Flexible (TPE/TPC)
AdvancedThermoplastic Elastomer & Co-Polyester
Ultra-flexible filaments softer than TPU, including TPE (Shore 60A-85A) and TPC elastomers. These materials produce extremely rubber-like parts but are among the most challenging filaments to print. Direct drive extruders are mandatory.
Nozzle Temp200–230°C
Bed Temp30–50°C
Print Speed10–25 mm/s
Printing Tips
- Direct drive extruder is MANDATORY — Bowden tubes cannot handle filaments this soft.
- Print at 10-20 mm/s maximum. Faster speeds cause the filament to buckle and jam in the extruder.
- Disable retraction entirely for the softest variants (Shore <85A). Use coasting or wipe instead.
- Use a constrained filament path — add a PTFE tube from the spool to the extruder to prevent tangling.
- Set Z-hop to 0.5mm+ to prevent the nozzle from dragging across soft, easily-deformed layers.
Use Cases
Ultra-soft grips and handlesMedical device prototypesSilicone-replacement partsSoft-touch buttons and keypadsCompliant mechanismsWearable padding and cushioning
Compatible Printers
- Bambu Lab A1 (direct drive, very slow)
- Bambu Lab P1S (direct drive)
- Prusa MK4S (direct drive)
- Prusa Core One (direct drive)
- Artillery Sidewinder X3 Plus
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