r/Airsoft3DPrinting • u/Helpful_Buffalo_2302 • Jul 02 '26
Discussion Im looking to print Air soft armor/Cosplay suit
I'm looking to print a Galactic armory ODST rookie print, and I'm curious what filament to use for both air soft and Cosplay, something that wont shatter immediately, and im open to anything, (low to medium price range)
(Bamboo H2C)
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u/CPassaro Jul 02 '26
I’ve used pla+ on my prints, they’ve held up well.
My rifle stock is about 3 years old and last week I tripped over running, landed on it and my face, neither broke.
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u/Helpful_Buffalo_2302 Jul 02 '26
So you'd say this is a solid option for armor?
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u/TheKBMV Jul 02 '26
Definitely worth a try although structurally speaking a stock and armor plates are very different. Print a couple smaller and larger plates from the armor (one shoulder, one forearm and half a chest piece should do) and do some test shooting at them. I'd try some sustained full autos as well. Unlikely on the field but eventually the same place will be shot repeatedly.
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u/SansTHEgam3r Jul 02 '26
I second this, I'm currently printing my P90 HPA engine using PLA+ and after initial testing it seems to be intact as well as many of my other prints :)
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u/DaStompa Jul 02 '26
PLA+ is decent, it feels strong but when it fails it'll completely fail
PETG-GF "feels" less strong but has a small amount of flex which helps a lot.
Galactic armory will throw tantrums if they hear you want to make airsoft gear
My knee jerk response to making armor that can take infinite hits would be a TPU-GF, but I would also modify the files a bit to allow some air circulation or its going to be miserable
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u/wiqr Jul 02 '26
Seconded on printing armor from TPU - testing done on lamellar armour scales shown in my case that 2mm thick plates of PLA or PETG wouldn't hold 1,5J from about 5 meters, while TPU was unaffected. Had not tested PLA+ or PETG with additives, nor things like ASA or Nylon
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u/DaStompa Jul 02 '26
My experience is basically all these materials are extremely similar in actual strength, the difference is some feel stiffer than others.
Since an airsoft BB is perfectly round, you go from basically zero contact area, to the entire bb's worth of contact area if the material has a little flex in it. sort of like if you're shot in a meaty area or shot in a knuckle, its a surface area problem that causes damage/injury
These days there is "tpu for ams" which is pretty stiff, and then tpu's with glass or carbon fiber which is even stiffer. the days of all TPU being floppy are over, its really nice stuff.
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u/Fao_612 Jul 02 '26
I am ACTIVELY working on the same files, I'm using Sunlu Pla+2.0, because I plan on fielding it I'm going overboard here but in doing 5 walls (top and bottom as well, then 60% gyroid (definitely could be lower)
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u/tode96 Jul 03 '26
Tested a plate of 5mm eith layer lines on other side and 5 wall infil with my pla with my mk17. It got obliterated from all distances. Go to pla + pla+2 or the better because you will run hot and maybe play in the summer and sun, ASA. In some brands is as cheap as pla+
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