3D printing service · Groningen
TPU 3D printing: flexible parts that bend, damp and grip
A seal that has to give, a foot that damps vibration, a cover around a device, a clip that must not snap: that is work for TPU, the flexible filament. OmniTechs prints TPU in Groningen after a short feasibility check, because flexible filament makes different demands on geometry and print time than PLA or PETG. Send your file or a photo with dimensions; within one working day you hear whether it is feasible and what it costs.
Door Sina Sadegh Esfahani · Practice page by OmniTechs in Groningen; amounts follow the current price contract · Beoordeeld op .
What does TPU 3D printing cost?
In our calculator TPU uses the same material rate per gram as PLA and PETG, but the print time is longer: we print flexible filament slower to avoid stringing and jams, and support hardly works. Machine time per hour therefore weighs more than for an equally large PETG part. The rates and example prices are on the cost page.
Choose TPU as the material in the calculator; the price you see is an indication until we have confirmed feasibility. After that the quote is fixed.
- Same material rate as PLA and PETG; the longer print time makes the difference
- Feasibility check in advance, free and within one working day
- The hardness of our standard filament is stated in the quote, with the datasheet
- Collection in Groningen without shipping costs
What TPU is for
Seals and gaskets not under high pressure, dampers and feet under devices, protective covers and bumpers, living hinges, grips on tools, cable grommets, insoles and functional prototypes of rubber-like parts. A TPU part bends thousands of times without tearing and springs back.
Design rules for TPU
Flexible filament dislikes thin, tall support and sharp transitions. These rules make a TPU part printable and durable.
- Wall thickness at least 1.2 mm; thinner goes limp and tears
- No overhangs that need support: support bonds to TPU and can hardly be removed
- Rounded transitions instead of sharp corners at bending points
- Control flexibility with wall thickness and infill, not only with the material
- Fits 0.3 to 0.5 mm wider than with PLA; TPU flows wider
Where TPU stops
TPU is neither stiff nor dimensionally stable enough for parts that carry load or must fit exactly; PETG is better there. It tolerates heat up to about 60 to 80 degrees depending on the grade, and it is not certified for food contact or medical use. Very small, fine parts under a few millimetres do not print well in flexible filament.
How to order
Upload your file in the calculator and choose TPU, or send a photo with dimensions and describe how flexible it must be: soft like an eraser, or firm like a tyre. We assess geometry and printability and confirm price and lead time in the quote.
What to expect
- Feasibility check within one working day, free
- Advice on hardness and wall thickness for your use
- A test print for critical seals or fits
- An honest no when TPU is unsuitable, with the alternative
- Collection in Groningen without shipping costs
Frequently asked questions
How flexible is a TPU print?
It depends on the hardness of the filament and on your design. With our standard TPU and a 1.2 mm wall a part bends easily by hand and springs back; with thicker walls or more infill it becomes firm. The hardness of the filament used is stated in the quote.
Is TPU watertight?
The material itself is. A printed part is watertight when walls and infill are set for it; tell us it has to seal.
Does TPU resist oil and chemicals?
TPU resists oils and greases reasonably well and better than PLA or PETG. Not strong solvents; name the substance and we check the datasheet.
Is TPU suitable for parts that wear a lot?
Yes, wear resistance is a strength of TPU: feet, bumpers and grips last long.
Can you remake an existing rubber gasket?
Often, for gaskets without high pressure or temperature. Send the old one or its dimensions; we draw it and print a test fit first.
Does your part need to bend, damp or grip?
Send your file or a photo with dimensions and say how flexible it must be. Within one working day you hear whether TPU fits and what it costs.