long tpe tube

thingiverse

I am searching for a tube that can be flexible, elastic, and robust in order to transport 120 degree C fluid and heat small wires housed within the tube. After designing nearly thirty different variations and testing them out, I eventually landed on a spiral design that can be stretched straight out. Paired with SMA elements and heating/cooling fluid (using oil in this instance), the whole system works like a muscular structure with tendons and ligaments. A 220 x 150 print bed can produce a tube that is almost one and a half meters long, making it well worth the effort put into it. When printing with soft materials such as TPE, if the feed gear is too tight, the filament will likely feed through, which was pointed out by someone on a forum I frequent. I make use of a piece of plastic to keep the spring lever on the feeder down, thus reducing the force exerted by the spring. It works nicely this way, and I would like to give credit where credit is due. There were moments when I considered giving up using TPE altogether, but it truly does prove itself to be an exceptional material for strength so far. Its elasticity is a definite plus, making it significantly stronger than silicone in many respects.