents, it uses a high-powered laser and heating system to precisely sinter material particles into part layers. It can be used to make parts from thermoplastics such as nylon and a wide range of filled variants, as well as from TPU powders. Learn more about Selective Laser Sintering on our SLS services page.

Carbon Digital Light Synthesis™ (DLS™)

Developed by Carbon®, this process uses digital light projection, oxygen-permeable optics, and programmable liquid resins to produce durable and highly detailed flexible resin parts. Known as Digital Light Synthesis, or DLS for short, this process stands out from other resin-based processes like Stereolithography (SLA) or PolyJet 3D printing because most DLS resins undergo a secondary thermal step that activates dormant epoxies or urethanes, making parts much stronger than UV curing alone. Additionally, digital light synthesis is a continuous process, producing parts layer by layer without stopping, as with most additive manufacturing methods. This gives DLS-printed parts isotropic properties, meaning that their strength is uniform regardless of orientation, enabling highly durable end-use rigid or flexible components. Visit our Carbon DLS 3D printing service page to discover what else it can do.

PolyJet 3D 

PolyJet 3D is a 3D printing technology that works by jetting UV-curable resin onto a build tray using a printhead, similar to inkjet printing. The printer deposits the photocurable resin in extremely thin layers, which are simultaneously cured with ultraviolet (UV) light, solidifying each layer as it is deposited. This repeats layer by layer until the entire part is printed. Using a printhead, PolyJet can print multiple materials simultaneously. This allows the process to simulate rubber-like materials of different hardnesses from Shore A 30 to Shore A 95 by precisely mixing rigid and soft materials during printing. PolyJet is excellent for creating "feels-like" and "lookalike" prototypes, but the parts do not hold up well to end-use applications. Learn more on our PolyJet 3D printing page.

Flexible Prototypes

3D printing has always been a fast and effective prototyping tool – the ability to include flexible materials into prototyping further the capabilities of product designers and presenters to show how assemblies and parts work. 

Gaskets & Seals

Prior to additive manufacturing, gaskets, o-rings, and other sealing components had to be cut from larger sheets using either a stamp, cutting tools, or other subtractive methods. Now, users can simply upload a CAD file to a 3D printer and print as many gaskets as needed with a smaller-profile system. Several different gasket configurations can be manufactured simultaneously, and designers can perform rapid iterations to produce better-performing gaskets.

Medical Device Components

Custom rubber 3D-printed parts are ideal for personalized, one-off products such as wearables, prosthetics, and other medical devices. The ability to efficiently build parts that exactly fit a patient’s anatomy is vital to saving costs for both medical practitioners and patients while also improving medical device quality.

General Elastic Components

Being able to 3D print engineering elastomers like TPU and EPU directly allows elastic parts to be manufactured without traditional processes like injection and compression molding, reducing costs and manufacturing time, decreasing weight, and retaining (or improving) working characteristics, especially at lower volumes. Rubber 3D printing provides a versatile addition to materials selection in additive manufacturing.

Urethane & Silicone Casting

Urethane casting provides end-use, rigid, flexible, and rubber parts with production-level quality for low-volume production. Xometry offers rubber-like polyurethanes from Shore A 25-95, as well as a range of silicone materials. Learn more by viewing Xometry’s Urethane Casting Service page.

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Injection Molding

When a higher quantity of parts is required, liquid silicone rubber (LSR) injection molding can produce thousands of parts with high repeatability. With Xometry’s injection molding services, you own both the tooling and the parts made. Our molding experts and project managers are here to provide guidance and simplify the process for you. Learn more by viewing Xometry’s Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Injection Molding Service page.

Compression Molding

Compression molding is another high-volume manufacturing process for producing rubbery parts, including those made from materials such as Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) and EPDM. The process works by using pre-measured shots of material in a heated mold cavity. Molds are closed under high pressure to force the material to flow and fill the mold's shape. This process is excellent for parts with uneven cross-sections and thick walls, which injection molding processes tend to struggle with. Visit our Compression Molding Services page to see if it's right for you.