— FDM · MATERIAL
TPU
Flexible. Bouncy. Genuinely useful.
Thermoplastic polyurethane. Rubber-like flex (Shore 95A typical). Used for phone cases, gaskets, vibration mounts, prosthetics. Slow to print but unique among hobby filaments.
— Specs
The numbers your slicer cares about.
Density
1.21 g/cm³
Nozzle temp
220–240°C
Bed temp
40–60°C
Price
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— Use cases
When TPU is the right call.
Best for
- Phone cases, drone bumpers, drawer feet
- Gaskets and seals for low-pressure systems
- Vibration mounts, shoe inserts, watch straps
- Any part where 'a bit of give' beats brittle plastic
Avoid for
- Bowden-tube extruders (TPU buckles in the path)
- Sharp geometric detail — flex blunts crisp edges
- Parts loaded in tension; long-term creep is real
- High-temperature use — softens above 70°C
— Honest assessment
Pros & cons, no marketing.
Pros
- Genuinely flexible — bend, twist, stretch without snapping
- Excellent abrasion resistance (3D-printed shoe outsoles work)
- Chemically resistant to oils, greases, weak acids
- Vibration damping — naturally absorbs shock
Cons
- Slow to print: 20–30mm/s on hobby printers
- Direct-drive extruder strongly recommended
- Bridges and overhangs need supports earlier than rigid filaments
- Stringy — retraction tuning is mandatory
— Print tips
What we'd tell a friend printing this.
- 1Direct-drive printer + 0.4mm nozzle is the sweet spot
- 2Keep retraction low (1–2mm) — TPU rebounds and clogs at high retraction
- 3Walls: 3–4 perimeters, 15–25% infill — flexes evenly that way
- 4Dry the spool aggressively (50°C, 6h) before printing — TPU is hygroscopic
— Compare
Also worth considering.
— Try this material