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[Yuval]

Help, I need to reduce vibrations transmitted to the enclosure and improve airflow efficiency for 3D-printed spacers for mounting cooling fans on an industrial control cabinet. These spacers need to provide some damping without compromising structural integrity. Would a flexible material like TPU be the best choice, or would a rigid polymer like PETG or ABS with specific print settings (infill density, layer height, wall thickness) offer better vibration isolation?

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[CommunityMember]

If vibration damping is your main concern, TPU might seem like the obvious choice, but it can be too flexible, which might cause the fan to shift or vibrate excessively. A rigid material with some damping properties is often a better balance between stability and vibration reduction. Alternatively, a TPU part with a rigid part inserted into it can give you control over the final stiffness.

For this kind of application, PA12 (Nylon 12) is usually the best option. It has excellent impact resistance and some natural vibration absorption while maintaining structural integrity. If you get it printed using MJF or SLS, you won’t have to worry about infill settings or layer thickness, as these processes produce solid, high-quality parts with uniform properties. The beauty of MJF is you can select the material stiffness as it co-prints which allows rigid/flexible revisions by mixing on the fly.

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[Yuval]

That’s interesting! I hadn’t considered MJF as an option. If I can’t get that service, would nylon12 be better than PETG or ABS for this?

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[CommunityMember]

Yes, PA12 offers better toughness and vibration damping than PETG or ABS. PETG is good for rigidity and chemical resistance, but it doesn’t absorb vibrations well. ABS is slightly better, but PA12 outperforms both in this application. Remember that MJF (and also SLS) printing result in strong, isotropic parts, unlike FDM, where layer lines can weaken the structure.

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