TPU Flexible Filament: The Complete Printing Guide

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is the go-to flexible filament for parts that need to bend, stretch, compress, or absorb impact. Phone cases, gaskets, cable strain reliefs, custom grips, drone bumpers — if it needs to flex, TPU is your material.

Why TPU is Harder to Print Than PLA

TPU's flexibility is exactly what makes it tricky. The filament wants to buckle and coil in the extruder path instead of feeding cleanly into the nozzle. With the right setup, this is manageable.

Recommended TPU Print Settings

Nozzle Temp	220–230°C
Bed Temp	30–60°C (PEI plate recommended)
Print Speed	20–30mm/s (slow is key)
Travel Speed	80–120mm/s
Retraction	Minimal or disabled — 0–1mm direct, 0mm Bowden
Fan Cooling	20–50% (not too aggressive)
Infill	20–30% gyroid for flexible parts

The #1 Rule: Print Slow

Most TPU failures — skipping, buckling, grinding — come from printing too fast. Drop your print speed to 20–30mm/s. Yes, it's slow. Your print will be clean and functional as a result.

Retraction: Less is More

Flexible filament compresses and stretches in the extruder, making high retraction counterproductive — the filament just squashes instead of retracting. Use 0–1mm at low speed (20mm/s) for direct drive. For Bowden setups, TPU is notoriously difficult — direct drive is strongly preferred.

Direct Drive vs Bowden for TPU

Direct drive extruders (like the Bambu AMS system, Prusa MK3/MK4, Ender 3 S1 Pro) handle TPU well. The short, constrained filament path prevents buckling.

Bowden setups (original Ender 3, many Elegoo models) are much harder for TPU. The long tube gives the flexible filament room to coil and buckle. If you have a Bowden printer and want to print TPU regularly, upgrading to a direct-drive extruder kit is worth it.

Shore Hardness: 95A vs 87A vs 83A

TPU comes in different hardness levels — the Shore A rating tells you how stiff it is:

• 95A — Firm rubber. Like a shoe sole. Easiest to print, most widely available.
• 87A — Softer, more stretchy. Good for phone cases, grips, gaskets.
• 83A and below — Very soft and stretchy. Hard to print, needs very slow speeds.

Start with 95A TPU if you're new to flexible filament — it's forgiving and behaves well on most printers.

Best Use Cases for TPU

• Phone cases and device bumpers
• Cable strain reliefs and management clips
• Drone motor mounts and frame bumpers
• Custom grips and handles
• Gaskets and seals
• Boot covers and flexible connectors
• Wheels and rollers for RC vehicles
• Shoe insoles and orthotic prototypes

Where to Buy TPU in Roy, Utah

We stock multiple Shore hardness options at Forgely Roy. Come in and we'll help you pick the right TPU for your project — and we can walk you through the slicer settings for your specific printer.

📍 5519 S 1900 W, Roy, UT 84067 | 📞 385-449-2694 | Mon–Fri 11–6, Sat 11–3