Has Anyone Tried 3D Printing a Phone Case out of TPU?

Russ on 19/01/2022 - 02:41
Last edited 19/01/2022 - 10:06

Now that rubbery filament (TPU) is available, has anyone tried 3D printing a phone case?

The reason I ask is that I just bought an uncommon phone, and nobody makes a case for it. I did find a "universal" case on AliExpress, which stretches to fit many sizes of mobile:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000315051293.html

But that's not really a case IMO, it leaves the front and most of the back of the mobile unprotected, and I don't think it would give much protection to the edges of the mobile either.

So I thought: how hard is it to design a suitable case? Perhaps like a wallet case, but with a hinge between the front and back halves, perhaps using a cut-down plastic knitting needle (or similar) as the hinge pin.

Has anyone on OzBargain made their own case? Did you just copy an existing design, or did you create something unique? Is it durable? And, of course, do you have photos?

Thanks in advance!

Mobile Mobile Phone Accessory Mobile Phone Case

Comments

  • Mr Haj on 19/01/2022 - 08:59

    What the hell did you buy? I've never been unable to find a phone case and I've bought a lot of unusual unpopular phones.

    • mooney on 19/01/2022 - 10:11

      Yeah, same, am curious what phone it could be. I can't believe there aren't 700 cheap options.

    • Russ on 19/01/2022 - 10:18

      Konka SP20, and likewise my previous phone (Aspera Jazz2) has no cases available, but at least the Jazz2 came with a clear bumper case.

      I like cheap 4G phones that are small, which is why I chose these particular phones. But I found that the Jazz2 is a terrible phone, it was much slower than the previous 3G phone I had with the same specs, and the camera is a fixed-focus camera! Which makes it almost useless for QR codes.

      A relative of mine bought the Konka SP10 recently, so I knew the Konka is more responsive and has a reasonable camera. I'm liking it so far, except I'm missing a few of the features that Android 10 removed.

    • EightImmortals on 19/01/2022 - 10:36

      It's a shoe phone. Get Smart already.

  • Ryanek on 19/01/2022 - 09:11
    +2

    Literally thousands of people have. 3d printing really is a great hobby.

    • Russ on 19/01/2022 - 10:14

      Thanks, I just realized that the title of my post was unclear, so I've edited the post. I'm interested in 3D printing a flexible case from TPU.

      I have previously checked Thingiverse, and from the first twenty or so phone cases I checked, none appear to be made from TPU. Is there a way to sort Thingiverse to select only items made from TPU?

      • Ryanek on 19/01/2022 - 10:42
        +1

        Add TPU to your search.

        • Russ on 19/01/2022 - 11:25

          D'oh, I should have tried that.

          I've just looked through the first 16 pages of those, and they are almost all bumper cases.

          I've found two designs so far that cover the screen, but both use a thin flexible section to join the front and back together, not a hinge.

          Do you have experience with 3D printing with TPU? If so, how durable do you think the thin section will be in this design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2985562

          Do you think it will tear quickly, or last years, or somewhere in-between?

          • Ryanek on 19/01/2022 - 11:37
            +2

            @Russ: The great thing is, if it ever breaks down you can just print more.

          • kiddzzz on 20/01/2022 - 16:00
            +1

            @Russ: A lot of phone case already injection moulding their phone case afaik. It should not have longevity issues.
            Tho I only print the case as a temporary solution before the actual case arrives..

  • CodeXD on 19/01/2022 - 10:12

    Tell us the phone?

    You have an XY Problem.

    X

    The reason I ask is that I just bought an uncommon phone, and nobody makes a case for it

    Y

    Has Anyone Tried 3D Printing a Phone Case out of TPU?

    • Russ on 19/01/2022 - 10:33

      It's not really an XY problem, I don't like any of the phone cases I've ever seen, so I'd like to try my own thing.

      I like cases that cover the screen, but every case I've seen like that just makes the case fold, which is a recipe for "short lifetime". Hence my description of the hinge mechanism I'd like to try out.

  • Youfah Mizzum on 19/01/2022 - 10:33

    First place I looked. AliExpress.

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002381364281.html?spm=a2…

  • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2022 - 10:51

    It cost me $600 to print foot orthodics in Silicone, it will cost more than your phone is worth to print a case

    • Zephyrus on 19/01/2022 - 10:57
      +3

      The marginal cost if they already have 3d printer is pretty low, probably 10's of cents to $1.

    • Russ on 19/01/2022 - 11:04

      print foot orthodics in Silicone

      How do you do that? Are you 3D-printing a mold, and pouring silicone into it? Or is there some way to 3D print silicone directly?

  • forged on 19/01/2022 - 14:20

    You can get TPU or other flexible filaments for as little as $40/kg, but flexible filaments are a bit difficult to print, so you'd want a decent printer for it (at the very least, one with a direct drive extruder).

    I've seen a few 3D printed TPU cases, they look a little bit strange with the internal patterns showing through the transparent filament, but it works okay.

    Designing the case would definitely be the hardest part, especially if you want it to fit well / have the cutouts align properly. Definitely doable if you've got experience in 3D modelling, but there's a steep learning curve if you're just starting out. I'd probably take a good couple of days to design a case, maybe more to make adjustments after printing and test fitting. If you want to give it a crack, I'd strongly recommend Fusion 360, it's a fantastic parametric modelling software for the price (it's free).

    • Russ on 19/01/2022 - 14:42

      flexible filaments are a bit difficult to print, so you'd want a decent printer for it

      Thanks, I don't own one, but I've had a 3D printer available at my workplace for about a decade, and I've designed for it a few times. I'm hoping to use the publicly-available 3D printers at the State Library of Queensland, but TPU isn't on their list of approved filaments, so I've emailed them and asked if it can be added. Those printers are Prusa Mk3S, and I see from Reddit posts that they are capable of printing TPU.

      there's a steep learning curve if you're just starting out.

      I see from the Reddit posts that there can be difficulties. Fortunately, using the 3D printers at the State Library of QLD has a big advantage: their skilled technical people do all the printing, I just have to supply the 3D file, collect it at the end, and pay for the filament used.

      I'd strongly recommend Fusion 360

      It looks like I'll have to use TinkerCad to be compatible with the processes at the State Library. Hopefully it's not too difficult to use.

      • forged on 19/01/2022 - 14:50
        +1

        Generally the workflow for 3D printing is:
        1. Design the part in your CAD software of choice (i.e. Tinkercad, Fusion)
        2. Export to STL mesh format (represents the shape of the part)
        3. Import the STL model to a slicer software, set print orientation, add supports
        4. Export G-code from the slicer (tells the printer what sequence of moves to make to complete the print)
        5. Send the G-code to the printer and run the print job

        I'd be surprised if the State Library didn't take STL files; even if they don't, you can import STL models into Tinkercad anyway.
        Strongly recommend using Fusion if you're not already familiar with something else. Will make things much much easier when you've got the first print back and need to make adjustments so it fits properly.

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