{"id":165015,"date":"2022-06-30T14:37:12","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T06:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=165015"},"modified":"2022-12-09T11:29:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T03:29:11","slug":"the-best-tpe-filaments-filament-guide","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/the-best-tpe-filaments-filament-guide","title":{"rendered":"The Best TPE Filaments \u2013 Filament Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you’re not quite clear on TPE filament’s rubber-like properties, check out this guide to learn the basics and discover the best brands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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TPE, or\u00a0thermoplastic elastomer, is a category of rubber-like plastics that are\u00a0great\u00a0for printing anything that needs impact or vibration resistance, non-slip characteristics, or just plain old flexibility.<\/p>\n

Used in dampeners, non-slip feet, phone cases, and the like, TPE deforms and compresses easily to counter loads, making it incredibly durable. Although sometimes tricky to print with, the results are often well worth the struggle.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll go over some general printing and storage tips before jumping into our top picks of TPE filament. But first, we need to talk about TPE\u2019s close relation, TPU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Best 3D Printer Filament: The Types in 2022<\/a><\/div>\n
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What About TPU?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Flexible 3D printed wheels (Source: 3D Era)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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TPU<\/a>, or thermoplastic polyurethane, is another common flexible material and is easily confused with TPE. So what\u2019s the difference between the two (other than one letter)?<\/p>\n

A simple explanation is that TPU is a type of TPE. That\u2019s because TPE isn\u2019t really one specific material; it refers to a range of elastic thermoplastics, of which TPU is one.<\/p>\n

Recently, \u201cTPU\u201d, both as a term and as a material, has been gaining popularity over \u201cTPE\u201d. In today\u2019s 3D printing scene, most flexible offerings are TPU-based materials, with TPE having fallen largely out of favor due to difficulties faced while printing.<\/p>\n

To avoid any confusion, this guide will differentiate the materials based on\u00a0technical\u00a0hardness ratings<\/a>. Flexibles rated at 90A hardness or below will be considered TPE, even if the material is TPU-based.<\/p>\n

Given the few true non-TPU offerings available today, this way of differentiating the material categories is easiest. In the following list, you\u2019ll see some items that are in fact TPU-based, but just soft enough for us to consider them to be TPE filaments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Printing & Storage<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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You can really get some good flexibility with TPE (Source: Recreus)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Printing Tips & Settings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Being flexible, TPE has a tendency to buckle or squeeze through any gaps in the filament path. Make sure this path is well-constrained, with no gaps or obstacles. Towards this end, a direct-drive style extruder is recommended.<\/p>\n

Retraction doesn\u2019t work well with TPE due to its ability to stretch and compress. Disabling retraction is therefore recommended.<\/p>\n

Some TPE\u00a0is known to adhere too well to print surfaces. Use painter\u2019s tape, a glue stick, or hairspray as a protective releasing agent.<\/p>\n

To start, it\u2019s recommended to use the following settings and set up:<\/p>\n