All about TPE filaments

What is TPE filament?

Main properties of TPE filament:

Matte material Available in various colours Very flexible and resilient Soft, but strong Heat resistant

What are the advantages and disadvantages of TPE filament?

	Advantages TPE filament		Disadvantages TPE filament
	High elasticity and tensile strength		Limited print speed
	Can serve as a shock absorber		Less suitable for Bowden extruders
	Excellent wear resistance		Use of a heated bed is highly recommended
	Heat resistant		Strong smell when printing

Tips for printing with TPE 3D filament:

• Always store TPE in a dry place and preferably in a sealed bag with moisture absorbers or silica gel to prevent holes in your 3D prints.  
• The hardness of the TPE material is indicated on a shore scale. A higher value indicates that the material is harder / less flexible.  
• Use painter's tape or adhesive spray for good layer adhesion. Without good adhesion, the risk of tearing is very high when the object is bent or stretched.
• The extruder should support the TPE filament as much as possible, so that the material is not bent or pushed in the wrong direction.
• For printing with TPE filament, it is best to use a direct drive extruder. Do you want to print with a Bowden extruder? Then make sure that the filament does not get stuck against the wall of the Bowden tube.
• Retraction of the filament should be disabled or limited to a very small distance. Check which printer settings are needed before you start printing with flexible filament.
• Please take into account a slightly longer printing time. TPE can only be printed at a lower speed.

TPE filament with different properties: 

• Flexible TPE: 1.75mm / 2.85-3mm
• Semi-flexible TPE: 1.75mm / 2.85-3mm