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Hard TPU

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lion-mclionheadlion mclionhead 02/18/2026 at 08:430 Comments

There are hard TPU's & soft TPE's.  The soft TPE's are expensive but grippy.  The hard TPU's are the same as PLA but don't grip.  TPE's are good for tires.  TPU's are good for bumpers, phone holders, outer covers.

Lions print hard TPU with a 260C nozzle, 0C buildtak bed, 20mm/s speed all around.   It doesn't stick to a glass bed, but can get away with it if the print is very wide compared to its height.  The mane problem with glass is the TPU warping as it gets taller.

Hard TPU absorbs water while TPE doesn't.  It must be stored with a desiccant & frequently dehydrated at higher temperature.  It has to be unrolled & rerolled before drying.  If it pops & has lot of voids, it's wet.

Clear TPU is a waste.  It turns opaque brown over time.  Because it's not impregnated with pigment, it seems harder to dry.  

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