All about TPU filaments

What is TPU filament?

Main properties about TPU filament:

Matte material Available in various colours Resistant to oil, grease and chemicals Flexible and resilient Heat resistant Wear-resistant

What are the advantages and disadvantages of TPU filament?

	Advantages TPU filament		Disadvantages TPU filament
	Recyclable		Low print speed
	High elasticity and tensile strength		Less suitable for Bowden extruders
	Excellent wear resistance		Not suitable for printing 'bridges' (overhangs)
	Resistant to oil, grease and chemicals		High printing temperature
	Heated bed is not required thanks to excellent layer adhesion

Tips for printing with TPU 3D filament:

• Always store TPU 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 TPU material is indicated on a shore scale. A higher value indicates that the material is harder / less flexible.  
• Are you going to print without a heated bed? Use Painter's tape or adhesive spray for good first coat adhesion. Without good adhesion to the print bed, the risk of tearing is very high when the object is bent or stretched.
• The extruder should support the TPU filament as much as possible, so that the material is not bent or pushed in the wrong direction.  
• For printing with TPU 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. TPU can only be printed at a lower speed.

TPU filament with different properties: 

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