What TPU is good for
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is rubber-like filament: phone cases, cable organizers, gaskets, RC tires, shoe insoles. If the part should bend instead of break, TPU is the answer — and it prints on ordinary FDM machines with the right settings.
The two rules: slow and gentle
TPU is soft, so the extruder must push it slowly and retract it barely. Printing too fast ruins more TPU prints than wrong temperature does. Direct-drive extruders handle it far better than Bowden tubes, where a long soft filament path invites jams.
Settings that work
- Nozzle: 210–230°C
- Bed: 40–60°C on PEI, with a light glue-stick wipe as a release agent
- Speed: 20–40 mm/s for everything, first layer 15–20 mm/s
- Retraction: off, or at most 0.5–1.5mm on direct drive
- Cooling fan: 0–50% — start low, add fan for overhangs
- Disable high-speed and sport modes entirely
Jams: the beginner killer
Clicking extruder plus sudden under-extrusion mid-print means the soft filament buckled in the feed path. Slow down, cut retraction to near zero, and check that the PTFE tube seats firmly against the nozzle with no gap. Most TPU jams come from printing too fast or retracting too much.
TPU and water
TPU is among the thirstiest filaments — a week open in rainy season is enough to ruin a print. Dry at 55°C for 6–8 hours and reseal same-day. Details: drying and storage.
First project
Print a phone case or a cable clip — big, simple, and immediately useful. Dial in speed before chasing perfect surfaces.