TPE and TPU flexible filaments are both thermoplastic elastomers that allow a print to stretch or bend easily. But before we get into more details about these two types of filament, let’s talk about flexible filaments in general, and why they’re used.
There are several reasons why you’d want a print to have flexible or rubbery properties, such as vibration dampening and shock absorption, high impact strength, and good resistance to tearing, abrasion, chemicals, and high or low temperatures.
With all those pluses, it should be noted that flexible filaments are not always so easy to print with. In general, the softer and more bendable the material, the trickier it can be to print.
If you have something in mind that you want to print but would like to remove any potential hassle, consider using Craftcloud. With manufacturers who offer a variety of materials all over the world, your flexible prints will be delivered to your doorstep in no time.
Now, let’s delve into more about TPE and TPU filaments and clear up the differences between them. We’ll also go over the best practices for printing with them and leave you with a few prints to try yourself!
The Contenders
TPE
TPE stands for “thermoplastic elastomer”. It’s what you get when you combine hard plastic and soft rubber, so it has both thermoplastic and elastic properties. TPE covers a wide range of flexible materials, including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic co-polyester (TCP), and thermoplastic polyamide (TPA).
TPU
TPU stands for “thermoplastic polyurethane”. While also technically a class of materials, TPU is the most common type of TPE and is on the more rigid side of flexible filaments, making it easier to print with.
Clear Up the Confusion
Since the terms of TPE and TPU are often interchanged loosely, it’s worthwhile to set the record straight.
- Both TPE and TPU are categories of material, but TPE is a wider classification for soft materials, while TPU tends to be the more rigid-flexible filament.
- As a broader material class, TPE can vary more with respect to part performance and ease of printing.
- TPU, a specific type of TPE, established itself in the 3D printing market only in the last few years. Being easier to print than non-TPU TPEs, it’s become the go-to FDM flexible filament.
Given the differences between the two materials, you would be right to assume that printing them will also be different. Next, we’ll take a look at how best to print with TPE and TPU.
Printing Settings & Tips
Printing with TPE
TPE filament can be hard to print with due to its elasticity. It’s recommended to print with the following settings:
- Extruder temperature: 210-260 ºC
- Bed temperature: Unheated-110 ºC
- Print speed: 5-30 mm/s
If printing goes too fast, it could easily result in a jam. TPE works better with a direct extruder, so be especially careful if you have a Bowden extruder.
Printing with TPU
The good news is that TPU filament is easier to print than TPE, because it’s relatively stiffer, but compared to rigid filaments like PLA or PETG, TPU filament is still tricky. It’s recommended to print with the following settings:
- Extruder temperature: 210-230 ºC
- Bed temperature: Unheated-60 ºC
- Print speed: 5-30 mm/s
It’s very important to slow down the extrusion speed and retraction movement, in order to optimize the printing process.
More Differences
TPE and TPU are often classified by their hardness, which measures a material’s resistance to surface deformation. As we know, TPU is generally harder than TPEs, with TPU’s Shore hardness typically falling between 75A and 95A, with a high elastic range (typically from 600-700%).
Logically, TPE has a wider range of hardness than TPU. The variation in the chemical formulation of TPE means some types of TPE are partially hard and suitable for something like a car tire, while other types are very rubbery, like a rubber band.
Compared to TPE filament, TPU filament exhibits greater rigidity, which isn’t to be confused with hardness. Rigidity measures the ability of a material to resist deformation, indicating the force it takes to stretch a certain amount.
There are a few other differences that are worth mentioning. A TPU print will be heavier than a TPE print because TPUs are generally denser than other TPEs. TPU also has a smooth finish, while TPEs usually have a more rubbery texture. TPU has better resistance to abrasion than most TPEs, and TPU shrinks less than other TPEs.
Examples
In general, if you want heavier, tougher, and more durable objects, choose TPU filament, but for lighter, softer, and more flexible prints, choose TPE filament. Some cool models to try out with these two filaments are a phone case, bike handle, and pen grip.
A couple of popular brands of TPE filament include eSun TPE (around $30 for 0.5-kg spool) and Recreus Filaflex 82A (around $60 for 0.5-kg spool).
Some popular brands of TPU filament include FormFutura Python Flex (around $38 for 0.5-kg spool), UltiMaker TPU (around $70 for 0.75-kg spool), MH Build Series TPU (around $30 for 1-kg spool), Polymaker PolyFlex (around $30 for 0.75-kg spool), and the well-known NinjaTek (around $90 for 1-kg spool).
License: The text of "TPU vs TPE Filament: The Main Differences" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.