TPU and Flexible Materials

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is the most popular flexible material:

✅ Properties: • High elasticity and toughness • Resistance to oils and chemicals • Heat resistance up to 80 °C • Shore hardness: 83A–98A (higher = stiffer)

⚠️ Printing difficulty: • Flexible materials can jam in the extruder • Slower printing required (20–30 mm/s) • Direct drive extruder is significantly better than Bowden

🌡 Print settings: • Nozzle: 220–240 °C • Bed: 30–60 °C • Speed: 20–35 mm/s • Retraction: Minimal or none (prevents jamming) • Cooling: Medium

💡 Tips: • Start with harder TPU (95A+) as a beginner • Print slowly – flexible filament needs time • Direct filament path without sharp bends • Dry storage is important for TPU too

🔧 Applications: Phone cases, seals, robot wheels, tool handles