Why Connex?
Connex printing systems can produce prototypes with possess properties that mimic traditional elastomeric materials including EPDM and NBR. This means you can evaluate a design that incorporates soft touch areas. In the example illustrated above, several rubber-like materials with different shore values were printed at the same time and evaluated on the design model. The model was then tested on a focus group as well as on potential customers to gain input regarding the
product's comfort and ease of use. Issues such as a product's impact resistance can also be evaluated.  

Tips and Tricks

Save the design in separate STL files for each part of your assembly (Figure 3). This is recommended for the soft touch areas along with other rigid parts. Later the parts can be printed in different color tones to visually separate each area of the model. Label each part that you evaluate with its relevant shore value. Labeling will help you later quickly determine which shore value represents the best score in your evaluation criteria tests. Also, create a mechanism that enables you to mount the soft touch part on your full assembly of rigid and soft parts. You can then use the Connex system's ability to print up to nine different materials in one build process and assemble each part on the model for evaluation.