Flexible 3D printing in TPU
Rubbery parts that squash, grip and bounce back. TPU is the material for seals, feet, bumpers, grommets, phone cases and anything that has to bend without breaking.
In a nutshell
- Cost
- $$$ out of $$$$
- Heat
- Fine to about 60 to 70 °C
- Feel
- 95A is firm rubber, like a shoe sole. 75D is semi-rigid, bends and springs back.
- Outdoors
- Yes for shade and weather. Long full sun will eventually harden it.
What it's for
Good for
- Seals, gaskets, grommets and plugs
- Feet, pads, bumpers and corner guards
- Grips, handles and phone or tablet cases
- Straps, hinges and living joints (75D)
- Vibration mounts and spacers
Not the right pick for
- Rigid structural parts and brackets
- Sharp detail and thin walls, which stay floppy
- Parts that need to be very accurate in size
- Multi-colour printing
The options
TPU 95A
Soft and rubbery. Shore 95A is about the firmness of a skateboard wheel. Seals, feet, grips, cases.
TPU 75D
Semi-rigid. Holds its shape but bends and springs back. Guards, flexible hinges, protective covers and clips that must not snap.
Colours
All our filament comes from Siddament, an Australian supplier. If a TPU colour is in stock there, we can print with it. Pick a basic colour in the quote tool or choose Other Siddament colour and paste the product code.
Colours from Siddament
TPU questions
How flexible is TPU 95A?
A thin section bends easily and squashes under thumb pressure. A chunky section is firm, like a shoe sole or a skateboard wheel. The design matters as much as the material, so tell us how it needs to behave.
Is TPU slower or dearer?
Both. It prints slowly and the filament costs more per gram than PLA or PETG, so TPU parts cost more for the same size. Small parts are still very affordable.
Can you print a watertight seal or gasket?
Yes, for most sizes. Tell us the groove or face it seals against and we'll set the part up to suit. Very thin, very long seals can be fiddly.
Will TPU hold up outdoors?
It handles water and weather well. Years of full sun will slowly harden it, so for a sun-exposed part expect to replace it eventually.
Can I get TPU in colour?
Yes. Any TPU colour Siddament stocks. Choose Other Siddament colour in the quote tool and paste the product code.
Price your part in TPU
Upload the file, pick the material and colour, and the price is there in seconds.