A practical lesson learned from 3D printing a replacement tractor part using TPU filament. When replicating a rubber hydraulic hose retention strap, the author discovered that relief holes in the original rubber part serve to weaken it for flexibility — but in 3D printed parts, those same holes actually strengthen the area by forcing more solid perimeter loops. The fix involved redesigning the holes differently and choosing a grid infill pattern, which is intentionally weaker in the vertical direction to allow the part to flex appropriately.
126 Impressions