Flexible (TPE/TPC)

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Thermoplastic 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 Temp200230°C
Bed Temp30–50°C
Print Speed1025 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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