Printing with Flexible Filaments - TPU
To print flexible filaments requires special care, and likely special printer components.
* The print temperature and bed heat are only slightly higher than PLA when printing TPU, but the print speed needs to be considerably slower - such as 15mm/sec versus a more standard 40-60mm/sec.
* The filament channel, if possible, should be a direct drive (the extruder feeds directly into the hot end)
* If instead the printer is a bowden tube feed to the hot end, replace the tube with the precision Capricorn PTFE tubing ([https://www.filastruder.com/products/capricorn-ptfe-tubing?variant=45539850511).](https://www.filastruder.com/products/capricorn-ptfe-tubing?variant=45539850511) For example, if you use a Shore 90A or above material, you can likely get by with a standard filament channel but below 90A you should preferably be using Capricorn or equivalent.
* The very best arrangement for printing flexible filament would be a [dual gear extruder](https://www.google.com/search?q=dual+gear+extruder&sxsrf=ALeKk005M4cegzn3Xl9fV80iV6_UDBT9kQ%3A1617900835863&ei=IzVvYKeeNJm3tAaTg76IBQ&oq=dual+gear+extruder&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBAgjECcyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCABQhKDUKFiEoNQoYNO_1ChoAHACeACAAcwBiAGyApIBBTAuMS4xmAEAoAECoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjnu-mkju_vAhWZG80KHZOBD1EQ4dUDCA0&uact=5 "dual gear extruder") arranged as a direct drive delivery system.